International Nurses Day Celebrated Across The World

Every year, May 12 is observed as the International Nurses Day around the world. International Nurses Day is organized every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

The theme for International Nurses Day 2020 is "Nursingthe World to Health". According to WHO, on the occasion of theInternational Day of the Nurse and the 200th anniversary of the birth ofFlorence Nightingale, the global health body has joined hundreds of partnersacross the world to highlight the importance of nurses in the healthcaresector.

The WHO has also designated 2020 as The Year of the Nurseand Midwife, to make the 200th anniversary of the birth of FlorenceNightingale.

The WHO said on its website that the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic highlights the vital role played by nurses. Without nurses and other health workers, it is impossible to win the battle against outbreaks.

Notably, Dorothy Sutherland, an official with the USDepartment of Health, Education, and Welfare, had proposed to President DwightD Eisenhower in 1953 to proclaim a "Nurses' Day"; but PresidentEisenhower rejected his request. But the International Council of Nurses (ICN)has been celebrating this day since 1965.

On the other hand, MMCH (Guwahati) also observed International Nurses Day.

In January 1974, May 12 was chosen to celebrate as International Nurses Day in honor of Florence Nightingale.