Nurse Shantal Remekie was a tower of resilience on Friday (July 21) as she walked away with the title of 2023-2024 LASCO/NAJ Nurse and of the Year at a glitzy ceremony held in the grand ballroom of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. 

Remekie, a native of St Andrew, copped the prestigious Nurse of the Year trophy, a cash award of J$200,000 and a host of other tokens.

The charge nurse, stationed at the University Hospital of the West Indies’ (UHWI) medicine and nephrology programme, expressed her passion for charitable work, especially in areas concerning community health and wellness. Remekie says she is determined to elevate the status of nursing across the island. 

Meanwhile, aspiring nurse Bobbie-Ann Collins, from the Excelsior Community College School of Nursing, was the recipient of the top award in the student nurse category. A staunch advocate for mental health awareness, Collins, who hails from St Thomas, is driven by a personal mission to drastically reduce inequities faced by persons living with mental health challenges. 

In the first ceremony since the death of benefactor Lascelles Chin, past and present Nurses of the Year delivered special dedication to the beloved ‘Las’, as he was fondly remembered.

For just over two decades, LASCO has demonstrated its commitment to the development of Jamaica and the Jamaican people through sustained support of the guardians of the domestic health sector, nurses and by extension, the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ). 

Both the LASCO Chin Foundation and the NAJ bore witness to the upliftment of nurses who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, compassion, and innovation in their field. 

Inga Hunter Martin, ward nurse manager at the Hope Institute Hospital, took the first runner-up spot while Roshelle Mendez, registered nurse at the Mandeville Regional Hospital, claimed the second-runner up spot. Among numerous gift baskets and prizes, the runners-up received LASCO sectional trophies along with a cash award of $150,000 and $100,000, respectively.

During her remarks, CEO of the LASCO Chin Foundation Professor Rosalea Hamilton impressed upon the awardees to be mindful of and celebrate the lasting impact of their care on the sick and infirm, as well as their families and wider society. 

“Each year, at the Nurse and Student Nurse of the Year Awards we reflect on the work and worth of our nurses; we exalt your resolve under pressure, your gentle hands and the passion of your advocacy. This morning let us also celebrate the characteristics — intelligence, trustworthiness, competence, friendliness and confidence — that reverberate with each patient and their families when they first encounter a nurse,” she stated. 

“The future of nursing in Jamaica depends heavily upon the zest of the leaders and policy makers to drastically improve your working conditions, access to resources and fair compensation. But it does not rest on these alone, you must also play your part by staying true to your oath. Each of you must protect and fight for the impression you leave on those in your care”. 

LASCO has collectively invested J$6.2M to support the nurses’ activities this year.