The World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the year of the nurse and the midwife.
That was done to recognize the vital role that these frontline medical staff play in the provision of healthcare in countries all around the world. According to the WHO, the world is in need of about 9 million more nurses and midwives in order to reach a higher standard of care and universal health coverage by 2030.
The nurses of Belize say that they face the same shortage that the WHO has identified globally. But, to honor those who try their best to fill the void, nurses held a walk-a-thon this evening in Belize City, just before the start of the evening news.
7News was at the KHMH when the march moved off, and we spoke to one of the nurses about the event:
Sister Kereen Birch, Nurse
"So this is 2020, observed internationally as the year of the nurse and midwife, because this marks 200 years since Florence Nightingale was born. So it's an international celebration."
Reporter
"Explain to us the importance of this day or this year for the nursing profession?"
Sister Kereen Birch, Nurse
"The importance of this year is that this year marks 200 years since Florence Nightingale decided that she was going to start nursing."
Reporter
"Explain to us how you guys are honoring the profession here in Belize?"
Sister Kereen Birch, Nurse
"What we are doing is we're doing several events throughout the year to just make our presence known as nurses, remind people that nurses are here and we are here stay and while doing that we might probably encourage someone to say hey that looks interesting let me join."
Reporter
"Tell us about the day to day challenges and struggles that you guys as frontline medical personell face."
Sister Kereen Birch, Nurse
"Well, we face the same challenges that nurses all over the world face, the biggest being shortage. We have to work with less staff than we normally should have, equipment, supplies - same problems that everyone has and of course, we have the human factor, because we are dealing with individuals that are ill, we are dealing with their family members that might be upset for whatever reason. Everyone, when their relative is sick, they believe they are the sickest person even though they might be the leas sick of all the ones that we are seeing, so it's a balance between learning how to deal with the personalities, remembering what to do, maintaining your professionalism."
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