This year, the theme of International Nurses Day was Nurses: A Voice to Lead, Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Professor Yasmin Amarsi, the Founding Dean at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Aga Khan University, gave the keynote presentation. Dr. Amarsi emphasized the importance of a united voice among nurses to improve the standing of the profession, as well as the role of continuing education and professional development in improving nursing quality.
The event also served as an opportunity for nurses themselves to share their own perspectives about their work and profession in the country. Today, there are over 40,000 registered nurses working in the country, around 90% of whom are women.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Dilshad Dossani, Chair of the National Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation remarked, “It is fitting indeed that we are here this morning to celebrate and honour a profession that strives at its heart to care for humanity, both in body and in spirit.”
The Chief Guest, Mr. Subhash Chandra Sarker, Additional Secretary (Nursing and Midwifery) at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted the recent efforts of the government to upgrade the nursing profession in the country, and encouraged nurses to continue working for the betterment of their profession.
Ms. Rubana Huq, Managing Director of Mohammadi Group and a noted poet and writer, shared an inspiring personal story and said, “You save lives everyday. You chose to be nurses. You chose to be heroes.”
AKDN has been working in the field of nursing, primarily through the Aga Khan University, for nearly 40 years, in many countries including in Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
