Ceremony held to award IFSI and IFAS diplomas and badges

As she does every year, H.R.H the Princess of Hanover, patron of the Monaco Institute of Nurse Training (IFSI), graced the institute with her attendance at a ceremony held to award diplomas and badges to the classes of nurses and care assistants at Monaco's Vocational and Catering School.

Also present were Mr Didier Gamerdinger, Minister for Health and Social Affairs, Mr Stéphane Valeri, President of the National Council, and Ms Benoîte Rousseau de Sevelinges, Director of Princess Grace Hospital.

In her speech, Ms Josette Piazza-Cadiou, Director of IFSI, congratulated the students on their hard work throughout their courses, lasting three years for nurses and one year for carers: "you are from generations Y and Z, born in the era of digital tools and technology."

First and foremost, however, she paid an emotional tribute to their courage, as these students played an active role in helping Princess Grace Hospital during the successive waves of the COVID epidemic. "You stepped up. You were, all of you, 'the COVID students', of course, but you learned, above all, to cope and to juggle many different challenges."

Fourteen students graduated from the IFSI class, sponsored by the charity Léa, which promotes assistance for children suffering from illness or disabilities, while nine students graduated from the Care Assistant Training Institute (IFAS). A total of seven nurses and seven carers were hired by the hospital at the end of their training. All will "proudly embody the values of Princess Grace Hospital" in terms of the rigour and demands that the caring professions require.