This year was chosen by the World Health Organization as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, one of the founders of modern nursing.
Focussing on nurses and midwives will give greater understanding of the integral part nurses play in New Zealanders’ health care. We here at Hutt and across our region will be celebrating nurses and midwives throughout the whole year, starting with regular posts and quizzes on our Facebook page this week and we will be showing casing famous local nurses on our website pages. We will keep you informed on celebrations throughout the year.
The celebrations are a chance for:
- profiling the value of becoming a nurses and midwives
- Showcasing international nursing and midwifery legends- – first up is introducing Mary Seacole who worked in the Crimea and may have introduced hand hygiene before Florence Nightingale did.
- Showcasing local nursing and midwifery legends
- promoting the career opportunities and pathways available for nurses and midwives.
Nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services. They devote their lives to caring for mothers and children; giving lifesaving immunizations and health advice; looking after older people and generally meeting everyday essential health needs. They are often, the first and only point of care in their communities. The world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030 according to the World Health Organisations.
For people who need health care, nurses and midwives often play a crucial role in their wellbeing and recovery?
Another part of the celebrations we have signed to participate in the Nightingale Challenge, named after Florence Nightingale. The challenge is asking every health employer around the world to provide leadership and development training for a group of their young nurses next year. We’ve signed up to participated as we look at supporting leadership aspirations.
How to get involved
- Get on social media. Add a frame to your facebook picture like we have done. Posts pictures of you at work and your colleagues and use one the hashtags: #SupportNursesAndMidwives #Nurses2020 #midwives2020 #nursingnow
- Download this logo and add it to your email and show your support for our nurses and midwives.
- Take part in events at here or public events that are promoted to support our teams.
