‘Int’l Year of the Nurse and the Midwife’: WHO honors ‘those who devote lives to moms, kids’ this 2020

• The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the sacrifices of nurses and midwifes this year
• Calling 2020 the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife”, the WHO encourages countries to honor nurses and midwives in various ways
• Nurses and midwives are the backbone of every health system, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized

The World Health Organization (WHO) is starting the new decade by recognizing the sacrifices of nurses and midwifes this 2020.

Calling 2020 the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife”, the WHO encourages countries to honor nurses and midwives; who “play a vital role in providing health services”,adding that the world needs nine million more of them to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.

“These are the people who 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,” a WHO statement noted.

With the WHO honoring the aforementioned health workers for the whole 2020, the international organization urged countries to organize recognition awards for midwives and nurses; organize public events and meetings with active participation of nurses, midwives, patients, and health leaders; produce Year of the Nurse and the Midwife posters and strategic locations;  ask leaders and health care leaders to promote the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in their speeches, on social media, and interviews; and approach artists to create artwork for health workers, among others.

“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of every health system. In 2020, we’re calling on all countries to invest in nurses and midwives as part of their commitment to health for all,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“I’m thankful that nurses and midwives are helping make progress towards health for all throughout the world,” WHO Chief Nursing Officer Elizabeth Iro expressed.