8 Pakistani women among world’s ‘100 outstanding nurses and midwives’

Eight women from Pakistan have been listed among the World’s 100 outstanding Nurses and Midwives.

To acknowledge the work of nurses and midwives amidst a global pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nursing Now, International Council of Nurses (ICN), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and Women in Global Health (WGH), have compiled a list of World’s 100 Outstanding Nurses and Midwives.

The list features the achievements and contributions of nurses and midwives from 43 countries and across six global regions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also congratulated the women on being recognised for their work.

We feel immensely proud of & heartily congratulate #Pakistani women named in global 100 Outstanding #Women Nurse and Midwife Leaders 2020 list, for contributing to global healthcare, and #SDGs targets attainment, especially during these trying times of #COVIDー19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/D0vDsoJNx9

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 28, 2020

Here are the details of five of the eight women who made it to the list :

Rozina Karmaliani, Board & Management – Midwife Nurse

Dr Rozina Karmaliani is a Professor and Interim Dean at the School of Nursing and Midwifery and joint faculty with the Department of Community Health Sciences at Aga Khan University (AKU). Dr Rozina Karmaliani has spent decades working to inspire and empower others. Her efforts are currently focused on improving adolescent health, the development and strengthening of research capacities, and the integration of research into education and practice.

Samina Vertejee, Community Hero – Nurse

Samina Vertejee is an Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM). She brings together her practical and academic expertise to effect policy change for the care of older people. Recognising the gap in knowledge needed to properly care for Pakistan’s ageing population, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their unique vulnerabilities, Vertejee has taken up the challenge at the policy level to improve the welfare of the country’s growing number of older people.

Saima Sachwani, Human Capital Development: Midwife Nurse

Ms Sachwani is an Assistant Professor and Section Head of the Public Health Stream, Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM). As a determined public health advocate and educator, her current focus is on creating awareness about the role of nurses in helping achieve universal health coverage. She was the first in Pakistan to introduce simulation into the community health nursing curriculum, with a lasting positive impact on teaching.

Yasmin Nadeem Parpio, Community Hero: Nurse

Yasmin Nadeem Parpio is an Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM). Yasmin works tirelessly to strengthen nursing curricula and to optimise the learning experiences of nursing students. She is currently undertaking a PhD on the subject of how building social skills among adolescents can reduce stress and improve resilience and quality of life. She also works on a voluntary basis with the local geriatric population, arranging regular educational sessions and working on yearly activity plans, and has established a peer support group.

Marina Baig, Innovation, Science & Health: MidwifeNurse

Marina Baig is a senior instructor at the Aga Khan University (AKU) School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her work on the use of mobile health (mHealth) technology to improve antenatal care coverage and skilled delivery in rural settings is exemplary and could serve as an innovative strategy in improving maternal health outcomes. Her contributions in developing an interactive e-book on women-centred reproductive health care focused on family planning and post-abortion care has been recognised as another key development in midwifery education in Pakistan.