– Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa
Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that steps are being taken to establish the National Nursing University in the near future.
The Minister made this statement while participating in the International Nurses Day celebration organized by the United Government Services Nurses Association at the Abhayarama Temple premises in Narahenpita yesterday (14) morning.
“National Nursing University to start soon”
This year’s Nurses Day is celebrated under the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: The economic power of care.” May 12th is designated as International Nurses Day every year, based on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, considered the mother of nursing, who rendered an immortal service to the nursing profession. 1 The International Council of Nurses has designated May 12th as International Nurses Day every year since 1974 to commemorate the important role nurses play in society and their contribution and dedication to providing healthcare services. 2
The Minister recalled that the President of the United Government Services Nurses Association, Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero, played a significant role in establishing the National Nursing University in Sri Lanka. He also stated that a committee, chaired by additional secretaries and deputy directors-general from the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health, will be appointed to resolve the existing shortcomings and practical problems to expedite the establishment of the university.
The Minister said that if a university is started without resolving the existing shortcomings and practical problems, it could lead to a number of issues in the future. Therefore, steps will be taken to resolve the issues and start the National Nursing University in the near future.
Further commenting, the Minister emphasized that the health sector has a huge role to play for the future. In particular, history has placed on our shoulders the responsibility of making the Sri Lankan state a prosperous state and beautifying the lives of its people. The Minister said that in order to achieve that goal, we all have to work tirelessly for the next three years.
The Minister recalled that it would have been a great challenge to maintain the health sector to this extent if not for the role you are already playing as nurses in the health sector. He further stated that when we as a country are proud of the standards of the health service in this country in the international arena, the biggest role has been played by you, representing the Sri Lankan nursing service.
The Minister mentioned that the health sector will face several challenges in the future, the main one being providing the necessary health facilities for the rapidly growing elderly population. He said that when formulating the health standards and health plan of this country, the relevant plans should be based on how to take care of this elderly population outside the hospital.
The Minister recalled that another issue is that the largest number of patients in outpatient departments come for treatment of non-communicable diseases. He also said that plans should be made to connect with the public and help them lead a healthy life by minimizing the number of outpatients or inpatients admitted to hospitals for non-communicable diseases.
The Minister also mentioned that plans are being made to build 1000 new community-based primary health units in the next three years. He emphasized that the responsibility of playing the primary role in connecting the community and the health staff also falls on the public health and nursing staff.
A commemorative gift was also presented to the Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, by the President of the United Government Services Nurses Association, Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero.
Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Media, Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, former Director General of the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration, Professor M. Thilakasiri, Additional Secretaries, Deputy Directors General, Directors of the Ministry of Health and Media, Principals of Nursing Schools, and a group of nurses participated in this celebration.
