Statement of Minister of National Defence on International Nurses' Day

#InternationalNursesDay; #NationalNursingWeek; #FlorenceNightingale; Covid19Pandemic

Ottawa, May 12 (Canadian-Media): Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today in recognition of International Nurses' Day:

Harjit S. Sajjan. Image credit: Twitter handle

“Today we celebrate International Nurses Day as part of National Nursing Week. This year’s theme is ‘Nursing the World to Health,’ which is appropriate, given the current circumstances of the pandemic.

“We also commemorate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who was born 200 years ago on this day. Universally recognized for her pioneering work in nursing, I would like to think she would be proud of the dedication and tireless efforts shown by our Canadian military nurses as well as all Canadian nurses, who, time and time again, are helping Canadians in need.

“During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, our nursing officers were deployed to China, Japan, and the United States, where they supported repatriation efforts of Canadian citizens. Most recently, during the ongoing pandemic, they have answered the call to care for Canadian seniors in long-term care facilities in Ontario and Quebec. As Canadians, we are proud of our brave women and men in arms and we appreciate the ongoing efforts and sacrifices they—and indeed, all Canadian nurses—are making on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.
​
“This week, and in the future, I urge all Canadians to keep our dedicated nurses in their thoughts. We recognize their unwavering commitment during this exceptional crisis, we thank them for their courage and tireless effort, and we hope for their safety and wellbeing during these trying times”.