15 August 2024
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Fermoy Community Hospital celebrated cultural diversity in the workplace on Wednesday 14th August 2024 with a series of exciting events.
Staff members of Fermoy Community Hospital joined together to share and celebrate their cultures. The day was marked with demonstrations of dancing, costumes and make-up, samples of Indian Food, an Indian cookery demonstration, and a display of floral artwork prepared by staff at the hospital entrance. Flags and decorative art prepared by hospital residents in their activity groups were displayed on the walls.
There are 11 different nationalities represented among the staff at Fermoy Community Hospital, including: India, Brazil, Portugal, Philippines, Kenya, Nigeria, Spain, UK, Slovakia, South Africa and Ireland. The staff are employed in roles such as managers, nurses, health care assistants, multi task attendants and cleaners.
Marie Hayes, Director of Nursing at Fermoy Community Hospital said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich cultures of our colleagues and to enjoy their customs in their home from home. Sharing these traditions amongst our staff and residents builds mutual understanding and respect. Our residents and staff are hugely excited as we are building on the success of last year’s event.”
Gabrielle O’Keeffe Head of Health and Wellbeing with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said: “Cork Kerry Community Healthcare places a priority on promoting staff health and wellbeing, this initiative is a wonderful example of how staff can support each other in engaging and creative ways”.
Jackie Daly, Head of Older Persons Services at Cork Kerry Community Healthcare added: “We are so fortunate to have such a rich cultural diversity across our services and I congratulate all involved in this celebration in Fermoy Community Hospital”.
Minu Ken, Clinical Nurse Manager 1 is leading the project in Fermoy Community Hospital. She added: “I believe days like this bring a very high positive impact amongst participants, residents and visitors. It will increase harmony at work, as it can help to build a dynamic and vibrant social fabric at work.”
Pictured are: Minu Rose Ken; Anuja Rose; Joma Jacob; Meenukutty Joseph; Sajeeve Mahesan and Pooja Zacharis.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
Pictured are: Minu Rose Ken; Anuja Rose; Joma Jacob, Joanne O’Grady (CNM2); Sajeeve Mahesan and Lisa Harrington, Asst. Director of Nursing.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
Pictured are: Anuja Rose; Lisa Harrington, Asst. Dir. of Nursing; Meenukutty Jospeh; Joma Jacob; Marie Hayes, Dir. of Nursing; Minu Rose Ken; Pooja Zacharis; Also included are Midhun Baby and Sujeeva Mahesan.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
This initiative was funded through the 2024 RENEW Arts Project: Celebrating Culture Diversity through the Arts for Staff Health and Wellbeing.
This creative project is one of many being delivered through HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare’s Health Promotion and Improvement Department Arts and Culture Portfolio.