Nurses and midwives in South Asia play a vital role in providing health services as the first and sometimes only point of care. They are the cornerstone of an increasingly strong, resilient health system.
The nursing profession in South Asia goes back to ancient times. Ancient records mention the presence of hospitals with doctors and nurses in the 4th century BCE in Sri Lanka as well as within universities in India and Pakistan. When modern medicine came to South Asia in the colonial era, organised formal training in nursing began to be imparted but evidence of nurses and doctors are found during the time of Emperor Ashoka’s reign in ancient India. Today nurses and midwives are the cornerstone of an increasingly strong and resilient health system.
Christian nurses in South Asia and Middle East Region (SAME) have National Fellowships in number of countries. Member countries are: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. There are also contacts in Middle East countries since many nurses from South Asia are working there.
Bangladesh Nurses’ Christian Fellowship (NCFB) started in the late 1990’s when two members from the Evangelical Nurses’ Fellowship of India (ENFI), Dora Abraham and Dr. Esther Sirra, visited with the purpose of helping Bangladesh nurses form their own NCF. At the NCI International conference in Scotland, in 2000, Bangladesh was officially admitted as an NCFI member country.
NCFB’s purpose is to help nurses have a personal relationship with Jesus as Saviour; increase prayer, fellowship and Bible learning among nurses; encourage nurses to practice their faith in the workplace; and establish NCF groups throughout Bangladesh.
Current President of NCFB is Rekha Folia
Evangelical Nurses Fellowship of India
The Evangelical Nurses Fellowship of India ENFI was born in 1964 as an interdenominational Christian Organisation in India for Nurses, as a result of the work and prayers of Sr Lilly Borner and others. The aim was to present to nurses the Living Christ so that they may come to a personal experience of Him as saviour, Lord and God through the new birth.
There are ENF units in 12 states in India. Activities include: regular Bible study and Prayer Fellowships, leadership training, discipleship training, local and national conferences, and other educational and fellowship activities. During Covid 19 lockdown there are online prayer fellowships and Bible studies. NEFI is proving physical and spiritual support for nurses who are at the forefront in caring for the sick.
Current President is Mrs Mabel Kuruvilla
NEFI encourages Nurses to form regular Bible study and Prayer Groups, and provides conferences, retreats, camps, and other educational and fellowship activities. Local Evangelical Nurses Fellowship (ENF) groups are organized in Hospitals/Primary Health Centers and Nursing Schools/Colleges where there are groups of nursing students or graduate nurses who are interested to join the Fellowship.
Nepal Nurses’ Christian Fellowship (NNCF) was revived in 2011 when the first regional conference was held there. NNCF is supported by and works closely with Healthcare Christian Fellowship, Nepal, but has their own national committee. Nepal Christian nurses have continued to meet online during the Covid 19 lockdown, to encourage one another, and are holding regular Bible studies and prayer fellowships. They are also providing physical and spiritual support for nurses who are at the forefront in caring for the sick.
Current President of NNCF is Roshani Khatry
Nurses Christian Fellowship Pakistan (NCFP) was revived in May 28th 2006. The Fellowship is an inter-denominational organization, organized by nurses for nurses. We believe that nurses need support and encouragement to be a witness to a larger community. NCF Pakistan was approved for membership of Nurses Christian Fellowship International (NCFI) in April 2009. For further information, please visit the NCF Pakistan website.
Current President of NCF Pakistan is Sarfraz Asif, who is also a member of the NCFI Internationa Board
The Region was formed in 2010 as Central Asia Middle East (CAME) through the efforts of Ms. Stacy Saha and Dr. Barbara Parfitt working in Bangladesh, Ms. Chinnamma Mathew from India, and Mr. Sarfraz Asif from Pakistan. They visited Kathmandu, Nepal in 2011 where they met Ms Rebbeca Sinha, and the new NCFI Region was established.
The pioneers for this region organized the first NCFI CAME Regional Conference in October, 2011 in Nepal. At the first Regional Forum, the name CAME was changed to South Asia and Middle East (SAME) Region with consensus of all present members and audience.
Stacy works as a nurse educator at LAMB Hospital, Bangladesh.
You can contact Stacy at same@ncfi.org
Sudha is a 1st year nursing student from Hetauda, Makawanpur district of Nepal. She coordinates next generation nurses in the region. To contact Sudha email ngsame@ncfi.org
By God’s grace and the efforts of a great team of SAME Regional Committee and local nurses’ team, the first NCFI Regional ‘Next Generation’ Conference was held during October 29 – November 1, 2019 at Dhulikhel Village Resort, Nepal.
What a joy to gather 47 nursing students, recent graduates and nurse educators from Nepal (32), Bangladesh (8), India (5) and Pakistan (2). The conference theme was ‘Young Nurses: Leading the Future’.
The aim was to encourage and equip young nurses to be future Nurse Leaders and helpeducators and current leaders to be part of that process. Under the Bible theme from 2 Peter 3:13 “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” the attendees were encouraged and given tools in the morning Bible and Keynote sessions to help them grow spiritually, emotionally and professionally.
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