World Health Organisation Country Representative, Dr. Howard Sobel sharing his remarks.
WHO Country Representative highlights significance of nurses and midwives in today’s changing pop demographics and emergence of new diseases
In his remarks last week Friday at the celebrations to mark International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife, Head of WHO Solomon Islands Country Office Dr Sobel Howard highlighted the significance of nurses and midwives against changing population demographics and introduction of new diseases.
He explained that as we live longer, many are getting obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other non- communicable diseases our parents and grand- parents never had.
“Emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 threatened especially those with NCDs and other vulnerabilities yet measles and infectious diseases still affect our children”,
Dr Howard said as such, the roles and responsibilities and the increasing demand that comes along with it to manage old and new diseases, to support individuals, families and communities to remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible must be recognized.
“Our quality of life greatly depends on our ability to live healthy in our homes and communities and in this regard, nurses and midwives do play significant role especially in health service provision when and where it is required”, outlined Dr Howard.
The WHO boss highlighted that WHO has a long history of supporting the nursing and midwifery workforce globally through technical assistance and establishing related norms and standards.
He said the designation of 2020 by WHO as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife was an exceptional opportunity to accelerate the implementation of prior resolutions and decisions of the World Health Assembly.
“The year catalyzed unparalleled advocacy and data reporting, contributing to the first-ever State of the World’s Nursing Report in 2020 and the third State of the World’s Midwifery Report in 2021 which we are also highlighting today”,
“The 2020 State of the World’s Nursing report was developed by WHO in partnership with the International Council of Nurses and the Global nursing which is now a campaign with support of governments and wider partners”, said Dr Howard.
He explained that the report presents comprehensive, up-to-date evidence on the current nursing workforce. “It provides a future vision and forward-looking agenda to advance the nursing profession as fundamental to strengthening the health workforce, primary health care and health systems”.
-MHMS Press