Nurse of the Year launches support programme for women

LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year 2025, Fione Collins, has launched an initiative aimed at helping women overcome personal and economic setbacks. Her Women Igniting Newness (IWIN) Project was unveiled in Manchester on March 11, where she distributed $100,000 each to four beneficiaries.

The recipients included YADEL Home for Girls; the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation in Mandeville; an Edwin Allen High School student preparing to study nursing; and a staff member of the Percy Junor Hospital who recently lost her home to fire.

Collins, who is the deputy director of Nursing Services at the Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester, launched the project on 11 March.

“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,” Collins said.

She noted that the project focuses on education, mental wellness and other areas of need, and added that she hopes it 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.

Collins, who took the coveted title at the LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year awards ceremony in July 2025, expressed thanks to her stakeholders, family and friends who contributed to making the project launch a success.