World Nursing Day
Description:
"Angels in White"
In 2003, the Chinese authorities introduced a new annual holiday, Florence Nightingale’s birthday, paying homage to nurses who are now at the forefront of the fight against SARS. They are known as “Angels in White.”
China’s health workers account for 20 percent of more than 5,000 people who are affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS). Three of them, who died as a result of infection received at their workplace, were also awarded the honorary title of “Guardians of Public Health”.
Nurses Day is celebrated on the birthday of an Englishwoman who became the founder of the service in the XIX century, which served as the prototype of the modern institute of nurses.