Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Nurses’ work is the backbone of the entire healthcare system. Yet they often remain invisible. This profession demands knowledge, resilience, quick decision-making, and compassion. We must remember that a nurse is not a ‘junior medical worker’ but an independent professional – someone essential in every hospital, clinic, and emergency unit.
In Belarus, unfortunately, the nursing profession is undervalued. The working conditions are often at the edge of human endurance. Nurses work without rest, at night, in overcrowded wards, for low pay, and without social protections. But even under these conditions, they don’t lose their sense of responsibility for others. Because for them, it’s not just a job – it’s a calling. A nurse is someone who puts others’ pain above their own exhaustion every single day.
On this day, I want to express my deepest gratitude to you. Your contribution to today’s healthcare system is not just vital – it is irreplaceable. There is no surgery, no ICU, no inpatient care without your work. Thank you for your strength, professionalism, and humanity. The day will come when the whole country will thank you. The Belarus we strive for with all our hearts is a country that values the people who care for others”.
