International Nurses Day 2023
WHEN: May 10, 2023 - 2:00 – 5:00 pm (EDT)
SUBJECT: Human Resources in Nursing to Care for populations living in Conditions of Vulnerability in the Region of the Americas: availability, capacity, and Regulation.
Objective: To foster debate on the capacity, availability, and distribution of qualified nurses to expand access and health coverage to primary health care services, especially for populations living in conditions of vulnerability.
Participants: Ministries of Health and Education, university representatives, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centers, nursing associations, public sector nurses, professionals, students, and other stakeholders.
Interpretation in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Location: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. 525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Recordings
Journée internationale de l'infirmière
Dia Internacional da Enfermagem 2023
Día Internacional de las Enfermeras y Enfermeros 2023
Background
As part of International Nurses Day celebrations, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) invites Member States to a debate on the availability, capacity, labor market, and regulation of qualified nurses to expand access to primary healthcare services and health coverage to the populations of the Region of the Americas, especially those living in conditions of vulnerability.
As the world begins to emerge from a pandemic that has affected the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people in the Americas, there is a crucial need to transform health systems by building on primary care, focusing on people and communities, increasing their resilience, and accelerating progress towards achieving universal access to health and universal coverage, and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Human resources for health enable health systems and services to respond to the population's health needs. A well-trained, skilled, and equitably distributed workforce is critical to building resilient health systems, meeting population health needs, better preparing against future threats and pandemics, and addressing workforce availability, capacity, competence, and quality gaps.
PAHO, through the policy brief "The Strategic Importance of National Investment in Nursing Professionals in the Region of the Americas," and in line with the "Global strategic directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021–2025," calls on Member States to consider the importance of investing in nursing education, jobs, leadership, and service. [1, 2]
These professionals are crucial in health care system services, health promotion, disease prevention, health management teams, and education institutions.
However, recent estimates on the availability and density thresholds required to meet the SDG 3.8.1 target for human resources for health showed that Latin American and Caribbean countries had a nurse density of 44.3 (34.5–55.9) per 10 000 population. To reach the high aspirational target of 80% on the UHC adequate coverage index, at least 70.6 nurses and midwives per 10 000 population would be required. [3]
If the personnel deficit is corrected, nurses can be vital to building resilient health systems and moving towards more significant health equity with actions and roles that protect migrants, people living in poverty, informal sector workers (most of whom are women), those with precarious working conditions or who live in overcrowded housing, and other groups in situations of vulnerability.
International Nurses Day activities aim to foster discussions and share knowledge and actions to advance nursing professionals' access, availability, and quality in the Americas region.
Agenda
2:00 – 5:00 pm (EDT)
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Moderator: Silvia Cassiani, Advisor on Nursing and Health Technicians, PAHO/WHO
Opening remarks
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Jarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO/WHO
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Sarah Szanton, Dean, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Expanding the availability of nursing professionals and the role of nurses in populations living in conditions of vulnerability
Availability and capacity of nurses to care for populations living in conditions of vulnerability
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Bruno Guimarães, Director of the Department of Health Work Management and Regulation, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Nursing Education and Development
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Gabriel Muntaabski, National Coordinator of the National Nursing Education Program, Ministry of Education, Argentina
The role of nurses in populations living in conditions of vulnerability in primary healthcare
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Valentina Jaimes Vargas, Nurse of Primary Health Care Service, Colombia
Challenges in training and ensuring decent work for nurses in the post-pandemic period
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Nancy Reynolds, Professor and Associate Dean of Global Affairs, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
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Tzvetomira Radoslavova, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Closing remarks
Dr. Jarbas Barbosa Message "International Nurses Day 2023"
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A well-educated, skilled and equitably distributed workforce is critical to building resilient health systems, meeting population health needs and better preparing for future threats and pandemics," PAHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.
Read the article: Pan American Journal of Public Health (PAJPH)
A commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres
Naegle et al.
This article provides a commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres (PANMCC). The objectives are to present an overview of the formation and evolution of the network, its impact on education, research, policy, and communication, and the benefits of membership. The advantages of international networks as a mechanism to strengthen nursing and midwifery workforces and improve health systems are also highlighted. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in the Americas, oversees collaborating centers in the Region. Established in 1999, PANMCC consists of 17 centers in universities and nursing schools. These centers provide crucial nursing and midwifery input to PAHO/WHO. The network supports global engagement and capacity building via collaboration, resource sharing, and research colloquia. The linkages within the network enhance professional development, increase capacity building and heighten the visibility of PANMCC and the work of its members.
References
[1] Pan American Health Organization. (2022). "The Strategic Importance of National Investment in Nursing Professionals in the Region of the Americas" PAHO. https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/55957
[2] World Health Organization. (2021) Global strategic directions for nursing and midwifery 2021-2025 WHO. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/344562
[3] Pan American Health Organization. (2022). Building Resilient Health Systems to Advance toward Universal Health in the Americas: Lessons from COVID-19 https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/56444