Distinguished delegates,
WHO Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu,
Partners, experts,
Esteemed colleagues:
Magandang umaga at mabuhay. Thank you all for being here for this regional nursing and midwifery forum.
Today marks an important occasion. It is the first time in nearly two decades that we are convening to discuss the critical role of nurses and midwives in the Western Pacific – we certainly have a lot to discuss!
It is also fitting that this is my first technical meeting as WHO Regional Director we are discussing such an important topic. Nurses and midwives make up more than half the global health workforce. They play a critical role in health promotion, disease prevention and delivering primary and community care. They are often the first and only point of care in their communities and are our unsung heroes during emergencies.
When I think of nurses, I can’t help but recall the work of Florence Nightingale. I think of what it must have been like to arrive at a military hospital in Turkey during the Crimean War in the 1850s, in the face of so much horror without access to medicines or supplies. Yet by making great use of what she had and implementing simple hygiene measures, she was able to make a huge impact. To me, this is the essence of what so many nurses and midwives still do every day across this region – making the most of challenging environments and holding a lamp of hope for those they care for.
Nurses and midwives are key to achieving health for all, and supporting and investing in them is a matter of great priority to me. Once again, I am delighted to be with you for this well-overdue forum.
When Member States came together for the World Health Assembly in 2021 they committed to optimizing nurses’ and midwives’ contributions to achieving UHC. The “WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021−2025” report highlights the need for urgent investments in the profession and provides policy priorities with four focus areas: education, jobs, leadership, and service delivery. WHO remains committed to supporting Member States in all four areas.
In the Western Pacific, we have made good progress in strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce, with the personnel density increasing over the past two decades. However, many challenges remain.
Nurses and midwives require quality education both before and after licensure, adapting to evolving health needs such as ageing populations, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, and the urgent need for disaster preparedness.
Nurses and midwives must also operate in supportive working environments – environments that are safe, respectful and well-equipped.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing challenges, including the migration of nurses and midwives to countries offering better opportunities or their departure from the profession altogether. Coming from the Pacific, this is a challenge I know all too well. We need strong national plans, policies and agreements in place make to make this vital profession attractive and rewarding.
In recognition of these challenges, Member States endorsed the “Regional Framework to Shape a Health Workforce for the Future of the Western Pacific” at the Regional Committee last October. The framework highlights nurses as a key enabler towards achieving UHC and provides priority actions to strengthen and retain the nursing workforce, including developing national nursing strategies, investing in nursing professionals, and enhancing quality-assurance mechanisms in education. Importantly, the framework also calls for a platform where experiences can be shared and regional priorities can be discussed. This commitment is what brought us here today and we all have a role to play.
I often think of this coming together in pursuit of a common goal like weaving mats in the island. In my home country of Tonga, and in many other parts of the region, the woven mat is a multipurpose resource for life. We share meals on mats. We discuss issues on mats. Women give birth on mats. Our youngsters study on mats. Our elders rest on mats.
To weave the mat is called Tou Lalanga. Many people are involved and each bring their own pandanus to contribute. The different strands, regardless of their imperfections, all come together to make something that is strong and useful for others.
So, as we gather over the coming days to share initiatives and challenges and to discuss joint solutions, I would like you to think about creating a beautiful mat, one that is an investment in our society and our future. Thank you for each bringing your knowledge, your experiences, and your passion for improving people’s lives to weave a mat that will fortify and safeguard our nursing and midwifery workforce.
Thank you again for being here and I look forward to hearing the outcomes of your discussions.
Thank you.