Row Development

  Photo courtersy of URN The Global Nursing Fraternity celebrated International Nurses Week last week, Friday 6th -  Thursday 12th May, culminating in a busy and joyous celebration on 12th May. The date is special because it is the birthday of Florence Nightingale – considered the mother of Nursing; although equally significant contributions to the early profession by Mary Seacole (of black descent) have recently come to light. Their mission to Crimea, and the care they offered the soldiers in the war, saved lives and gave birth to our noble profession. The nurses’ week is therefore used to celebrate and recognise the contribution of the largest health workforce to health systems, leadership, and our communities.  But it has not always been like this. The first proposal to mark the celebration of Nurses Day was presented to President Eisenhower (USA) in 1953. The following year, National Nurses week was observed from October 11 -16,  markin...

Dorris wheels her patient to the Hospital in Arua District accompanied by a care taker For a long time now, Nurses and Midwives in Uganda have worked in low resource health facilities, and done so fairly well. Part of their success in these settings & key determinant is their willingness and ability to quickly adapt, innovate and recover. It is an admirable on-to the next one attitude. They have learned to use meager resources wisely, save essential medicines, care for and save as many lives as possible, even under tasking conditions such as, low pay, long work hours, lack of adequate Personal Protective Equipment, and lack of advanced technology. Uganda's  Nurses and Midwives make up 70% of the health work force, each and every one of those has done something sacrificial that only they or their patients know.  We are lucky in a way to be able to share in Dorris’ sacrifice, because it reminds us of those Nurses and Midwives that have gone above & beyond their...