Project HOPE Volunteer Nurses To Be Honored at the United Nations on International Nurses Day

Project HOPE volunteers are among 13 nurses to be honored at the United Nations in New York on International Nurses Day on Friday May 12 in the first annual gathering of inspiring nurses who are making a difference in global health.

Two Project HOPE volunteer nurses, including Carma Erickson-Hurt of North Bend, Oregon and Jahn Moeller of Brisbane, Australia are among an elite group of nurses to be honored at what promises to be the first of many annual gatherings of remarkable nurses during International Nurses Week, which is celebrated around the globe.

The theme for the gathering is “nurses front line roles in tomorrow’s global health delivery.”

“I’m thrilled to receive this honor and feel inspired to serve in a global health setting to help local nurses acquire new skills and build healthier communities,” said Carma Erickson-Hurt, a Clinical Nurse Specialist who is a certified Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Nurse. Mrs. Erickson-Hurt has served as a Project HOPE volunteer nurse in China and around the globe, teaching clinical care and end- of-life nursing skills to hundreds of nurses worldwide.

Jahn Moeller is an operating room nurse from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia who has completed multiple missions on behalf of Project HOPE on the U.S. Navy’s annual medical humanitarian mission known as Pacific Partnership.   In 2016, Mr. Moeller spent several months at sea aboard the USNS Mercy supporting lifesaving and life-changing surgeries for patients.

“I’m humbled to receive this great honor.  Sometimes it’s difficult to see the difference you are making, but I have witnessed firsthand how one simple surgery can make a huge impact to not just one patient but to the patient’s family and community, especially in the developing world,” said Mr. Moeller.

The gathering at the UN is supported by the NGOs, Nurses With Global Impact and RAD-AID.  International Nurses Day is celebrated annually around the world on May 12 (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth) to mark the contributions nurses make to society.

“Nurses save lives every day and are constantly paving the way for better health services in the developing world. Carma Erickson-Hurt has spent hundreds of hours improving the skills of nurses and making an impact on the lives of nurses and patients alike on behalf of Project HOPE.  We’re equally honored for Jahn’s service and skills in the OR where he has supported surgeries that have improved many lives,” said Andrea Dunne-Sosa, Director of Volunteer Programs at Project HOPE.

About Project HOPE

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE is a leader in global health development and emergency relief programs. An international nonprofit organization, we save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accomplish our mission by improving the knowledge, abilities and tools of the health workforce to deliver high quality health services to communities in need. With programs in over 30 countries, we work at the epicenter of today’s greatest health challenges including infectious and chronic diseases, disasters and health crises, maternal, neonatal and child health and the policies that impact how health care is delivered. Learn more at www.projecthope.org.