A new exhibition celebrating the vital work of local nurses and midwives has been launched in the Tower Museum in Derry.
The special display, which will be on until July 3, focuses on the remarkable contribution the healthcare workers have made to society over the past two centuries.
The temporary collection has been developed in partnership with Ulster University's School of Nursing, based in the city.
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It will cover themes including nursing in wartime, nursing during the Troubles and nursing education and innovation in Northern Ireland.
It will also shine the spotlight on some of the inspirational individuals who led the way in the field of nursing, including Florence Nightingale, Ella Pirrie and Agnes Jones, whose work brought about many positive healthcare reforms.
Among the collection are some exciting pieces of archive material including an original voice recording of Florence Nightingale along with audio accounts of the work of today's nurses and midwives, as well as a short film on their response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Opening the exhibition, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Alderman Graham Warke, said there had never been a more fitting time to acknowledge the work of the nursing and midwifery professions.
He said: "Nurses have always had an essential role to play but the past two years have really brought into focus the vital nature of their work and their contribution to our society.
"This exhibition places all that in context, by looking at the evolving role of nurses over the past two hundred years, and some of the women and men who have changed our attitudes to healthcare over the years."
He added: "This is a fascinating collection which gives an insight into the challenges faced daily by our nurses, and underscores the need for a better-resourced healthcare system that supports and empowers its nursing staff."
The exhibition was initially developed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.
Her research and writings led to worldwide healthcare reforms focusing on the importance of sanitation, control of cross-infection, diet, the importance of clean air, good housing and access to clean water.
Curator at the Tower Museum Roisin Doherty said the exhibition would reveal more about the groundbreaking work of nurses through the years.
"We are delighted as a museum to have the opportunity to showcase this work and to celebrate our nurses and midwives at a time when we have gained a whole new perspective of their caring role.
"While we've all heard of figures like Florence Nightingale, this also tells the story of the everyday healthcare heroes that we have come to rely on. It's a privilege to provide a platform for them to tell their own story through this important collection."
Sonja McIlfatrick, Head of the School of Nursing at Ulster University, added: "This opportunity to explore the contribution of nurses and midwives over the past two centuries is timely since never before in our lifetime, has our profession been so visible, so vital and so valued.
"At Ulster's School of Nursing based at Magee campus, we are proud of the generations of commitment and talent making an impact in our community."
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