Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (May 27/02) - Nine nurses and a ward clerk raised funds and even reached into their own pockets to spruce up hospital rooms at Baffin Regional Hospital in Iqaluit.

Last year, the group began organizing bake sales, raffles and kicking in $5 each month of their own money.

The resulting $5,000 meant new bedspreads, curtains, blinds and paint for two birthing rooms.

The money also bought furniture for a family room and helped beautify the pediatrics area.

The group got together and flipped through catalogues to pick colours.

"When you come into the hospital to have a baby," said the manager of in-patient care, Jennifer Pearce, "it's nice to have a bright room."

First Air then helped out by donating funds for two baby warmers and incubators.

The nurses' latest project is the palliative care unit where terminally ill patients and their families stay.

The Royal Canadian Legion and the Elks Club donated money for the room's small appliances, such as a microwave, fridge and coffee pot.

Previously, dying patients had to share a room, which didn't leave much space for family members.

Pearce said people notice the changes.

"There hadn't been a facelift given to the place in awhile," she said. "There's a group of us interested in making sure the place looks very nice."