The Dominica Hospitals Authority‘s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kenneth Darroux, has praised nurses across Dominica for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to patient care, describing them as the backbone of the country’s healthcare system.
Darroux made the remarks during activities marking International Nurses Day 2026, where healthcare professionals gathered at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital to recognize the contribution of nurses, nursing assistants, and midwives working throughout the island.
“We’d just like to wish all our wonderful nurses, nursing assistants, and midwives a wonderful International Nurses Day,” Darroux said while expressing appreciation for healthcare workers who continue serving under difficult circumstances.
According to Darroux, nurses remain the healthcare professionals most consistently present at the patient’s bedside and often provide emotional support and reassurance long after doctors have completed examinations and treatment rounds.
“The nurses are the backbone of any health service,” he stated. “You are the ones that are there constantly at the patient’s side bringing them solace, comfort.”
Darroux also acknowledged the demanding conditions many nurses face daily, including staffing pressures, emotional strain, and long working hours. He thanked those who have chosen to remain in Dominica despite opportunities to migrate overseas for better salaries and conditions.
“We want to thank you, first of all, those of you who have chosen not to go to the so-called greener pastures, to stay here, to work with us, to try to bring comfort to the patients and our populace,” he said.
Former government minister Dr. Adis King also addressed the ceremony, describing nursing as more than a profession and emphasising the critical role nurses play in identifying patient deterioration, preventing complications, and supporting recovery through compassion and vigilance.
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