📌 Al-Israa University marks International Nurses Day with an event highlighting challenges and future prospects of the profession
Gaza – Public Relations
The Faculty of Medical Sciences at Al-Israa University – Palestine organized an event on the occasion of International Nurses Day under the title: “Aspirations and Expectations… A Message That Never Stops”, on Tuesday, May 12, marking the global celebration of the day. The event was attended by Dr. Taleb Abu Mualla, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences; Dr. Khalil Shuqfa, Director General of Nursing at the Ministry of Health; Dr. Sameh Abu Ajwa, Director of Nursing at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital; Dr. Soha Balousha, a midwife with a PhD in reproductive health and Director of Nursing at the Maternity Hospital in Al-Shifa Medical Complex; along with a number of nursing specialists, faculty members, and nursing students.
The event was hosted by Dr. Ihab Abu Al-Khair, who welcomed the attendees, including academic and healthcare figures and students. He emphasized the importance of this occasion in embodying the humanitarian mission of nursing and shedding light on the vital role of nursing staff in serving the community, especially amid the exceptional conditions facing the healthcare sector in Palestine.
Dr. Abu Mualla noted that the event provides an important platform to highlight the crucial role of nursing staff and raise community awareness of their noble mission, particularly in light of the significant challenges facing the Palestinian healthcare sector. He also praised the university administration’s ongoing support for the Faculty of Medical Sciences, stressing that it plays a key role in advancing education and organizing meaningful activities that elevate the status of healthcare professions and help prepare scientifically and ethically qualified nursing professionals.
For his part, Dr. Khalil Shuqfa highlighted the major humanitarian and national role played by nursing staff. He explained that this year’s celebration comes under difficult humanitarian conditions, as “Gaza is bleeding,” while nurses continue to carry out their noble mission with dedication and sincerity. He noted that nursing is one of the most genuine humanitarian messages celebrated worldwide.
He added that the 2026 International Nurses Day theme, “Our Nurses, Our Future… Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” reflects the importance of empowering nursing staff, stressing that Gaza has provided a real-life example of this message. He pointed out that Palestinian nurses have worked under extremely harsh conditions—under bombardment, in emergency departments and hospital corridors, amid severe shortages—witnessing tragedies without abandoning their professional and humanitarian duty.
In her speech, Dr. Soha Balousha reviewed the reality of nursing under the exceptional conditions in Gaza’s healthcare sector, highlighting the immense challenges faced by nursing staff, especially during wartime. She emphasized that nurses work in extremely difficult environments marked by severe shortages of medical resources and equipment, alongside overwhelming pressure due to large numbers of injured and sick patients.
She noted that these hardships have not deterred Palestinian nurses from fulfilling their humanitarian mission; rather, they have strengthened their determination. Nurses continue to work long hours, sometimes without minimum resources, driven by a strong sense of responsibility and humanitarian and national commitment. She added that nurses in Gaza have set an honorable example of resilience and dedication, standing on the front lines during crises, facing danger alongside patients, and providing not only medical care but also psychological and emotional support.
Dr. Sameh Abu Ajwa discussed the state of nursing education in Palestine, highlighting key indicators of its development in recent years despite challenges. He noted that higher education institutions, particularly faculties of medical sciences, have made notable progress in preparing nursing professionals by updating curricula, enhancing practical training, and aligning education outcomes with labor market needs.
He affirmed that nursing education in Palestine is gradually moving toward quality and academic accreditation, with growing attention to scientific research and the use of modern technologies in education and training. This contributes to graduating nurses capable of handling various health conditions with high efficiency and professionalism.
Speaking about the future of nursing, he explained that the global healthcare sector is undergoing rapid transformations, including technological advancement, increased reliance on digital healthcare and artificial intelligence, as well as changing disease patterns and growing demand for long-term care. He stressed that Palestinian nurses have the ability to adapt to these changes thanks to their strong field experience, especially under difficult conditions that have equipped them with exceptional crisis management and resilience skills.
In his intervention, graduate Amir Nawfal shared his success story, which began at Al-Israa University and led to working with international organizations. He emphasized that his journey required continuous effort and real investment in education and practical training. He noted that his studies at the Faculty of Medical Sciences laid a solid foundation for his career and helped develop his academic and practical skills, while training activities played a major role in shaping his professional identity and confidence.
At the conclusion of the event, participants stressed the importance of continuing to support and develop the nursing sector and strengthen its role as a fundamental pillar of the healthcare system. They emphasized the need to invest in nursing staff both academically and practically to keep pace with rapid changes and challenges locally and globally. Attendees also expressed appreciation for the initiative, which provided a platform for dialogue and exchange of expertise, contributing to advancing the nursing profession and reinforcing its humanitarian mission—affirming that nursing will remain a message of giving that never stops despite all circumstances.