New Delhi (NVI): International Nurses Day this year bears more significance than usual as medical professionals around the world including nurses and paramedics are going beyond their call of duty amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The day, observed on May 12 every year across the world also marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
The theme for this year is ‘Nursing the World to Health’, which rings rightly with the current pandemic situation. Nurses are undoubtedly playing a vital role in treating coronavirus patients and at times, putting their own lives at risk.
On the occasion of the International Day of the Nurses and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the World Health Organization (WHO) joins hundreds of partners worldwide to highlight the importance of nurses in the healthcare sector.
WHO has said that the coronavirus pandemic is a stark reminder of the vital role nurses play. Without nurses and other health workers, we will not be able to win the battle against such outbreaks, it said.
Nurses account for more than half of all the world’s health workers, yet there is an urgent shortage of nurses worldwide with at least 5.9 million more nurses still needed.
WHO has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, and said that it is essential that governments support and invest in their nurses. COVID-19 reinforces the need for investment in nursing jobs, education and leadership.
Back in January 1974, May 12 was chosen to celebrate International Nurses Day in honour of Florence Nightingale. Nurses have been at the forefront of fighting epidemics and pandemics, providing high quality and respectful treatment and care, for a long time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also applauded nurses on International Nurses Day, for their role in keeping people healthy.
“International Day of the Nurse is a special day to express gratitude to the phenomenal nurses working round the clock to keep our planet healthy. Presently, they are doing great work towards defeating COVID-19,” the PM Modi said in a tweet.
Inspired by Florence Nightingale, our hardworking nursing staff personify abundant compassion. Today, we also reiterate our commitment to keep working for welfare of nurses and devote greater attention to opportunities in this field so that there is no shortage of caregivers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 12, 2020
In another tweet PM Modi said, “Inspired by Florence Nightingale,” the hardworking nursing staff personify abundant compassion.”
“Today, we also reiterate our commitment to keep working for welfare of nurses and devote greater attention to opportunities in this field so that there is no shortage of caregivers,” he added.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have come up together to celebrate the day.
The aim is to laud nurses around the globe and in particular those managing an unprecedented workload by treating patients with COVID-19 while also maintaining other essential health services.
