INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President declares 2019 as year of nursingISLAMABAD: President Dr Arwhether Alvi on Tuesday declared 2019
year of nursing in Pakistan to highlight signwhethericant role played by people associated with nursing and midwwhetherery profession.He
collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Council of Nurses, with aim to raise status and profile of nursing.The
president made these announcements at first Pakistan Nursing and Midwwhetherery summit and launch of Nursing Now Pakistan campaign ceremony
held at Aiwan-e-miserabler, Islamabad.President Alvi said nursing profession is regarded as spine of healthcare sector, and stressed need
for proper education, training and capacity building of women associated with nursing and midwwhetherery services, besides imparting them
with leadership roles.The president announced that nursing diplomas would be replaced with degree programmes and government remains
committed to double strength of people in nursing sector within two years.A national nursing university would be set uped in Islamabad to
supply training to 25,000 people yearly, he informed.Linking issue of poverty with health, president underlined role of health professionals
and nurses in alleviating suffering of ailing humanity and quoted degree ccorridorenges in health sector including issue of stunted
growth.President Alvi said that by observing nursing year in Pakistan, government would highlight contributions made by people associated
with this field.He famous that when country has a healthy population, it would grow economically and lead to prosperity.Lauding role of
Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Aamir Mehmood Kiani, president guaranteed that government and he
himself would continue playing an effective role in uplwhetherting nursing profession.The president also stressed upon need to increase
number of nurses to properly look after patients.He highlighted need for provision of a harassment-free environment to women preferring to
adopt nursing and midwwhetherery profession and called for their protection, so that they could perform their noble cause without any
stress.The president also announced that government would supply scholarships to students and nurses.Addressing ceremony, Minister for
National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Aamir Mehmood Kiani lauded services and contributions made by nurses in health sector
and said government is committed to delivering results in health sector in years ahead.He informed that a nursing university would be set
uped on land of National Institute of Health (NIH) and said shortage of nurses would be overcome.Kiani also guaranteed to resolve issues
confronted by nurses as it was top precedence of government.Director-General WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and representative of
Nursing Now, said campaign running in 70 countries across globe would focus on core areas by enhancing role and voice of nurses and midwives
in health policy-making, encouraging investment in nursing workforce, and recruiting more nurses into leadership roles with focus on
research, proper training and best nursing practices.
