President Hage Geingob says the important role of nurses and their selfless commitment and sacrifices cannot go unappreciated.

Geingob joined in to commemorate International Nurses Day, celebrated today (Friday).

International Nurses Day is celebrated annually worldwide to recognise nurses' contributions to healthcare and raise awareness of the crucial roles they play in promoting the health and wellness of people.

President Geingob says that by doing so, Namibians recognise the extraordinary contributions of local nurses to the healthcare system and the well-being of the Namibian nation.

This year's theme is ''Our Nurses. Our Future," which the President sees as appropriate in recognising the needs and investments required in nursing to address global health issues and secure a healthy future for all.

He says the government is aware of the constantly evolving nature of the nursing profession and the challenges of effectively delivering on its mandate.

The President reiterated that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the centrality of nurses as heroes in their own right and as selfless front-line champions in the provision of equitable access to healthcare services, irrespective of the circumstances.

Dr. Geingob applauded the commitment of Namibian nurses as inspiring, even at their own expense at times.

Therefore, he says the government is committed to continuing to create an enabling and conducive environment for the nursing profession to flourish.

The Head of State also paid tribute to Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing and on whose birthday International Nurses Day is commemorated.