The World Health Organisation have declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
With nurses making up such an important percentage of the global population, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have decided it is time to show some appreciation.
Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of world-renowned icon Florence Nightingale’s birth, the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife will better acknowledge the impact that modern nursing has within our communities.
This will be a year of celebration for nurses and midwives the world over. It will give patients and carers alike a chance to share their stories and promote their positive experiences.
Those so often overlooked are now being recognised for their tireless efforts.
Nurses and midwives have worked for centuries to ease the suffering of the sick and injured and help mothers to deliver their babies.
For so long, this work has gone unnoticed by the media and the masses, with most credit given to the doctors and specialists within the healthcare system.
But in reality, it is the nurses and midwives who are most integral to the overall patient experience. They are a constant, caring presence during the patient’s time in the hospital.
This recognition is, we believe, much-awaited and much-deserved!
Nurses and midwives work hard to improve the health and wellbeing of others.
They have been there for us through wars, epidemics, life-threatening diseases and more. It is important for us to understand the significant impact that their work has on our lives and the lives of those around us.
Nurses and midwives face challenging situations everyday. In caring for our mothers, children, elderly, ill and wounded, they must constantly navigate shifting health landscapes.
It takes patience, adaptability, courage and a knack for being quick on one’s feet – both physically and mentally – to be able to do what they can do.
Raising awareness for nursing and midwifery.
2020 is the year for nurses and midwives to stand up and use their voices. With a growing presence on social media, they are finally – albeit slowly – being heard.
Here in New Zealand, we are also acknowledging those indigenous Maori nurses and midwives who have made a contribution to their communities in the past and the present.
We hope that the recognition of nurses and midwives will continue to grow on a global scale.
As nurses and midwives, we have a crucial role in the world. And we aim to continue making a positive difference in the lives of our patients and their families.
