Ideas for better nursing standards in our hospitals

Regarding UAE 'needs 7,000 more nurses', March 23: I believe the authorities have to study the reason why this situation has arisen. At one point of time, the nursing sector was understaffed in the Emirates because nurses migrated to other European countries, as they were offered a good salary package. The Government should increase the salary of senior staff with 20 years' experience and hire new staff with the proper certification, degree and experience, as per international standards. Nurses should also provide a valid experience certificate and proof of exams taken.

The other problem is that many nurses have a language problem. I hope the authorities will implement stricter testing on spoken and written language skills. SA, Abu Dhabi What about adding paramedics to the hospital staff? I'm a 10-year US paramedic with extensive experience working trauma, cardiac, CVA, and respiratory emergencies. I also worked in a very busy ER. But they don't offer that here. A second option to curb the nursing shortage would be to offer nursing school to non-Emiratis.

I would be the first one to show up for class every day! Melanie Lefebvre, Al Ain Nursing is about nurturing. Most nurses I have met at the hospitals in Abu Dhabi are more interested in administration than taking care of the patients. This seems to be because the pay scale of administrators is more than that of nurses. John Doevichiski, Abu Dhabi

In response to the teenage life column: Who makes up all those school rules on appearance, March 23: Why bother with rules when you know they're going to be broken? It's like keeping a bowl of milk in front of a cat and asking it not to drink. It seems that the school administrators are deliberately looking for anything that could be forbidden. They should be happy that some of us actually bother to spend an hour in the morning trying to make ourselves looks nice, only to be disregarded at school. But then again, wearing Converse shoes might not have been so popular if it didn't come with the pleasure of breaking a rule. The efforts to bring about such rules are most likely to be futile, unless the parents are involved. In that case, let's just be grateful that our uniform doesn't come with a red nose.

I'm particularly fond of this column and I would like to congratulate Lavanya Malhotra for keeping it simple and realistic when it comes to all these teen-based differences. Sayeda Mohamed, Abu Dhabi

I want to thank Tom Gara for today's article One man's ideas may lead a kingdom's rebirth, March 24, and for his coverage of what many Jordanians are doing, not only me. First of all, I believe the title is far too dramatic and inaccurate. As I have said, this is not an individual effort. This is in support of what King Abdullah embarked upon when he took the throne. I was articulating and restating his vision for Jordan. Under his leadership, there are many people in Jordan who are contributing; to name a few: Fadi Ghandour, Ghassan Nuqul, Samih Toukan and Osama Fayad. I am trying to do my part by leveraging what I know, fuelled with what I believe in and the energy that God has blessed me with.

As for the road safety results, our programme is part of the national road safety programme that produced these encouraging results. Under the order of his majesty, all government and non-government sectors worked as a team to undertake this task. The traffic police, the Amman municipality, public works and the ministry of education all played a role. Maher Kaddoura, Amman

In reference to the article Womad in three-year deal with Abu Dhabi, March 22: how ironic - and sad - that Abu Dhabi's 2009 World of Music and Dance celebration of multiculturalism included systematic discrimination against certain people. At last year's festival on the Corniche, there was great music from all over the world, yet a glance at the entrance gates revealed the festival's darker side.

Single men who had a working-class appearance, especially those wearing shalwar kameez, were turned away by security guards. Said Hakim, one of the musicians who will be performing at this year's festival, states that "any artist would be proud to be part of this event in the Emirates". Surely there will be a lot more truth to this statement if this year's festival opens the gates to everyone, rather than picking and choosing exactly who is and isn't allowed to enjoy this celebration.

Qani Belul, Abu Dhabi