The Patron of Nursing Now campaign, The Duchess of Cambridge, released a video message to thank the nurses around the globe at the end of the campaign that began in February 2018. The campaign that aimed to raise the profile and status of nursing wraps up this week with an urgent call to governments to invest in nursing as the backbone of health systems everywhere.
The pandemic has claimed thousands of nurses’ lives and caused illness, trauma, burnout and poverty. More nurses are now leaving their countries or quitting the profession altogether, exacerbating the global shortage of around 10 million nurses. Speaking in the video message, Catherine said,
“COVID-19 has highlighted the vital role that nurses provide, which we all rely on, and it’s made all the more extraordinary when we consider the huge sacrifices and personal demands that have been placed on all of you by the pandemic.”
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 aims to enable 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”.
Last month, The Duchess of Cambridge interviewed midwife Harriet Nayiga for Nursing Times from Uganda to mark the International Midwife Day.
For the video message, The Duchess of Cambridge was looking gorgeous in a white outfit that looked pretty similar to her white Alexander McQueen peplum coat dress that she wore at the beginning of the Poland tour in July 2017.
The tailored Ivory Wool and Silk Blend Twill Peplum Coat features a feminine V-neckline and gently kicks out at the waist into a rippling peplum that softly folds at the back.
Catherine paired the outfit with her Mappin & Webb Empress Earrings
And her Asprey London Daisy Diamond Pendant Necklace that we first saw in the anniversary pictures in April this year.
Today, The Duchess of Cambridge will join Prince William in Scotland for a 4-days long tour of the highlands. The Royal couple will visit their first meeting place, St. Andrew’s University, in Fife, Edinburgh and Orkney. William arrived in Scotland on Friday to fulfil his role of Lord High Commissioner of the Church of Scotland and has visited various charities and organizations since then.
Communities associated with the Church of Scotland have done an incredible job to continue to support one another during the pandemic — it was great to see some of them at work today, especially Betty 😉 pic.twitter.com/HE9KTS6FzZ
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 23, 2021