Thread by @WHO

It's #WorldHealthDay! Take a minute to say #ThanksHealthHeroes! pscp.tv/w/cVsbFjI2MTAy…

"Today is WHO’s birthday. It was on the 7th of April 1948 that WHO came into being.

It’s a day we mark every year as #WorldHealthDay"-@DrTedros

"Today and throughout 2020, we’re highlighting the vital role of nurses and midwives, as part of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"It may not seem that there are many reasons for celebration.

The world is in the grip of the most severe health crisis of our time.

The #COVID19 pandemic is reminding us of the vital role nurses and midwives play"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"Every day, nurses are putting themselves at risk to alleviate suffering & save lives.
They’re reorganizing wards to open more beds for #COVID19 patients, while continuing to provide care for other patients with urgent health needs, incl women in labour"-@DrTedros #WorldHealthDay

"They’re taking stock of equipment & lending it across units.

They’re learning on the job with information that changes daily – even hourly"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"Nurses are doing the unthinkable. Because critical #COVID19 patients are isolated, the last human touch they may feel is that of a nurse’s hand.
The kindness of caring strangers has never been more important"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"I hear stories about nurses video-calling family members late in the night, so they can say goodbye to a dying relative.

Because #healthworkers are on the front lines of the fight against #COVID19, they’re also among the most at risk"-@DrTedros #WorldHealthDay

"More than 3 000 #healthworkers have been infected & many have paid the ultimate price.

When health workers are exposed or become sick, they have to go home & stay there for at least 2 weeks. Hospitals scramble to find replacements"-@DrTedros #ThanksHealthHeroes #WorldHealthDay

"That’s why we must ensure that #healthworkers have the medical masks & other personal protective equipment they need"-@DrTedros #ThanksHealthHeroes #WorldHealthDay

"Meanwhile, babies are still being born. Midwives are still trying to provide care to make pregnancy and childbirth the safe and joyful experience it should be"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"One of the lessons I hope the world learns from #COVID19 is that we must invest in nurses and midwives"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"Today I’m proud to launch a new report by WHO, @NursingNow2020 & the @ICNurses on the State of the World’s Nursing.

The report shows that 80% of the 🌍’s nurses work in countries making up just half of the world’s population"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"Although the number of nurses 🌍 increased by 4.7M between 2013 & 2018, the world is facing a global shortfall of 5.9M nurses, especially in Africa, South East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean & some parts of Latin America"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"We’re calling on countries with shortages of nurses to increase the number of nurses they graduate by an average of 8% each year & to implement measures to improve the employment & retention of nurses in the health system"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"We are committed to working with all countries to ensure that nurses & midwives receive:
-the training they need
-the recognition they deserve
-decent conditions & salaries for their work"-@DrTedros #SupportNursesAndMidwives #WorldHealthDay

"To every nurse and midwife, I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

You have our deep admiration, respect and gratitude"-@DrTedros #ThanksHealthHeroes #WorldHealthDay