17 Feb 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2020 as the Year of Nurse and Midwife, says Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Mr Solomon Sekwakwa.

Speaking at a press conference  in Gaborone recently, Mr Sekwakwa said this year’s celebrations would be extra special because it would be Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday.

He also said the year 2020 would be a catalyst to start a new way of recognising nurses unique contributions to the health of people.

Speaking on the background of Botswana Nurses Day (BND), Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) President, Mr Obonolo Rahube said they started celebrating nurses’ day in 1968 after they affiliated to the International Council of Nurses which has its headquarters in Geneva.  Mr Rahube said this year’s nurses day would be commemorated on June 5 in Maun.

He also said activities planned for this year’s BND include the lighting of the Florence Nightingale roving torch which would be done on February 28 in  Maun and would travel around Botswana until the actual day of the commemoration.

 Further,  he said  69 awards would presented to deserving practitioners as part of the commemoration.

He expressed his gratitude to the government  through the Ministry of Health and Wellness for collaborating with them in order to make the day a success.

Speaking on the challenges that nurses face, Mr Rahube said nurses receive day to day challenges in ensuring that they deliver a quality health services to their clientele. He said such challenges include shortage of resources, dilapidated houses or lack of accommodation.

“However, despite all these difficult challenges, as nurses we are ready to serve our people with humility and Botho as long as resources are there at our disposal and having a conducive environment,” he said. ENDS