Nagaland joins world to observe Nurses’ Day

Nagaland on Tuesday joined the world to celebrate International Nurses Day (IND), observed every year on May 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Florence Nightingale and to honour the contributions of nurses towards people’s health. This year’s theme is “Nurses: a force for change: care effective, cost effective”.
In Kohima, International Nurses’ Day was observed at DBT Conference Hall, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK).
Speaking as chief guest of the occasion, commissioner & secretary Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) M. Patton said that nurses played as important role as doctors and were indispensable to a society’s well-being and good health.
He said that a future of nursing report 2012 by USA institute of medicine, reiterated that nurses needed to continually upgrade their skills to keep pace with changing diagnostics and treatment.
Lauding the theme of this year’s celebration, he said nurses would become even more important in the future as the global health system and philosophy shifts towards preventive care, which required less of intensive, physician/doctor intervention and more of simple routine that nurses alone could adequately provide-“lower-cost, higher touch, prevent and manage model”.
Medical superintendent (MS) Dr Naikhtielie Khimia-o exhorted the gathering and said Nursing was the largest health profession in the world and was the backbone to the hospital, saying without nurses hospitals would collapse.
He also said that nurse’s care and the way they deliver service to people was in no way inferior to others. Deputy director nursing Ch Henia gave an introduction to the theme.
Earlier at the programme, lamp lighting was carried out by nursing superintendent NHAK Tephosule and invocation was pronounced by NHAK chaplain Pelhoutsu. Vote of thanks was proposed by vice president TNAI local branch Kohima Rita Angami.
TNAI Dmu unit observes IND
In Dimapur, Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) Dimapur unit observed International Nurses Day (IND) at district hospital medical fellowship hall.
Speaking on the occasion as theme speaker, nursing superintendent Hisüle said the theme for IND 2015 was reflected on International Council of Nurses (ICN) commitment to strengthen and improve health system around the world.
Stressing on the IND kit, she said it was intended to provide tools and information to assist and encourage the nurses to engage in an effective health system and finance. Hisüle said it was also an important means to achieve quality care and patient safety in a cost effective way and also to provide efficient use of resources, service delivery, management, health workforce and value of nursing.
Hisüle said that nurses needed an understanding of health care delivery, which include finance cost effectiveness, resource management and cost of healthcare and access to care.
She also said it was essential that nurses and policy makers should focus on nursing roles as effecting managers in quality care and cost management.
Nursing superintendent stated that the cost of healthcare was rising worldwide largely driven by heavy and growing burden of the non communicable diseases (NCDs).
On the shortage of nursing in both developed and developing countries, Hisüle said nurses were stressed and over burdened by increased workload.
She lamented that despite the global shortage of nurses many nursing graduates in certain countries and in state were unable to find employment.
Meanwhile, chief medical officer (CMO) Dr. M.A. Wati exhorted the nurses to perform one’s duty with devotion, sincerity, humbleness and serve for humanity and to fulfil the mission in life as they have opted. He also encouraged the nursing students to work hard and shine in the field they have chosen.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by SON principal Nepralü Keyho, Dr. Modesta Belho invoked God’s blessing and special prayer for nurses was offered by Chaplain Rev. Mar pongen. Special song was presented by 1st year GNM students, entertainment by Khetoli, Pursenla and friends while vote of thanks was delivered by TNAI president I.Asangla.