In this International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, World Health Day 2020 will shine a light on the vital role played by nurses and midwives in providing health care around the world, and call for a strengthening of the nursing and midwifery workforce.
On 7 April, “dawn to dusk” advocacy events will be held around the world to mark World Health Day. One of the main events will be the launch of the first ever State of the World’s Nursing Report 2020. The report will provide a global picture of the nursing workforce and support evidence-based planning to optimize the contributions of this workforce to improve health and wellbeing for all. The report will set the agenda for data collection, policy dialogue, research and advocacy, and investment in the health workforce for generations to come. A similar report on the Midwifery workforce will be launched in 2021.
Goals
- Trigger a wave of public appreciation for the work of nurses and midwives and the part they play in delivering health care
- Raise the profile of nurses and midwives within the health workforce
- Catalyze support and investment in nurses and midwives
Call to action
General public
- Show nurses and midwives your appreciation for their work and thank them for what they do to keep us healthy.
- Call on local leaders to do more to support nurses and midwives and make investments that enable them to work to their full potential.
Policy-makers
- Invest in nursing and midwifery education and employment so universal health coverage becomes a reality everywhere.
- Strengthen and pay more attention to nursing and midwifery influence and leadership: health services will improve as a result
- Take steps to improve gathering of workforce data in order to better target resources and make changes where they are needed most.
Health Workers
- Show your respect for nurses, midwives and other fellow health workers
- Listen to their views and explore their ideas.
- Engage nurses and midwives in decision making.
What you can do
Thank a nurse and midwife
Just imagine how powerful it would be if all the health workers in your area were thanked with a flower, card or a tweet. Share your photos on social media using the hashtag #SupportNursesAndMidwives. Make sure to personalize your messages.
Send a letter
Sending a letter can be the first step to getting the attention of leaders and other politicians, if you are a nurse/midwife, share your concerns with the people who make policies that can make a difference.
Develop a petition
Petitions are a great way to demonstrate wider support for change. Gather signatures, submit your request to the authorities, and publicize it as widely as you can.
A day in the life of a nurse / midwife
Want to know what it’s like to be a nurse or a midwife? See if you can spend time alongside a nurse or midwife in your community. Learn more about them, their life saving work and become an advocate for them. Nurses and midwives are vital to our future, we need millions more.