The Duchess has marked the completion of ‘Nursing Now’, a three-year global campaign to raise the status and profile of nursing by interviewing midwife Harriet Nayiga for Nursing Times from Uganda. The day also marked International Midwife Day.
The interview, which took place in March this year, is published in the ‘Nursing Times’ magazine with a cover chosen by The Duchess of Cambridge, that celebrates the work of Nursing Now. Harriet Nayiga, who has seven years of experience, is the founder and director of Midwife-led Community Transformation(MILCOT), a charity bridging the gap between midwives and communities in Uganda by focusing on adolescent sexual health. The charity has participated in Nursing Now’s Nightingale Challenge
The Duchess of Cambridge became the patron of ‘Nursing Now’ in February 2018. In collaboration with the World Health Organization and International Council of Nurses, Nursing Now 2020 aimed to enable the nurses and midwives around the globe to take a greater role in health policy decision making. The campaign was originally scheduled to end in 2020 but was extended last year for one more year. Speaking at the launch of the campaign,
Duchess Catherine remarked,
“This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses. They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide. I would like to congratulate and thank all nurses everywhere for what you achieve on a daily basis. The difference you make should not go unrecognized”.
The interview, published on International Day of the Midwife 2021, forms part of a special set of articles to celebrate the three-year Nursing Now initiative, which is drawing to a close this month. Nursing Now has supported Harriet’s work by introducing her to a network of global health leaders and helping her to build self-confidence. With support from the UK’s Burdett Trust for Nursing, Harriet also participated in Nursing Now’s Nightingale Challenge leadership programme to provide training and development opportunities for a cohort of her fellow midwives, nurses and other health professionals.
Beginning the interview, The Duchess of Cambridge said, “It’s very nice to meet you, Harriet. I’d love to hear a bit about you and what inspired you to become a midwife.” Catherine took the role of interviewer very seriously, and did a great interview and asked Harriet about what inspired her to become a midwife, what her daily routine is like and how she and her organisation have coped during the pandemic.
Harriet spoke to The Duchess in March about her work both as a Nurse Midwife and as the Founder of MILCOT (Midwife-led Community Transformation), which is a community organisation providing advice and support for vulnerable women and girls in Nansana, Uganda. You can read the full interview here.
The 3 years long campaign saw 31,000+ young professionals signing up for the nursing Now’s Nightingale Challenge. The campaign brought increased investment in 64 Nursing Now groups with more nurses moving into the leadership positions as Chief Nursing Officers and on boards, who are able to exercise greater influence in shaping policy and service delivery
For the interview, The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a new Cobalt blue Zara tailored blazer. Thanks to Katie on Twitter for the id.
The 59.99 double-breasted blazer features lapel collars, long sleeves, pronounced shoulders and front flap pockets with metal button detailing. And as expected the blazer is out of stock.
The Duchess of Cambridge teamed it up with a black top and black trouser.
And finished the look with her Orelia London hoops.