The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
COMMENT | Judith Hope Kiconco | It’s that time of year again for nurses. Just last week, we had the midwives celebrate the International Day of the Midwife in style at KAWEMPE national referral hospital.
Nurses are usually the first point of contacting for health care in our communities. Nurses and Midwives have dedicated their lives to showing up for all our health needs, reassuring us when we scared of an illness, counselling when it’s necessary, giving hope when our faith is wavering, and we seem to be losing the disease battle among other incredible things they do.
I am sure that just like me, all of us have that one good experience or several with nurses. Because of this and more, nurses are unsung heroes of our lives and this “nurses’ week” is dedicated to honoring them.
Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th.These being permanent dates, they augment planning and position Nurses Week as an established recognition event worldwide.
Student Nurses Day May 8th, Nurses Day May 12th, and Nurses Week May 6th-12th are observances but not public holidays. Globally, a whole week’s celebration is planned to commemorate the nurses. It is celebrated as a week-long event, referred to as National Nurses Week in many countries like Australia, United States, Canada and etc.
Nurses are appreciated and honored at this day by distributing gifts, flowers, shopping vouchers, organizing dinners by the friends, family members, coworkers and the rest of the public.
International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated every year all around the world on 12th of May to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Florence Nightingale (the foundational philosopher of the modern nursing) and to mark the nurse’s contributions towards people’s health.
The Theme for this year’s International Nurses Day is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A vision for future healthcare” as declared by international council of Nurses (ICN). Uganda will hold national celebrations on 12th June 2021 in Kamuli district.
As nurses, we cordially invite the public to always join us in celebrating these very important days we hold dear in our professional lives. You can do this with a gesture suitable and convenient to you.
You can say it with discounted rates, it can be fully paid coffee, dinner, barbeque etc. Flowers always do the trick. Why not a free uber/safe boda ride? How about free car service or even Fuel? And a spa treatment and lots more. A church service specially arranged for nurses is a great idea to celebrating with us. You know the language you speak best, am sure nurses around you will love it. Spread the Love to all the Nurses and Midwives in your community this week and month.
Looking forward to celebrating this special week with all of you.
To my fellow nurses, Happy Nurses Week and wish you the very best of Nurses Day 2021!
*****
Judith Hope Kiconco, Nurse & Global Health Specialist
