Ministry of Health and Prevention celebrates Gulf Nursing Day 2016

UAE, April 10, 2016- The Ministry of Health and Prevention has celebrated the Gulf Nursing Day under the theme ‘Nursing Informatics - Advanced Care.’ Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Policy and Licensing, the Gulf Nursing Day celebration was held in recognition of the noble role of nurses and significant developments in their profession. Dr. Sumaya Al Balushi, the Ministry’s Director for Nursing Administration, representatives from various medical fields, and members of the Board of Education Sharjah and Sharjah University were present in the celebration. 

In his opening speech, H.E. Dr. Al Amiri said nurses represent a cornerstone of the local healthcare sector. The UAE Government supports the industry by launching national initiatives to promote nursing as an attractive profession in line with the recommendations made during the Ministerial retreat.  H.E. also pointed out that the celebration coincides with the GCC’s goals of improving the work environment, further enhancing healthcare quality, and promoting the exchange of experiences within the nursing profession.

H.E. Dr. Al Amiri honored six outstanding individuals taking bachelors and master’s degrees in nursing at Ras Al Khaimah Medical University for promoting the profession. H.E noted that the nursing industry is witnessing major developments and challenges to bring healthcare services to the highest levels in accordance with the country’s vision for sustainable development and commitment to ensure sufficient numbers of qualified nurses in the country. These goals will help ensure safe and high-quality services, while at the same time encouraging qualified citizens to take up the nursing profession.  

During her speech, Dr. Al Balushi said the Gulf Nursing Day sheds light on the role and importance of the profession as well as aims to instill happiness among nursing staff across the state. She emphasized the need to elevate the profession by keeping pace with new developments in nursing care and promoting the role of nursing informatics in building a computerized health system to improve care, optimize the use of available resources, increase quality, and decrease costs. Healthcare services can be accessible using this computerized system. According to Dr. Al Balushi, the country must keep abreast of the new developments through scientific studies and hard work. 

During this year’s Gulf Nursing Day celebrations, a scientific conference was held to discuss nursing informatics and its impact on nursing care in light of the continuing industry evolution. A poem reading and a theatrical presentation on nurses’ role in pain alleviation also took place in Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah Medical Zones. Various success stories of school health nurses at the House of Sharjah for Education were also highlighted.  Prof. Charles Dostra, lecturer at the University of Sharjah’s College of Nursing, and Dr. Shokran Adams of the Ras Al Khaimah Medical University’s College of Nursing, explained the nursing informatics concept.