The international year of the nurse and the midwife

Abstract EN

Nurses and midwives constitute up to half of the healthcare workforce and render services to prevent illness, promote wellness, and restore health.

The year 2020 marks the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

To recognize the critical role nurses play to enhance global health, the World Health Organization along with the International Council of Nurses, the International Council of Midwives, and the United Nations Population Fund designated 2020 as "The international year of the nurse and the midwife." The overall purpose is to acknowledge the contributions of nurses and midwives in achieving universal health coverage.

Strengthening nursing services will strengthen the entire health care system.

We need to be cognizant of the unique role nurses and midwives play in the health system and ensure that nurses are involved in decision making.

Investment in nursing and midwifery is invariably an investment in health for all.

However, the alarming global and regional shortage of nurses calls for the strengthening of nursing education.