My name is Carissa Etienne, and I am the Director of the Pan American Health Organization. I am speaking to you from my home, because we are under stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of COVID-19. If your city or locality is under similar orders, I urge you to do your part to comply fully and help save lives. The theme for WHD 2020 is Nurses and Midwives: Leading the way to Universal Health with the campaign slogan being- Invest, Value, Trust, Respect. I wish to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt appreciation to all our nurses and health care teams on the frontline of health services, and in the fight against COVID-19. They are our greatest asset in maintaining the health and security of our populations! We must protect them as they work, so that they can protect us! We have heard tragic stories of the nurses, doctors and other health professionals who have made the ultimate sacrifice in carrying out their duties in this pandemic. Their courage, dedication, care and compassion is being celebrated around the world by whole populations, who are applauding them daily. I urge all of us to continue in this spirit, to work with our dedicated nurses and health workers, and to continue to extend to them our fullest cooperation, our unstinting support, and our boundless gratitude for their vital service. Thank you all, keep safe and be well.