Senate Celebrates 100 Years of the Brazilian Nursing Association with Focus on Profession's Valuation
The Brazilian Senate held a special session to celebrate ABEn's 100th anniversary, honoring its historical impact and discussing policies to enhance nursing professionals' recognition and working conditions.
- • Senate commemorated ABEn's 100th anniversary with a special session.
- • ABEn played key roles in Brazil's redemocratization and SUS formation.
- • Focus on nursing profession's valuation, including wages and working hours.
- • Calls for youth engagement and public policies to support nursing.
Key details
On August 12, 2026, the Brazilian Nursing Association (ABEn Nacional) marked its centenary, an occasion commemorated by a special session in the Senate. Established in 1926 by faculty and students of the Anna Nery Nursing School, ABEn has played a pivotal role in advocating for nursing professionals and public health policies in Brazil.
The Senate session honored ABEn's century-long contributions, highlighting its activism during Brazil's redemocratization and its involvement in the creation of the Unified Health System (SUS). Senator Paulo Paim read a statement underscoring the association's extensive reach and influence across the country. Senator Zenaide Maia emphasized nursing's presence throughout individuals' lives, from birth to death.
Jacinta de Fátima Senna da Silva, ABEn's president, stressed the critical need for youth engagement in nursing, urging political participation and social citizenship among younger professionals. Helen Márcia Perez, representing the Federal Nursing Council, addressed ongoing challenges faced by nurses, advocating for public policies that better value the profession and regulate working conditions such as minimum wage and working hours.
The session also featured voices from various nursing organizations, reinforcing the community's united front in seeking recognition and improved labor standards. Senator Roberta Acioly reaffirmed ABEn's significant impact on professional training and public health in Brazil.
As Brazil celebrates this milestone, the focus continues on elevating nursing's role through policy support and sustained advocacy, reflecting ABEn's legacy and future directions.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
