50,000 Korean nurses attend rally to celebrate nursing heroes and call for changes to local health system

More than 50,000 Korean nurses and nursing students attended a rally in Seoul calling for the country to enact new nursing legislation and make changes to the Korean health system.

The Nursing Policy Declaration Ceremony event on October 30, which incorporates the country’s Nightingale Festival, was virtually attended by ICN President Annette Kennedy.

Ms Kennedy spoke about next year’s 2020 Year of the Nurse celebrations, Florence Nightingale’s bicentennial and the Nursing Now campaign, and praised the Korean Nurses Association for its tireless advocacy on behalf of its members.

She told nurses at the event: ‘I know what great work you do in Korea. Take pride in all you do, work hard and understand that every day you save lives. Thank you for what you do today and every day.’

On the following day, a press conference was held to call for the nomination of two Austrian nurses Marianne Stoger and Margaritha Pissarek, for the Nobel Peace Prize 2020. They spent more than 40 years in Korea working unpaid while caring for patients with Leprosy (Hansen’s disease). One million people have signed an on-line petition calling for their nomination.

Videos of Ms Kennedy and ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton speaking in support of Marianne and Margaritha’s nomination were shown at the event.

For more information about the Marianne and Margaritha campaign click here

Photo credit: Korean Nurses Association