Nurses: A voice to lead- A vision for future healthcare

12 May 2021

Setshaba Research Centre (SRC) Nurses candlelight in preparation to collectively read the Nightingale Pledge

International Nurses’ Day is celebrated annually on 12 May, the anniversary of the founder of modern-day nursing, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

As the largest health care profession in the world, there is no doubt that nurses are key to the achievement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals(MDGs). Nurses are often the only health professionals accessible to many people in their lifetime. Therefore nurses are particularly well placed and often the most innovative in reaching underserved and disadvantaged populations.

The theme for this year’s International Nurses Day is Nurses: A Voice to Lead – A vision for future Healthcare. According to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), it reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on the health system, the nursing profession and the future of the health system and nursing.

It has been over a year since the first COVID-19 case was recorded in South Africa. Since then, nearly 57 000 people have died and nearly 1.70  million cases have been recorded. The global pandemic has shown the world that nurses, as the largest healthcare profession, play a vital role. During the pandemic, they have served on the frontlines.