Every single person living has come across a nurse in their lifetime. Whether it is at a small clinic or in a hospital, nurses work tirelessly for the health of families and communities.
International Nurses Day is celebrated each year on the 12th of May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. 204 years after the birth of the ‘the Lady with the Lamp,’ we recognize this ‘social reformer who was the foundational philosopher of modern nursing,’ by continuing to advance her cause.
This year, the theme of International Nurses Day (IND) reminds us all of the “the economic power of care.” In the words of the International Council of Nurses, “despite being the backbone of health care, nursing often faces financial constraints and societal undervaluation. IND 2024 aims to reshape perceptions, demonstrating how strategic investment in nursing can bring considerable economic and societal benefits.”
For quality people-centred services, we understand the critical importance of investing in and cultivating an adequate, multi-disciplined health workforce. Central to this must be well-trained nurses.
Nurses make up the largest group of health workers in our South-East Asia Region, approximately, 9 out of 10 of whom are women. This means over 2.7 million, out of 3 million nurses, are women. These are women who contribute to health promotion in communities, to educating patients and families, to self-management of illnesses at home, and providing care to the newborn, children, adolescents, and adults.
Educating women to be nurses gives professionals skills that benefit beyond the individual. The benefits cascade through their families and their communities. By ensuring healthy communities, nurses are ensuring the economic productivity of the community. It also provides women with the potential for a life-long career and women’s participation in the economic market. Educating nurses can help achieve greater gender equity in health. This is a key priority since women make up 70% of the global health workforce, but only 25% of senior leadership positions.
Other economic impact includes health care cost saving that nurses bring. There is enough evidence that indicate nurse-led clinics are as effective compared to non-nurse led clinics, and patients indicate higher satisfaction of their care when nurses are involved in their care. When nurses are involved, care is delivered in an efficient manner and can contribute to cost-effective solutions.
Moreover, educational and training programmes for nurse-led clinics can attract more investment to the health sector. These investments can lead to greater return on investment with a healthier, productive community.
We know that our Region is prone to natural disasters and health emergencies, which affect our economies. The health impacts due to these events are worsening, especially for marginalized and vulnerable populations. Accessing health services becomes more challenging and health inequities are exacerbated. Today, it is clear that expanding investments in nursing, and the broader health workforce, is also critical to responding to health emergencies and for protecting our economies and societies.
Investments in nursing can be strategically made to education, jobs, leadership and service delivery, as laid out by the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021-2025. These are policy priority areas based on global evidence that were adopted by the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly as a resolution.
Our South-East Asia Regional Office is committed to supporting all countries in the Region to strengthen investments in the health workforce as central to achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), and the multiple targets that underpin Sustainable Development Goal 3. Sustainable health and well-being is central to meeting the economic and development aspirations of our Region.
Investment in nursing is essential to assuring the health, security, and prosperity of South-East Asia. Without this, we cannot achieve the ambitious goals that we have set ourselves.
On International Nurses Day 2024, I call on all our Member States to remember the example of Florence Nightingale and make the necessary investments in this vital and noble calling.
Thank you.