2020- The Year of Nurses and Midwives

Salim M Adib^*
*Correspondence: Salim M Adib, Department of Nursing, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Kuwait, Email:

Healthcare staff plays an important role of the health workforce in fighting against COVID-19, the pandemic crisis of coronavirus has reminded us of the value and importance of the health workers, also includes nurses and midwives. Nurses are the backbone of every health system across the globe. Extended working hours, experiencing with exhaustion and trauma and having themselves at risk of infection to care for the people infected with the virus, the health workers are striving to fight against the virus. As it says when in a situation of adversity we have an opportunity to improve or healthcare systems and what this COVID-19 has brought into light that there is the hour of need for every nation to recognize and invest in nurses and midwives as part of the healthcare system and always commit to achieve a universal health coverage.”

Based on the resources and with reference to the data released by the Union Health Ministry in the 1^st week of May, we have a good recovery rate of COVID infected patients is close to 31 %. This is because of the hard work, effort, commitment and selfless service given by the healthcare workers also including nurses and midwives has no doubt contributed to this impressive recovery rate. In fact nurses are playing a prominent role and always an important workforce in managing any health crisis because they are truly the vital link between the infected patient and the remaining health care team. The contribution of nurses and midwives when dealing with any crisis or in dealing with this pandemic COVID-19 situation across the globe is unparalleled.

There is a public view of nursing profession and of nurses that is typically based on individual experiences with nurses, which may lead to a minimal or low esteem view of a nurse. This is often based their personal experiences. These individual experiences may not account for a true representation of all nurses of what they can and doing to give a seamless effort in the healthcare delivery process. Other professionals of the healthcare system are being more recognition than the nursing professionals. But in contrary to that image, nursing professionals and midwives have a dynamic role in every aspect of healthcare delivery system.

In recognition of their work, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared during last year that 2020 would be dedicated to nurses and midwives. It chose the theme to relate with the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale on 12^th of May. Unfortunately this year the outbreak of the COVID-19 infection happened across the world which took the lives of many people globally.

Nurses have made and proved to be the warriors of the health and the nurses have taken their responsibility to fight with COVID-19 very willingly with their heart and soul. Nursing profession has become a central point in tackling the pandemic situation and, nurses in each and every part of the country, have “stepped up and stepped beyond” their calling.

As a final note the nurses who are working in the forefront and are always managing the COVID-19 patients has become the most contributing profession in treating this pandemic crisis and hence this 2020 year is dedicated to all nurses and midwives