Previous and present presidents, from left: Dr. Claudette Gordon (1996-1998); Wendy Lake (2004-2008); Hopina Samuel (2008- 2012); Pamela Griffin (2016-2020); and Dr. Virginia Bernard (2020- current).
Picture by Nelson A. King
The 30-year-old Caribbean American Nurses Affiliation/Bronx Manhattan Westchester Chapter (CANA/BMW) is interesting to nurses to affix the Bronx-based group.
“We encourage nurses of Caribbean descent to affix this group to make it stronger and extra environment friendly,” Recording Secretary, Jamaican-born Registered Nurse Elaine Mills-Ford advised Caribbean Life on Sunday.
She stated CANA/BMW chapter was based in 1994 in reminiscence of a Barbadian-born registered nurse Vernese Weeks who died in similar 12 months.
“For her dedication and excellent service to others, she demonstrated an ideal love, and fervour for the nursing occupation throughout her nursing profession,” stated Mills-Ford, stating that the chapter was shaped by a bunch of nurses to incorporate the focus {of professional} nurses of Caribbean descent within the Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester counties.
“The founding members envisioned the necessity to construct a robust group and to develop into extra conscious of healthcare laws, well being dangers, and the wants of our communities,” she added. “In addition they checked out methods to deal with the intense scarcity {of professional} nurses in the US and the Caribbean, and to create methods to resume curiosity on this rewarding occupation.”
Mills-Ford stated CANA/BMW’s mission is “to safe grants from state, native authorities, or the personal sector to maneuver” the group “ahead in well being, schooling, home violence, and violence towards kids, and the aged.”
Through the years, she stated CANA/BMW has performed, amongst different issues, medical missions to Caribbean nations; aided pure catastrophe aid within the Caribbean; dispatched much-needed medical provides; participated in laws to enhance healthcare; performed and took part in symposiums and well being schooling; and supplied 30 scholarships to undergraduate nursing college students who’ve met sure standards.
Mills-Ford stated CANA/BMW has performed “a number of profitable medical missions” to Guyana, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“We have now fostered an surroundings the place nurses right here and within the Caribbean nations are extra conscious of enhancements in finest practices in nursing care,” she stated.
“CANA/BMW, with the help of sponsors and fundraising, has continued to help in coaching new nurses to replenish the present inventory scarcity of registered nurses for private {and professional} development,” Mills-Ford added. “At CANA/BMW we’re proud to acknowledge the achievement of one among our scholarship recipients, who has attained a Ph. D in Nursing Training.”
Mills-Ford stated the group has raised funds primarily by the annual Vernese Weeks Scholarship luncheon, sponsorship contributions and from adverts purchased within the annual luncheon journal.
The subsequent annual scholarship luncheon can be held, on Oct. 12, 2024, on the Eastwood Manor within the Bronx.
Since its formation, Mills-Ford stated CANA/BMW has elected 10 presidents.
Correspondence may be mailed to: CANA/BMW, P.O. Field 379, Williamsbridge Station, Bronx, New York 10467-0379; or go to the web site at https://cana-bmw.com
