Afghanistan's First Celebration of International Nurses Day

For the first time, Afghanistan's nearly 4,000 nurses joined their colleagues around the world to celebrate the International Nurses Day in May 2005.

In Kabul, Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) and AKU School of Nursing (AKU-SON), both components of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), co-hosted events that included poster presentations made by nursing students from the Institute of Health Sciences, messages from nursing leaders, a poetry competition, a drama, and traditional music. In addition, congratulatory messages were broadcast by radio to reach all areas of the country. The event in Kabul aimed to promote nursing and encourage nurses, their families, and employers to value the contribution that nurses are making to health care in Afghanistan.

Events co-hosted by AKU-SON and AKDN included poster presentations made by nursing students from the Institute of Health Sciences, messages from nursing leaders, poetry competition, drama, and traditional music.

His Excellency Dr Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatimie, Minister of Public Health, present at the celebration, announced the establishment of a Directorate of Nursing within the Ministry. The Directorate is expected to standardise the nursing profession in Afghanistan and be involved in continuing education for nurses.

Preceding the celebratory events of this day, long-term rebuilding efforts were steadily under way with the assistance of AKDN, for the restoration of the country's health infrastructure. Since 2002, AKHS has been providing nurse-based services and enhancing the existing skills of nurses through in service training. These efforts received an impetus in 2003 when AKU-SON undertook the task of enhancing the operations of the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) in Kabul in order to create an academic centre of excellence that meets the country's needs for quality nursing, midwifery and allied health personnel training. AKU-SON, in collaboration with HIS, has developed and is implementing a curriculum for nursing students around the country and is responsible for pre-service nurse training. Currently, 300 students are being trained through the new curriculum at IHS Kabul.

Nurses are trained to work alongside medical teams in clinics, hospitals, and outreach services, providing direct care as well as sharing their skills and training with others. But most visibly, they are involved in health-awareness activities to help prevent sickness and promote health in society.