International Nurses Day
By Isidore M'bayo | LNC
(Bangui, 14 May 2026 | LAMINE MEDIA) Since there are international days for just about anything, why not an International Nurses’ Day? In fact, it was two days ago, last Tuesday. To mark the occasion, the association Horizon Féminin pour la Paix et le Progrès (HFPP) organised a round-table discussion in Bangui, bringing together healthcare professionals, students and young people involved in community health. The theme of the day was ‘The power to act saves lives’. The HFPP meeting aimed to create a forum for discussion on the realities of the nursing profession in the Central African Republic, the challenges faced on the ground, and opportunities for capacity building. For the coordinator of the HFPP association and a trained nurse, Amina Bello, this initiative addresses a need to raise the profile of a profession that is often overlooked despite its central role in the healthcare system. “Nurses are the first people to welcome patients to the hospital and support them right through to the end of their treatment. Yet their work is still not sufficiently valued,” she said, emphasising that this first event brought together between 40 and 50 nurses around the same table to discuss the challenges they face on a daily basis and explore ways to improve the situation. Among the participants was Barbara Bercy Bende, a prison nurse at Ngaragba Central Prison, who highlighted the difficult working conditions faced by some healthcare workers. “The number of inmates far exceeds the number of nurses available. We lack both staff and equipment to carry out our duties properly.” Hugues Noebanga, a nurse, echoed this sentiment, believing that the day serves as an important reminder of professional ethics: “This meeting allows us to reflect on our professional conduct, identify our challenges and collaborate more effectively to improve patient care.” However, beyond these discussions, the HFPP association also aims to encourage nurses to continue their training and seize opportunities for professional development, both nationally and internationally. Consequently, Amina Bello called on the government and technical and financial partners to provide greater support for initiatives of this kind. “In the Central African Republic, this day often goes unnoticed. With more support, we could mobilise more nurses, including those in the provinces.”
For: LAMINE MEDIA (in FR and GB)
Date: 14 May 2026
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