BBC shares inspiring stories of nurses in the harrowing battle to defeat COVID-19

In recent weeks, ICN has used its position as the global voice of nursing to amplify the voices of our National Nurses Associations (NNAs) and individual nurses across the world who are fighting COVID-19, often without the proper equipment and protection. With that goal in mind, we have engaged with top tier media, including the BBC, Reuters (in both English and Spanish), CNN, NBC, EFE, Sky News, Euronews, South Korean and Chinese broadcasters, and will continue to do so.

Working with our NNAs, the BBC has highlighted the unprecedented challenges nurses are facing as they continue to battle the coronavirus. This in-depth news story, created using the video diaries of NNAs’ nurses on the frontline, has been broadcast on BBC World News, and British domestic television, including the flagship One O’Clock News programme. An audio version will be aired on BBC World Service radio on Thursday 2 April, bringing the total estimated available audience to more than 200 million people.

ICN President Annette Kennedy thanked the NNAs from China, Korea, Taiwan, Italy and Spain and their frontline nurses for their invaluable contributions to the story, which underlines the need for nurses to be protected from the virus and calls again for the urgent supply of personal protective equipment.

Ms Kennedy said: “We sincerely thank our NNAs for taking part in this collaboration with the BBC. Their stories show astonishing courage and humility that will touch the hearts of everyone who sees them. We see clearly how impossible their workload is and the physical and psychological impact it is having on them. By finding time to record their video messages during this immensely stressful time, they have given a clear message to the world, that urgent action is required to save our nurses, save our patients and beat this virus. We know that together we will win.”

Next week, ICN CEO Howard Catton is scheduled to hold a virtual press conference with the Geneva-based correspondents of the world’s leading media. This will be another opportunity for ICN to deliver your message to the world.