The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and its partners are participating in events today to mark International Nurses Day.
This day is an opportunity to observe the invaluable contribution of nurses to the healthcare industry and to celebrate their hard work, dedication, and commitment to improving the health of individuals and communities worldwide.
The theme for International Nurses Day this year is 'Our Nurses. Our Future.', which emphasises their vital role in shaping the future of healthcare.
It also highlights the need for nurses to take an active role in advocating policies that support their profession and improve the health outcomes of their patients.
Assistant Minister for Health Affairs of the Ministry of Public Health Dr Salih Ali al-Marri stressed the pivotal role of nurses in providing quality healthcare, and their dedication in performing their duties, which was clear during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that nurses play in delivering healthcare services to those in need,” he said. “Qatar’s healthcare system owes a great deal of gratitude to its nurses, who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to care for patients and support public health efforts."
"Our public healthcare sector, represented by Hamad Medical Corporation and the Primary Health Care Corporation, is keen to provide a stimulating environment for nurses and midwives to work, and to emphasise the importance of professional development," the assistant minister added.
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations (NNAs), representing 28mn nurses worldwide, and Qatar is represented through the Qatar Nurses Association.
"'Our Nurses. Our Future.' sets out what the ICN wants for nursing in the future in order to address the global health challenges and improve global health for all,” ICN president Dr Pamela Cipriano said. “We need to learn from the lessons of the pandemic and translate these into actions for the future that ensure nurses are protected, respected and valued."
With the release of the *State of the Worlds Nursing report, the ;Global Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery', 'Sustain and Retain in 2022' and Beyond' and many other important publications, the ICN and other organisations have shown the evidence for change and called for action and investments in nursing, she added.
International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth as the founder of the modern nursing.
Dr Salih Ali al-Marri
