LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year launches project to empower women

Nurse Collins, who is the deputy director of Nursing Services at the Percy Junor Hospital (PJH) in Manchester launched the project on March 11, 2026 in Manchester and distributed J$100, 000 each to four beneficiaries.

The recipients are: YADEL Home for Girls in Bannister, Old Harbour, the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation in Mandeville, a student at the Edwin Allen High School who will be studying nursing and a staff member at the PJH who lost her home in a fire.

“As part of the LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year competition, I have chosen this initiative that will empower our women and girls and help them to build resilience. Many of our women and girls encounter setbacks, struggles and challenges and many times they want to allow these to define them but as somebody who has overcome I want women and girls to know that despite all that is happening they can bounce back and they can achieve their life goals,” Nurse Collins said.

She pointed out that the project focuses on areas of education, mental wellness and other areas of need. She added that she hopes the project will continue beyond the competition.

“This is just the beginning. It’s not just the financial aspect because one of the things I have started to do is to do motivational talks and empowerment sessions at churches, schools and clubs to help our women and strengthen them. And as our International Women’s Day theme said, “Giving to Gain”, so giving so that others can achieve and will be able to inspire others,” the Nurse of the Year said. 

Nurse Collins, who took the coveted title at the LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year awards ceremony in July, expressed thanks to all her stakeholders, family and friends who contributed to making the project launch a successful one.

The beneficiaries were appreciative of the kind gesture, noting the tangible impact it will make in making their situations a better one.