Islamabad: Eight Pakistani nurses and midwives have been honoured in the global list of “100 Outstanding Women Nurse and Midwife Leaders” in 2020.
The recognition marks the end of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) year-long campaign to celebrate the incredible work of nurses and midwives, highlight the challenging conditions they face, and advocate for enhanced investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce. The list recognised 100 nurses and midwives from 43 countries for their contribution to raising healthcare standards, especially during the difficult times of the coronavirus pandemic.
Pakistani nurses and midwives acknowledged
All the eight nurses and midwives from Pakistan are either faculty members or alumni of the Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM). The School’s Dean Dr Rozina Karmaliani has been honoured under the Board and Management category in appreciation of her efforts to improve adolescent health, strengthen research capacities and integrate research into education and practice. Dr Rozina, who received her doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota, has spent decades in the field of nursing, empowering others not only in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt and East Africa.
Role of nurses critical in healthcare systems
“It is an honour to be acknowledged by the international public health and nursing fraternity,” said Dr Rozina. “This year has been particularly challenging for healthcare providers, all of whom have showed incredible commitment in responding to the coronavirus crisis.” Appreciating the government and healthcare organisations’ support for nursing and midwifery education, practice and research, she said: “There is no better time than now to acknowledge the critical role of nurses in creating resilient healthcare systems.”
Other healthcare workers recognised in the list
Faculty members Yasmin Parpio and Samina Vertejee have been named in the Community Hero category for their services in community health nursing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samina took up the challenge to improve the welfare of Pakistan’s aging population. Yasmin Nadeem Parpio is working to strengthen nursing curricula and is actively involved in chapters in Pakistan, Jordan and Lebanon as South Asia coordinator for world’s second-largest nursing organisation, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Nurse-midwife Marina Baig has been praised for leveraging mobile health technology to improve maternal health outcomes. Her work to improve antenatal care coverage and skilled delivery in rural settings “is exemplary and could serve as an innovative strategy in improving maternal health outcomes.” Saima Sachwani’s contributions in developing an impactful nursing curriculum have been acknowledged under the Human Capital Development category. Saima says her “mission is to enrich students with all the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies that improve the quality of life of the people at national and an international level.”
Three other Pakistani healthcare workers also recognised under the Community Hero category include Dr Shela Hirani for her efforts to promote, protect and support breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, Neelam Punjani for her work in improving access to sexual and reproductive health rights and Sadaf Saleem Murad for her contributions in the field of gerontology (aging) and nursing education.
