Jan. 15, 2020

University of Calgary in Qatar welcomes “2020 International Year of the Nurse” Declaration from World Health Organization

“On behalf of the University of Calgary in Qatar, we are honoured to recognize the contribution of nurses in Qatar and around the world,” says UCQ Dean Dr. Deborah White. “We are grateful to the World Health Organization for this important designation and are looking forward to opportunities in 2020 to highlight the history of nursing in this country and all the important work nurses do to advance health and wellness here.”

Members of the UCQ Alumni Association meet to discuss 2020 Year of the Nurse initiatives.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Year of the Nurse and Midwife is a major global effort to highlight an acute shortage of these crucial health workers. WHO chose 2020 to celebrate the work of nurses because it is the bicentenary of the birth of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

“Nurses and midwives are the backbone of every health system: in 2020 we’re calling on all countries to invest in nurses and midwives as part of their commitment to health for all,” says WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement issued by WHO.

According to WHO, the world needs 18 million more health workers to achieve and sustain universal health coverage by 2030. Approximately half of that shortfall – 9 million health workers – are nurses and midwives.

“The need for more nurses is at a critical stage here in Qatar,” according to Dr. White. “Nurses are leaders in health promotion and as Qatar’s healthcare infrastructure continues to grow, more nurses are needed to meet workforce needs. Nursing has a noble history and a dynamic future. I’m excited at the chance to further profile the nursing profession in the year ahead with some special events and campaigns with our alumni and valued local healthcare partners.”

Established in 2007, the University of Calgary in Qatar is the only Canadian university in Qatar and the country’s exclusive provider of Bachelor and Master degrees in Nursing. Accredited in Canada and adapted to the local culture, the University’s curriculum provides its nursing students with the knowledge and expertise to become fully-integrated leaders in Qatar’s healthcare sector.

The University of Calgary in Qatar offers two paths to a Bachelor of Nursing degree: a four-year program for qualified high school graduates and a two-year program for nurses holding diplomas in nursing from recognized institutions. The University also offers a Master of Nursing. This is a program designed in collaboration with Qatar’s nursing community to further develop leaders in the profession.

Applications to UCQ’s programs are open to Qatari nationals and residents of Qatar through April 1, 2020. More information about nursing programs, the admission processes, and criteria, is available at www.ucalgary.edu.qa