The doctors of DHD presenting a song during the International Nurses Day celebration on May 10 at DHD, Dimapur. (Morung Photo)
TNAI Dimapur unit observes ‘International Nurses Day’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 10
The International Nurses Day was celebrated two days ahead today, at the District Hospital Dimapur (DHD), in the packed Chapel Hall attended by medical staff and nursing students. Organized by the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), Dimapur Unit, the event was held under the theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.”
The International Nurses Day (IND) is celebrated around the world every May 12,the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, to honour the nurses for their dedication and sacrifices towards the healthcare system. Nurses week is observed from May 6-12 every year.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang who was the special guest on the occasion acknowledged the nursing community for their ‘dedication, professionalism and selflessness.’
The DC noted that the day is also to commemorate the profound impact that nurses have on the societies and to raise awareness among the communities of their ‘unwavering commitment’ and crucial role to healthcare.
“For a society to progress, we need good healthcare facilities,” said Dr Chang even as he noted how there are many places in remote areas of Nagaland where healthcare facilities are yet to be reached. And for that, he maintained that all stakeholders should work together and reach out to close the ‘unreached areas.’
Once a person’s healthcare is okay, he will definitely succeed and will pursue his goals, which will eventually increase the economic status of the individual concerned. The ripple effect will make the Nagas progress economically, he maintained.
As a civil servant posted in different remote areas before coming to Dimapur, the DC regretted the lack of infrastructure in medical instruments and facilities of the senior doctors and nurses, which hinder the overall development. However, he expressed gratitude to the healthcare workers and was positive that more developments will come in with helping hands from all ends of the society.
Theme speaker, Vive S Chishi, General Secretary of TNAI, Dimapur Unit underscored the importance of celebrating nurses day. She said that the role of a nurse was not an easy task, where people think ‘a nurse is the one who gives injection’ and then their work is done. But their work is way beyond that and the IND draws attention to how the nurses work in its entirety and what role they play in a community to serve the people.
“Nursing is a golden thread which runs around the community, because we don’t just take care of a person who is sick and admitted. We take care of a person as a whole. We care for the patient and the family,” she said.
Chishi maintained that the pandemic has taught the nursing community to go beyond their capacity by working for the society as a whole. Health being a fundamental platform in which people build their lives in a society, Chishi said this year’s theme highlights the economic power of care, where the need of nursing is to be seen as an investment.
“Mostly our policymakers see it as a cost, but it is not,” she begged to differ, by arguing that ‘if we invest in nursing, we yield different opportunities, and provide better healthcare for the people.’ It helps the government to reshape the economy, where the society benefits.
When one focuses on the economic power of care, we empower nurses, and we create healthy people. “Through the creation of healthy people, we are able to derive a healthy economy. That is what we are focusing on this year,” she highlighted.
Chishi called upon the policymakers present, to invest in nursing education, in properly funded nursing school so that when the nursing community is equipped with better knowledge and technology, it will strengthen the healthcare economy and the society for a better future.
Meanwhile, during the programme, a touching role play depicting the responsibilities of nurses and doctors during the COVID pandemic was presented by the School of Nursing, DHD. Dr Keveduyi Theyo, MS, DHD exhorted the gathering, while President of TNAI, Dimapur Unit Bursenla gave a welcome note. A song was presented by the nurses of DHD and the doctors respectively.
