2020 fitting as International Year of Nurse and Midwife

When the World Health Organisation chose 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, no one could have predicted a global COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses and midwives have been key to Western Australia’s COVID-19 response, continuing to provide a quality 24/7 service to the community despite physical distancing requirements and lockdowns.

Innovation and technology (telehealth services) helped reshape business as usual for nurses and midwives as they continued to care for the State’s most vulnerable people.

Thanks to the City of Perth, the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife will be celebrated with displays on public screens at Forrest Place, Northbridge Plaza and Yagan Square. Trafalgar Bridge in East Perth will also be lit up this week.

Winners of the 2020 WA Nurses and Midwifery Excellence Awards will be announced in 2021, following the COVID-19 related cancellation of this year’s event.

The Department’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Robina Redknap, said it was particularly fitting to recognise the valuable contribution made by WA’s nurses and midwives to the health of the community this year.

“This week we celebrate these extraordinary health professionals and their work during what has been a challenging and historic time.

“Our nurses and midwives here in WA are some of the finest in the world and we are grateful for the work they do every day.

“As we near the end of 2020, we can reflect positively on how our nurses and midwives have met the challenges of COVID face on.

“I particularly acknowledge those who treated infected COVID-19 patients and those who volunteered to travel to Victoria to support the health response there.”

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