Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the 2021 Presidents Award for Nurses

Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health

Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am pleased to join today’s virtual award ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the recipients of the 2020 and 2021 President’s Award for Nurses. It has been a significant month for Nursing. Last week, 125 nurses were acknowledged through the Nurses’ Merit Award 2021.  Today, 12 others will be conferred the pinnacle recognition of the President’s Award.  These celebrations are important in recognising the remarkable contributions made by Nurses and Midwives to Singapore’s healthcare system over the years.

Nurses have always been the strong backbone of our healthcare system, providing compassionate and quality care to patients in a wide spectrum of care settings. From hospitals and polyclinics, to community and residential care settings, nurses play a wide range of important roles to their patients.  Apart from being a care provider, a nurse is also the care manager, coordinator, advocate, educator and even a friend who lends advice and emotional support. These roles will continue to evolve as our healthcare system transforms to meet the changing needs of our population.

The past one and a half years have been even more challenging for the nursing profession. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented stress on healthcare systems around the world.  As frontline responders, nurses bore the brunt of the crisis.  I am proud that our nurses have all responded courageously to the call of duty. You worked under tremendous pressure and often under difficult conditions such as long hours in personal protective attire.

I understand that some of you have also been subjected to harassment and abusive treatment from hospital visitors who were frustrated with the COVID measures, such as stricter visitation rules or having to undergo Rostered Routine Testing. This is abhorrent and unacceptable, as there is absolutely no reason for anyone to vent their frustrations on our healthcare workers who are merely doing their job to ensure everyone’s safety.  Like other workers, our nurses are entitled to a safe working environment.  I call upon everyone to respect and support our nurses and other healthcare workers who, despite facing a greater risk of exposure to the virus, continue stoically with their work to serve others.

Despite facing many challenges, I commend our nurses for displaying strong professionalism in ensuring the safety and quality care of your patients. Many of you also went beyond your job scope, and stepped forward to take on new responsibilities and work in new environments such as the foreign worker dormitories, community isolation facilities and community care facilities, or to train and supervise volunteers under our SG Healthcare Corps initiative. Your determination and resilience have played a significant part in helping our nation manage the pandemic.

In recent months, nurses have also been actively involved in our nation-wide vaccination programme. As Singapore prepares to live with COVID-19 as an endemic disease, nurses will continue to play a critical role in this transition, and in keeping Singaporeans healthy and well.

The President’s Award for Nurses is an event which I look forward to every year. I used to serve on the selection panel for the Award years ago and the inspiring stories behind each nomination never failed to move me. Beyond clinical achievements, many nominees also have a big heart in serving others in their community. Take for example one of the 2020 award recipients, Dr Alice Chua, who used her awards’ cash prize to purchase electronic communication devices for her patients to improve their quality of life.

This year’s award recipients are no different. Their spirit of volunteerism shines strong. For example, during the pandemic, when routine parenting care visits to maternity units were cancelled, Dr Shefaly Shorey volunteered to educate more than 20,000 new parents via weekly online teaching sessions.  Also, in 2004, when the tsunami devastated 14 countries, Mr Christopher Soh courageously volunteered as a medic with the medical relief team to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Even though he was newly married then, he did not hesitate to come forward as male nurses were needed for the medical mission trip.

Like Dr Alice, Dr Shefaly and Mr Christopher, all of you here today have been exemplary nurses who put others before you. Your contribution to the nursing profession and the community is highly commendable. 

Once again, let me congratulate all recipients of the President’s Award for Nurses. I wish you and all your nursing colleagues success as you continue to serve and touch the lives of others.

Happy Nurses’ Day in advance!