Geneva, Switzerland; 11 May 2018 – In celebration of International Nurses Day on 12 May, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) today launched its
new video under the theme “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human Right”. Via the video, website, toolkit, posters and other resources, ICN’s 2018 campaign showcases examples of nurse-led initiatives that enable hard-to-reach, underserved and vulnerable populations to have access to the highest standards of healthcare, no matter the location and no matter the setting.
“We are delighted to share this video celebrating the work of nurses in upholding the human right to health and improving access to affordable, acceptable, safe, quality care., Said ICN President, Annette Kennedy. “Investing in nursing saves lives, prevents disease, heals, repairs and rehabilitates. It is therefore an investment in the wider economy and crucial that governments and organisations worldwide value, support and invest in the nursing profession.”
Accompanying the official IND video, which provides comprehensive information on the issues at stake, ICN has also produced dozens of real-life case studies sourced directly from nurses coming from all regions; a YouTube series featuring high-level experts discussing the role of nursing in achieving universal health coverage; and guidance pack available for free download, which explores the current status of the right to health globally and the ways in which nurses are central to improving access to care through more involvement in policy-making. All these resources can be found on: https://2018.icnvoicetolead.com/resources/
Providing essential health care services to vulnerable populations is the foundation of the nursing profession, which is underpinned by a code of ethics ensuring the provision of health care to all, regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity or wealth. Nursing care puts people at the centre of care to improve patient experiences, promote public health and reduce health inequalities. More than any other profession, nurses are the closest to those they treat and are best placed to assess the determinants of health and lead health systems towards more responsive frameworks.
When at least 400 million people globally lack access to one or more essential health services and 100 million fall into poverty each year paying for these same services, it is time to turn to the core of healthcare for solutions.
