KARACHI, May 11: Nurses at the Aga Khan University observed the International Nurses Day on Saturday, says a press release.
Every year around the world the day commemorates Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. This year the day was marked by the theme: “Nurses always there for you: caring for families.”
The programme was organized by the AKU School of Nursing (AKUSON) with the objective of increasing public awareness of the pivotal role nurses play in family care and health, and the potential of nurses to influence health and social policies.
Keynote speaker Imtiaz Kamal, general secretary of the National Committee for Maternal Health, highlighted the role of nurses that has now gone beyond hospital settings — to the families.
“The nurses can equip themselves to help the families meet their health needs and this will require more understanding of socio-cultural environment of the families.” She also urged the nurses to realize the significance of the role they could play in avoiding maternal deaths. “Working with families is a very rewarding experience because there is continuity of relationships and visible results of your professional efforts,” she added.
Chief guest Dr Hanif Esmail, chairperson of the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan, said: “Nurses have to nurture understanding of patients and their families.. they should have confidence in their competence.” He stressed that through empowerment of nurses holistic care could be given to patients in a caring and scientific way.
Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, president of the AKU, commended the AKU nurses for the way they had responded to the patient influx in the wake of the tragedy on May 8. He also mentioned that AKUSON was the first institution in Pakistan to have initiated the bachelor’s and master’s programmes in nursing, thus reforming it as a respectable profession.
He also informed the gathering of the recent opening of the Aga Khan University Hospital’s representative office in Dubai and said that nurses’ role would be critical in delivering quality care to the patients in the region.
Speaking on the expanding role of nurses, Dr Yasmin Amarsi, associate dean of AKUSON, said: “Nurses are a key source in caring for the family, the basic structure of society. Their long tradition in family care is well aligned with recent trends in health promotion, disease prevention and self care issues that involve the family.” She highlighted the multifarious roles nurses play, from the role of a heath educator, family advocate, case finder and epidemiologist, researcher, manager and coordinator to that of a counsellor and environmental modifier.
She said more than 11 million nurses are providing care in hospitals, rural health centres, schools, homes, war zones and refugee camps. “Nurses are full-fledged partners in the health care equation, offering not only their compassionate perspective but also their eyes, ears and hearts,” she continued.
The speeches were followed by poster displays and a play that gave insight into the problems faced by women, especially nurses.
CHK CEREMONY: Speakers at a Nurses Day function at the Civil Hospital said nursing is a noble profession which demands honest and sincere services for the ailing humanity.
They urged the nurses to further improve their quality of service. The authorities should also take steps to improve the status of nursing profession in the community, they added.
The function was organized by the School of Nursing of the Civil Hospital. The speakers said lamp-lighting ceremony was held with an aim to empower and develop self-esteem in the student nurses early in their career.
A cake was also cut on the occasion to celebrate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. They also welcomed 31 new nursing students to the School of Nursing of the hospital.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Noshad Shaikh; director of Nursing, Almia Mughal; Dr Mahjabeen Khan, Dr Kaleem Butt; Talat Anwar, and others also spoke.