Sultanate observes International Nurses Day
The Sultanate on Wednesday joined the international community in celebrating the International Nurses Day, which is marked on May 12 each year, to highlight the significant role played by the nursing profession within the healthcare system.
The celebration is promoting the role of nursing and midwifery in Oman and the best possible investment of nursing resources particularly through highlighting their role in making health policies and empowering their leadership in health care. The day is further focusing on the scientifically based professional practice in order to improve the quality of the provided nursing care.
Dr Jamal bin Eid al Khudhouri, Director General of Nursing Affairs at the Ministry of Health, pointed out that the celebration of the day comes within the framework of the global appreciation of the active role played by nursing categories, as well as highlighting the importance of the role of nursing leaders in addressing a wide range of health challenges facing the world as they serve as the backbone of the health system and at the front lines to address pandemics and epidemics.
He stated that the nursing staff works hard to meet the health needs of society in addition to being assigned key roles in emergencies and natural disasters.
Al Khudhouri explained that nurses’ main role to provide physical care to the patient and implement the guidance and requirements of the doctor has been extended. Their role has become more comprehensive to cover many areas as a result of the scientific and technological progress in the field of health.
While the world is battling against the Covid-19 pandemic that has exhausted the health system and consumed lives and energies, nurses have shown incredible commitment and courage to take care of the infected persons and communicate with their families as well providing support; thus playing an important role in leadership.
The Director-general of Nursing Affairs outlined that the pandemic has put enormous pressure on nurses therefore training is required to deal with emergencies and epidemics to provide health services to the patient in such difficult circumstances.
It is worth mentioning that the nursing profession in Oman has developed significantly in recent years thanks to the renaissance and administrative and technical support of the Ministry of Health.
Now, there are nearly 20,000 nurses, and the health sector has grown in parallel with the government’s orientation to offer healthcare services at all levels to all citizens and residents as part of Oman Vision 2040.