Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has created a messaging platform for front-line workers.
The platform which has been created in conjunction with Translink and Health and Social Care, provides a space in bus and train stations across Northern Ireland for messages of support, inspiration and gratitude for front-line staff who have been delivering vital services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Importantly it also provides key workers with an opportunity to share their messages and experiences with the public and ask us to continue doing all we can to support them.
The Minister started the initiative with her own message of support which can be seen in seven stations and said:“Since the outset of this pandemic frontline workers across many different sectors have worked tirelessly to deliver vital services to the entire community. I want to thank all of them for their continued professionalism and dedication in the most challenging circumstances we have ever faced.
“Across our health service in particular individuals, working day after day, are putting themselves in the frontline to save lives and look after some of the most vulnerable members of our community. While there is light at the end of the tunnel with the roll-out of the vaccines we have still a long way to go so we all need to remain vigilant and follow the regulations to help save lives.
“In the coming weeks, in bus and train stations across the north, personal messages from staff on the front line will be on display and available on social media. These people are our heroes working day and night to protect us.
“We are all in this together. I hope these messages give you a small glimpse of their efforts to keep us all safe. Please continue to support all our essential workers.”
Health Minister, Robin Swann: “Every day I am in awe at the commitment and expertise demonstrated by our staff in health and social care. Our health service has suffered many hammer blows over the past year. But it’s still standing, it’s still caring. And as well as dealing with the latest Covid surge, it is rolling out an unprecedented vaccination programme.
“It is so important that we hear directly from our frontline workers as they continue to work in the most difficult of circumstances and I am delighted that they will have this opportunity to share their experiences through this messaging platform, let us not forget what they do for all of us.”
Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway said: “By displaying these posters at our stations, we are showing our support for key workers in our society, as well as applauding our own colleagues who have played such an important role in getting Northern Ireland through this crisis.’’
