The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has marked its 30th anniversary with the opening of a museum dedicated to healthcare professionals at its premises in Qormi.
The museum was inaugurated during a celebration attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ian Borg and was blessed by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna.
A publication documenting MUMN's 30 years of work was also launched during the event, while plans for a new monument recognising the contribution of nurses and midwives were unveiled.
Borg said MUMN remained an important trade union and praised its members for their dedication to their professions
"As a government, we will continue to invest in our human resources to ensure the best possible conditions for our professionals, enabling them to continue delivering the highest standard of care to patients," he said.
He stressed that investment, reforms and infrastructure projects in the healthcare sector could only achieve their intended results if the necessary professionals were available to deliver the services.
Healthcare professionals would therefore remain central to the sector's future, Borg said.
He also referred to the recent signing of two collective agreements with MUMN, which will improve the conditions and opportunities of around 180 employees.
Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Deo Debattista recognised the contribution made by nurses and midwives to people requiring healthcare services and encouraged young people to pursue careers in the profession.
"For many years, nurses and midwives have dedicated themselves to serving others and remain among the main pillars of our healthcare system," Debattista said.
He said their dedication was evident when they went beyond what was expected of them to provide patients and their families with care and support, describing this as the meaning of a vocation.
MUMN President Paul Pace said the opening of the museum fulfilled a long-standing ambition connected to the union's premises.
Pace explained that MUMN had operated from various buildings over the years, while its current premises had provided space for meetings, training and educational initiatives
"Today, that dream has become a reality with the opening of a museum dedicated to Healthcare Professionals," Pace said.
He highlighted the history of nursing in Malta, noting that the country was once known as "The Nurse of the Mediterranean" and that the profession's history dates back to the era of the Knights
Pace said the museum also contains objects that were still being used by healthcare professionals until relatively recently, despite rapid technological advances in the sector.
"We firmly believe that, to understand the present, one must understand history and where we started," he said.
Pace thanked the Health Ministry for its cooperation and support in establishing the museum and in its ongoing work with healthcare professionals represented by MUMN.
The union now has more than 5,500 members.