As I reflect on my professional and social journey, I am humbled to discover that leadership has been the recurring melody in the symphony of my life, echoing through every community I have had the privilege to serve. No wonder, Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
As nurses and midwives, we are not just caregivers; we are leaders, teachers, innovators, and change-makers. Leadership in any community or profession like nursing and midwifery is not just about titles or positions; it is about the courage to stand for what is right, the resilience to overcome challenges, and the passion to inspire those around us.
Every day, I am reminded of the immense potential within such a unique profession of nursing and midwifery. Whether in clinical wards, classrooms, offices, places of worship, or community outreaches, nurses and midwives are shaping the future of healthcare! One patient, one idea! and one step at a time!
To my fellow health care professionals and the entire community, I want to remind you of this:
- Your Voice Matters: Speak up for your patients, clients, your colleagues, and your profession. Advocacy is at the heart of nursing and midwifery.
- Never Stop Learning: The world of healthcare is constantly evolving. Commit to lifelong learning and embrace opportunities to grow.
- Collaborate and Innovate: Great achievements are rarely accomplished alone. Together, we can create solutions that revolutionize care.
- Lead by Example: Leadership starts with small actions—kindness, competence, and the willingness to mentor others.
In fact, let us be the generation that not only transforms healthcare but also inspires the next wave of nurses and midwives to dream bigger and aim higher and the entire community at large.
Today, I challenge every nurse or midwife or healthcare professional or any member in the community out there reading this to take one step towards leadership. Whether it’s volunteering for a project or place of worship or Sacco, or volunteering in a community, or mentoring a peer, or simply sharing your unique story. Your journey could ignite a spark in someone else!
Together, let’s redefine what it means to lead in a community or in a profession like nursing and midwifery. Let’s build a legacy that the world will remember.
The writer is; Lilian Nuwabaine Luyima (Worlds’ Best Nurse Finalist 2024; Multi-Award-Winning Researcher 2023; Heroes in Health Award Winning Midwife 2021 & Outstanding woman of 2021)
