Eight Pakistani women have been named in the global 100 Outstanding Nurse and Midwife Leaders 2020 list to honour their services and contributions to healthcare defying all odds this year.
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, they have raised healthcare standards worldwide by displaying immense courage and resilience.
The list includes nurses and midwives from 43 countries. They have been acknowledged by recognised by Women in Global Health (WGH) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund, Nursing Now, International Council of Nurses and International Confederation of Midwives on the list.
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WGH acknowledges these extraordinary leaders to encourage WHO members states to include them in significant decisions, establish a safe work place environment and decrease the gender pay gap. It also reiterates the importance of strategic leadership positions for nurses and midwives in healthcare facilities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took to Twitter to laud the Pakistani women and their extraordinary contributions to global healthcare.
“We feel immensely proud of & heartily congratulate #Pakistani women named in global 100 Outstanding #Women Nurse and Midwife Leaders 2020 list, for contributing to global healthcare, and #SDGs targets attainment, especially during these trying times of #COVIDー19 pandemic,” the tweet read.
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We feel immensely proud of & heartily congratulate #Pakistani women named in global 100 Outstanding #Women Nurse and Midwife Leaders 2020 list, for contributing to global healthcare, and #SDGs targets attainment, especially during these trying times of #COVIDー19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/D0vDsoJNx9
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 28, 2020
“All the 8 Pakistani nurses and midwives honoured in the global 2020 100 Outstanding Women Nurses and Midwives are faculty or alumni at AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery,” read a tweet by Aga Khan University’s official twitter.
All the 8 Pakistani nurses and midwives honoured in the global 2020 100 Outstanding Women Nurses and Midwives are faculty or alumni at AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery https://t.co/7w1MFyTRyr
— Aga Khan University (@AKUGlobal) December 29, 2020
Dr. Rozina Karmalini, SONAM’s Dean was mentioned under the Board and Management category to honour her contributions to adolescent health, improvements in research to incorporated it into education and practice.
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“It is an honour to be acknowledged by the international public health and nursing fraternity,” Karmaliani stated.
“This year has been particularly challenging for healthcare providers, all of whom have shown incredible commitment in their respective roles in responding to the Covid-19 crisis
“There is no better time than now to acknowledge the critical role of nurses in creating resilient healthcare systems,” she added.
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SONAM faculty members Yasmin Parpio and Samina Vertejee were honoured under the Community Hero category for their contributions to community health nursing. Saima Sachwani was appreciated under the Human Capital Development category for formulating an effective nursing curriculum.
Under the Innovation, Science and Health category, Marina Baig, a nurse mid-wife was honored for enabling mobile health technology to ameliorate maternal health.
While three SOMAN alumni were honoured under the Community Hero category. Dr. Shela Hirani for her contributions to promote, support and protect breastfeeding amid Covid-19 pandemic, Neelam Punjabi for enabling access to sexual and reproductive health rights and Sadaf Saleem for her work in geriatric nursing.
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