Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates the contribution of healthcare professionals, nurses, doctors, and midwives, in their tireless pursuit of quality healthcare for all. It’s a special day for the healthcare community, as the world pays homage to some of the bravest and caring individuals in the field.
The inception of World Health Day
April 7th, 1950 was the inception of the yearly campaign to highlight the impact of our global healthcare professionals. World health day 2020 is, therefore, a key awareness campaign driven to illuminate the immense work of these global healthcare professionals, while providing attention, relief, and investment within key areas. This year, we’re celebrating the work of nurses and midwives, and their critical role in providing the necessary support during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The theme of World Health Day in 2020 – “Support nurses and midwives”
The World Health Organization is honouring the critical contribution of nurses and midwives this year, with special attention given to those that are at the forefront of the COVID-19 response. Nurses form more than two-thirds of the total healthcare force worldwide, making them one of the most valuable resources that the world recognizes.
The 2020 International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife is a celebration of some of the hardest working individuals aiding in the fight against the greatest pandemic in recent history. Nurses are playing a key role in caring for those that are affected by the COVID-19 virus, as well as enabling doctors to perform comprehensive treatment for patients around the world.
Why we’re celebrating nurses & healthcare professionals
The global impact of the COVID-19 virus is being felt by every individual, as we follow strict quarantine and social distancing rules. Nurses and healthcare professionals are working around the clock to ensure that those affected have access to quality healthcare to receive the right treatment. Nurses are also ensuring that there are enough medical supplies, masks, devices and tools to ensure that the crisis is contained effectively.
Additionally, 70% of healthcare and social welfare professionals are women, with nurses & midwives representing a large portion of that segment. They’re the first in line to treat patients suffering from illnesses, and help doctors carry out treatments in times of conflict, outbreaks, and pandemics. As we celebrate India’s critical impact on international health day, we also need to acknowledge the special role that nurses, and midwives play in helping the country recover from this global crisis.
While our nation’s nurses are working tirelessly to support our doctors and healthcare professionals, they need our support. The government of India is actively helping healthcare workers with insurance policies and compensations, and every citizen can collectively support our nurses and midwives at this time. We can acknowledge, care, and support our local nurses and midwives, during this period, while also calling upon our leaders to support our medical workforce. We can also share messages and posts, thanking our nurses & midwives, for their immense impact on our global response this year.
