Making the invisible visible

When I trained as a nurse in the 1990s, I was the only Arab in my cohort. It was evident then that I was embarking on a journey, knowing that, despite having friends around me, I would never really ‘fit in’. Fast forward 27 years and, despite the diversity within the NHS, I am yet to meet a Chief Nurse in the UK who is Arab. That tells me a lot about how little has changed for the community to which I belong.

The Arab world consists of 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Box 1) and on 15 March 2021 the Arab Board of Ministers of Health declared that all Arab countries would celebrate Arab Nurses and Midwives Day annually on 3 November. The aim of holding such a day is to commemorate the significant efforts of professional nurses and midwives and their valuable contribution to healthcare sectors across the Arab world. The day, and the celebrations organised within each country, are intended to promote a sense of community and collaboration between nurses and midwives across each healthcare sector.