To celebrate its 90th anniversary of founding, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) recently organized the “90th Anniversary Discussion Meeting” and invited a number of alumni to give sharing about their nursing career. The Meeting was held in the Multifunction Hall of the College and hosted by Assistant Professor U Wai Ang. On that day, more than 20 senior alumni, alumni of specialist nursing and College teachers attended the Meeting. The attendees include Ms. Van Iat Kio, Ms. Kwok Wai I, Ms. Leng Sou Mui, Ms. Wong Sok Chan, Ms. Lo Siu Ha, Ms. Ung Pui Kun, Ms. Cheong Pui Fong, Ms. Leong Iok Wa, Ms. Xing Zhihong, Ms. Lau Gar Bo, Ms. Leong Sok Man, Ms. Zhu Mingxia, Ms. Cheong Hoi Ieng, Ms. Kong Mei Iong, Ms. Wang Sichen, Ms. Lei Tong Mui, Ms. Tong Cheng Si, Ms. Cheong Pak Leng and Mr. Wong Chi Wa.

It is very honoured that some of the attending alumni are the recipients of the Medal of Merit (in the area of Profession and Philanthropy respectively) conferred by the Macao Government, as well as the first Macao recipient of the Florence Nightingale Medal. In the Meeting, they shared about their feelings of being awarded, their experiences of nursing patients, expectations for the future development of the College, opinions on the planning of nursing manpower and the development of specialist nursing in Macao. Part of their uplifting sharing will be transcribed and published on the College’s 90th Anniversary Commemorative Album.

Currently, there are more than 1,700 practising nurses in Macao, of which, 70% are KWNC’s graduates. As a result, alumni are the College’s important assets. President Van Iat Kio expresses that, marching towards its 90th anniversary, the College will continue to unite the strength of alumni and together explore its direction of future development. By organizing this Discussion Meeting, the College hopes that nursing students and the younger generation of the nursing field will draw experience from the stories and valuable experiences of these outstanding alumni.

Instead of a personal honour, the senior alumni perceived the award that they received as a recognition and acknowledgement given to the entire nursing profession. Compared to the situation 30 years ago, today’s society is able to offer abundant resources and provide patients with much more favourable medical environment. However, by the same token, citizens’ demand for medical standards and services is continuously increasing. In view of this, the senior alumni encourage the younger generation to continuously enhance their nursing knowledge and skills. Moreover, they appeal to nursing peers to render more support to the development of community nursing by participating in community and elderly nursing more actively.

After listening to the seniors’ sharing, the young alumni express their gratitude for the College and senior alumni’s endeavours to consistently elevate the programmes and teaching quality. In addition to promoting the senior secondary school programme to bachelor’s degree programme, in recent years the College has started co-establishing postgraduate diploma programme and master’s programme with neighouring regions. The alumni believe that the College’s tireless efforts have offered them more learning opportunities and broadened the career prospects of in-service nurses.