Trade Union International Public Service &Allied Workers - Joins millions across the World in Celebrating International Nurses Day.
Trade Union International
Public Service &Allied Workers - Joins millions across the World in
Celebrating International Nurses Day.
The class oriented Trade Union International for Public
Service and Allied (TUI-PS&A) pays tribute to the millions of nurses, midwives
and the general fraternity across the world who,daily face great odds in their
endeavour to care for the sick and promote good health in communities.
The International Nurses Day commemorates the life
and struggleof Florence Nightingale, born onthe 12th of May 1820,inFlorence,
Italy. Like Florence Nightingale,the nurses and midwives of today continue to
engage inan unending struggle to revolutionize nursing and save countless lives.
In the year 2020, the international nurses’ day is celebrated by WHO under the
theme: “Nurses a catalyst for a brighter future for health around the globe”which as the TUI
PS&A aligned ourselves with.
The world is facing an unprecedented moment in
human history, a moment probably not seen since the outbreak and spread of the
Spanish flu of 1918 and the Great Depression of 1929. In most countries around the world we have
seen inadequate responses to the provision of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPEs) to these gallant white coat fighters. COVID-19 has also exposed the
failures of the capitalist system in providing universal health care for
humanity around the world. The effects of which will be worse is developing
countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The world health organisation
already predicts a tragedy in most African counties because of poverty
inequality and pre-existing diseases like TB, diabetes, and HIV.
In a world dominated by imperialist greed which
puts profit before people’s lives, the modern day healthcare system is not
without its challenges.Currently, the healthcare systemsof all capitalist countries
are fighting a losing battle against COVID -19 because for years, the
Neoliberal policies have compelled nation statesto outsource important
components of health care, reduce its workforce and cut the overall spending in
the social functions of states.
Just like Florence Nightingale, the nurses and
midwives of today are engaged in a relentless struggle for properly stocked
hospitals, hygienic conditions in health facilities, adequate training of
nurses, and proper treatmentof patients and employment of adequatepersonnel. We
have seen an increase in the number of nurses testing positive for COVID 19 due
to lack of adequate protective gears, screening and testing in workplaces
around the world. As a result, many lives of nurses have been lost.
Under the new conditions brought about by the
Coronavirus, Nurses and Midwives are presentlywaging a twin struggle to improve
healthcarewhile simultaneously being called uponto put their lives in danger as
they take a lead in the fight against the global coronavirus, all without
sufficient and adequate protective personal equipment.
As we salute the nursing profession for the vital
role it continues to play in nursing the world,the TUI-PS&A calls upon all nurses
and midwives to join it in thestruggle to fight and defeat the twin evils of capitalism
and its highest stage, imperialism, and in its place put a more people centered
and a more human system-socialism. Like Nightingale who fought for properly
stocked hospitals, hygienic conditions in health facilities, adequate training
of nurses, and proper treatment of patients.Indeed,today nurses are still
engaging in the same strugglewaging in efforts to improve healthcare and their
working conditions while simultaneously being called upon by circumstances to
put their lives in danger and take a lead in the fight against the global
coronavirus.
In this regard, TUI-PS&A condemns cuts in the
public healthcare systemcuts as such leads to shortage of beds and vital
supplies in hospitals, and vehemently opposed the idea of regarding the sick as
a business opportunity to be taken an advantage of through private healthcare
provision.This has led to a situation in which only a few rich elites have access
to the best quality healthcare in many countries.
The TUI PS&A as a component of the class
oriented family of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) believes thatin
recognising the nursing fraternity and honouring contributions made by nurses
in society,we should call on all workers to join in celebrating this
international day to demand for:
·
An end in cuts on public spending, healthcare and other social
functions of nation states.
·
Adequate stock and staff in all healthcare facilities
·
A stop to the privatisation of healthcare
·
Safe working conditions and decent wages salariesfor all healthcare
workers in particular nurses.
·
Protection of the trade union rights for all healthcare workers.
·
Collectivebargaining andorganisational rights for all trade unions in
both the public and private health sectors.
·
Provision of Personal Personal Equipment
(PPEs) for all nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners, ambulance drivers, admin
workers, contact tracers and community healthcare workers in fieldwork and many
others who are frontline providers of essential health service that are
detecting, testing, isolating and treating patients in the fight against
COVID-19.
As the TUI-PS&A, we firmly believe that the
realisation of these demands will not only make the work of nurses and other
healthcare workers more safe and fulfilling but result in a better equipped
quality public healthcare system able to respond to healthcare needs of
everyone irrespective of their financial status. These demands address both the
plight of nurses and the broader public, particularly the working class that
relies on accessible quality public service for their health needs.
Thebest way that nurses across the world can put
into practice the 2020 International Nurses Day theme, “Nurses a catalyst
for a brighter future for health around the globe”is by taking up and leading the struggle for the
provision of free universal healthcare for all
Long live Revolutionary
Nurses Day!!!
Transform Nursing
Fraternity Now!!!
Forward with Decent
Work!!!
Free HealthCare for
All Now!!!
Zola
Saphetha
General Secretary
12th of May - World Nurses Day.
AKEL , workers party in cooperation with PEO honored this day in a special way.
The World Nurses Day, find us continuing the “fight” against the pandemic Covid-19, a fight that it is given with many shortages in staff and equipment. But out of the fight it is proved the vital role the workers in the sector play for the provision of quality in health and social care.
Without their selfless efforts and by putting their lives into risk, almost abandoning their families , it would not be possible to face the situation created by the pandemic.
Our thanks are not finished with the beautiful words and by applauding them on the balcony. Our thanks are expressed with the steadily and long-term support towards the public health.
For the Popular movement, health cannot be a commodity. Health and the right to life are not negotiable and we will continue to fight on the side of the health workers.
Michalis Archontidis
General Secretary PASYEK PEO
