St Peters SDA and Health Minister Brug Honor Nurses During Nurses Week 2025
Sun May 18 2025On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the St. Peters Seventh-day Adventist Health Ministry, incollaboration with Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Hon.Richinel Brug, hosted a heartfelt celebration in honor of Nurses Week 2025. The event, heldat the St. Peters SDA Church, recognized and celebrated the unwavering dedication andservice of nurses across the island of St. Maarten.Nurses from various healthcare institutions were honored for their critical role in the healthand well-being of the community. Head nurses from the St. Maarten Medical Center(SMMC) and major facilities such as the St. Martin’s Home, St. John’s Home, St. BasiliaCenter, Mental Health Foundation, District Nursing Services, the Ambulance Department,and the Prison Health Services were each presented with commemorative plaques andcups as tokens of appreciation.A major highlight of the event was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to NurseBrunilda Illidge, one of St. Maarten’s pioneering nurses. Affectionately known as the“Mother of Nurses,” Nurse Illidge has made a profound impact on the island’s healthcarelandscape. Born in Aruba, she is a proud mother of three daughters and grandmother tofive grandchildren.Nurse Illidge is a dynamic Registered Nurse and energetic Nursing Instructor. She is widelyrespected for being trustworthy, loving, and highly motivated. Her students praise her forencouraging critical thinking and professionalism. Known for her ethical standards andcivic-mindedness, she consistently demonstrates effective cross-cultural communicationand a readiness to support others. Her no-nonsense attitude is balanced by a deepcommitment to mentorship and excellence in nursing education.The event was coordinated by Health Minister Erica Davis, Health Leader of the St. PetersSDA Church, whose dedication and organizational efforts contributed greatly to thesuccess of the program. Her leadership, along with the collaboration of the HonorableMiniter, ensured that the contributions of nurses were recognized in a meaningful andmemorable way.This Nurses Week celebration was not only a tribute to individual achievements but also acollective acknowledgment of the dedication and sacrifices made by nurses, especially inrecent challenging times. The organizers extended heartfelt thanks to all the nurses fortheir tireless efforts and devotion to serving the people of St. Maarten.A special thank-you was also given to everyone who contributed to making the event asuccess—your support was instrumental in honoring our community’s unsung heroes.