World Health Day 2020

With the current coronavirus pandemic, the work of nurses and healthcare staff - especially those on the frontline - could not be more important than precisely now: providing high quality treatment and care, answering questions, giving comfort, reducing fears and, sometimes, gathering data for clinical studies.

The World Health Organization (WHO), together with many of their partner organisations, is aiming to draw attention to nursing and midwife staff with this year’s World Health Day. This year a first ever “State of the World’s Nursing Report 2020” will be launched to give a global picture of the nursing workforce. The report will help to improve the contribution of this major workforce to the healthcare system. Moreover, the report should provide a guide for data collection, policy dialogue, research and advocacy, and investment in the health workforce sector for future generations.¹

Did you know…²

• About 70% of the health and social workforce (worldwide) are women. Nurses and midwives represent a large portion of this.
• A good working healthcare system depends on well-trained and educated, regulated and sufficiently supported nurses and midwives.
• Nurses and midwives have a good connection with their patients. Knowing the full picture of someone’s health helps with improving care and saving money.
• More than 80% of maternal deaths, stillbirths and neonatal deaths could be prevented by better support of the midwives.

It is crucial to ensure that the nursing and midwife workforce are strong enough to guarantee a functional healthcare system. Remember: nurses and midwives make a special contribution to a healthy world. Without them the healthcare system would not work – right now, more than ever.

^{1 https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-health-day/world-health-day-2020  (accessed on 01.04.2020, 4pm)}

^{2https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-health-day/world-health-day-2020/key-facts-on-world-health-day-2020 (accessed on 01.04.2020, 4pm)}