Often described as the backbone of medical systems, the role of nurses
and midwives extends beyond administering care. PHOTO | FILE | NATION
MEDIA GROUP
A man who really cares for his patients will soon learn to ask
for and appreciate the information of a nurse, who is at once a careful
observer and a clear reporter.”
Florence Nightingale’s timeless advice to doctors is as true today as it was when her seminal work Notes on Nursing
was first published. Two centuries have now passed since the “lady with
the lamp” came into this world to change the face of nursing. Her
commitment helped transform nursing from a mostly untrained occupation
to a highly skilled medical profession with important responsibilities.
Sadly,
nurses and midwives remain undervalued and underappreciated. The
importance of their role, certainly in the context of East Africa, can
hardly be overstated. Across the region, they constitute the majority of
the health workforce, in some cases representing over 80 per cent of
the health workforce.
PROVIDING COMFORT
Often
described as the backbone of health systems, the role of nurses and
midwives typically extends beyond administering care. They are usually
the first point of contact for patients, receiving people at their most
vulnerable and providing comfort, reassurance and competent assessments.
Most of us who have experienced hospitals will know how effective they
can be in advocating for patients’ interests and improving patient
outcomes.
Recognising the critical
roles that nurses and midwives play in promoting healthy lifestyles and
reducing mortality, morbidity and disability, the Aga Khan Development
Network has had a long commitment to strengthening the nursing and
midwifery professions in East Africa and elsewhere.
As His Highness the Aga Khan once put it: “I
have long felt the enhancement of the nursing profession to be
absolutely critical to the improvement of healthcare in the developing
world. The way forward was to professionalise, to institutionalise, and
to dignify this great profession.”
This
week, a new crop of graduands across East Africa will enhance their
professional credentials with degrees and diplomas from the Aga Khan
University School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Since
its inception in 2000, the school has seen more than 3,000 join the
ranks of qualified, working nurses and midwives in Kenya, Uganda and
Tanzania. Guided by the principles of impact, quality, relevance and
access, the Aga Khan University and Aga Khan Health Services continue to
invest heavily in building nursing capacity in East Africa.
The
need to recognise the vital work of nurses and midwives is also being
championed by a global campaign, called Nursing Now. In collaboration
with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Council
of Nurses, the campaign seeks to empower nurses to take their place at
the heart of tackling 21st Century health challenges and help achieve
universal health coverage.
SOFT TOUCH
Launched
in 2018, Nursing Now already has more than 360 groups across 101
countries, working to promote this important mission. The WHO has
designated the year 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife”, in
honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
Those
who work in the health services industry have long seen nurses and
midwives as the backbone of health systems. For those of us who have
experienced the soft touch of their care, we know they are more than
that. They are the heart of healthcare.
Amin Mawji OBE is the Diplomatic Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network based in Kampala, Uganda
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