Members of the The Nursing Association of Jamaica (NAJ), practicing nurses and nursing students from across the island turned out at Pagee Beach in Port Maria, St. Mary to show their support for the 2024-2025 LASCO/NAJ Nursing Student of the Year Beach Cleanup Initiative held on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Aeisha Anderson, the 2024-2025 LASCO/NAJ Nursing Student of the Year (NSOY), hosted a clean-up and recycling project at Pagee Beach in St Mary on Saturday, under the theme “Protect the Beach, Preserve the Future.”
The impactful initiative organised in collaboration with the Nursing Association of Jamaica (NAJ) and the LASCO Chin Foundation (LCF), highlighted the importance of environmental conservation and community health.
From 10:00 am, approximately 100 volunteers, including past recipients of the LASCO/NAJ Nurse and Nursing Student of the Year awardees, fellow
nursing students, registered nurses, environmental enthusiasts, and community members, united to clear the coastline and its surrounding areas.
Over 30 large bags of debris, consisting primarily of glass and plastic bottles and other plastic waste materials, were collected.
In addition to restoring the beauty of Pagee Beach, the event provided opportunities for education and wellness.
Participants benefited from free health screenings, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests, recycling talks by Dana McAnuff, environmental officer at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and an assortment of LASCO goodies, reinforcing the connection between a healthy environment and personal well-being.
A native of Port Maria, Anderson said she was elated to see her nursing colleagues from across the 14 parishes turn out in their numbers to assist, as well as the interest of Pagee Beach residents.
Sharing her motivation for spearheading the initiative, Anderson said, “it was more than a clean-up project, it’s a call to action for everyone to recognise their role in preserving our natural resources and protecting it for future generations. Pollution is a real problem and we witness the effects of it every day – it is visible in our surroundings and changes in climate.”
“The state of the environment is also directly related to the state of our health. Growing up in St Mary, I know what having clean, beautiful beaches means for the parish, the island of Jamaica and the Caribbean. I wanted to help to play my part to make Pagee Beach aesthetically pleasing and making persons more aware of its potential. With more persons opening businesses along the coastline, it can be a good economic investment and source of employment for persons in the area but we must protect and preserve it,” she continued.
Andersons’s journey toward becoming a nurse and midwife was inspired by a life-changing experience at just 12 years old, when she assisted in delivering a baby in her community.
This pivotal moment ignited her passion for healthcare, driving her unwavering dedication to the field.
Her academic and professional path has included training at the Kingston School of Nursing and Midwifery and continued studies at the Brown’s Town Community College in St Ann, where she is set to complete her qualifications as a registered nurse in August. Currently on study leave from her role as a registered midwife at Annotto Bay Hospital, Anderson looks forward to returning to work and pursuing her dream of earning a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner.
Lisa-Gaye Bender, operations officer at LCF, remarked, “we are incredibly proud of Anderson and all the nurses who participated in the clean-up. They exemplify the holistic values of compassion, dedication and excellence in healthcare which aligns with our own values.”
“The initiative, which is a continuation of Anderson’s commitment to service and role as a LASCO ambassador, showcased her remarkable leadership and dedication to service, rooted in her years of experience as a midwife and her current journey toward becoming a registered nurse. Her journey is a testament to the resilience and commitment that we see our nurses bringing to their communities every day. At LCF, we are honoured to support such inspiring individuals who play a vital role in transforming lives and shaping the future of healthcare,” added Bender.
In July 2025, Anderson and the 2024-2025 LASCO/NAJ Nurse of the Year Abigail James will hand over their titles to new candidates.