The celebrations commenced with a launch ceremony at the UGMC Simulation Auditorium on 27th May, officially setting in motion a series of activities geared towards education, advocacy, and appreciation of nurses and midwives. In her welcome address, the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at UGMC, Mrs. Judith Asiamah, re-emphasized that nurses and midwives “are to be appreciated not only for their dedication, compassion, and skills as caregivers but as key contributors to health system resilience, economic stability, and emergency preparedness.”

Mrs. Asiamah added that “safeguarding the well-being of nurses means more than just speeches; it requires ensuring fair pay, safe working conditions, and support for continuous professional development to empower them.”
She emphasized that these were some of the essential interventions that could enable nurses and midwives to deliver better care, help reduce disease burdens, and ultimately strengthen the fabric of economies. Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Richard Obeng Okrah, President of the Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management Ghana (CISCM-Ghana), spoke on the important role of nurses and midwives in any healthcare ecosystem. He encouraged them to be smart, agile, flexible, adaptive, and emotionally intelligent in their service delivery. The symbolic “Rally Around the Lamp” ceremony, led by DDNS Rita Odonkor, reaffirmed the commitment of all nurses to deliver compassionate care to their patients. The first edition of the UGMC Nurses Magazine was also unveiled at the launch by Dr. Baffoe Gyan, Director of Medical Affairs at UGMC.

On 28th May, there was a presentation and panel discussion on midwifery services. The critical role of midwives, especially in times of crisis such as pandemics and humanitarian emergencies, was thoughtfully discussed. On 29th May, another panel discussion focusing on the 2025 theme explored how supporting nurses' welfare, training, and leadership capacity directly contributes to stronger and more sustainable health systems. Panelists emphasized the need for nurses and midwives to be prepared to seize opportunities as they arise. Nurses and midwives were also encouraged to write and publish articles and abstracts, and to apply for nursing and midwifery awards when entries are announced.

The nurses and midwives called for a national forum where colleagues across the country could share their challenges and contribute to policy development aimed at addressing those issues. They also advocated for the establishment of at least one quaternary facility like UGMC in each region of Ghana to help train nurses and bridge the gap in learning opportunities. They drew attention to the fact that some nurses in rural areas are unable to further their education, not due to a lack of interest, but because there are not enough nurses to replace them if they leave their posts to pursue training.