Let’s take a moment to salute all the nurses!

To all the nurses risking their lives out there to save other people during this worldwide pandemic, COVID-19, salute to you all. Even if we respect our doctors many times, but I guess nurses are very much underrated and should be appreciated and respected in the same manner more. They too do amazing work and demand the same love and respect.

Today, 12th of May is their day, International Nurses Day. You all are the unsung warriors of the world and your selfless services will never be forgotten. What you are doing in this crucial time is priceless. Nurses day is celebrated around the world every May 12, in memory of the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Nurses are at the forefront of fighting epidemics and pandemics - providing high quality and respectful treatment and care. They are often the first and sometimes the only health professional that people see and the quality of their initial assessment, care and treatment is vital.

Without nurses and other health workers, we will not win the battle against outbreaks, we will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or universal health coverage. Countries should develop their nursing workforces more, by which countries can achieve the triple impact of improving health, promoting gender equality and supporting economic growth. Strengthening nursing will have the additional benefits of promoting gender equity (SDG5), contributing to economic development (SDG8) and supporting other Sustainable Development Goals.

Florence Nightingle was a British nurse, statistician, and social reformer who was the foundational philosopher of modern nursing. She was put in charge of nursing British and allied soldiers in Turkey during the Crimean War. She spent many hours in the wards, and her night rounds giving personal care to the wounded and hence established her image as the “Lady with the Lamp.”  She was the first woman awarded the Order of Merit (1907) and, this day  commemorates her birth and celebrates the important role of nurses in health care.

And at the end, let’s just hope this pandemic gets over soon and everyone is in good health.

 
- Purbali Mandal
Bachelors in journalism and mass communication
Amity University
Kolkata