Nairobi, Kenya 2-3 March 2018
Cognizant with the fact that more that 80% of the population in low-income countries cannot access health services because of lack of sufficiently trained health workers, the nursing and midwifery workforce has the potential to address most health complications in low income countries if expanded and contracted for more flexible functions for improve health systems coverage responsiveness and efficiency.
Mindful of the fact that much of the expansion in private sector training is currently taking place without sufficient attention to shaping the market based on real needs and the best value for money for patients and governments. Taking into account all the premises, a solid evidence base related to the education and labor markets for nurses and midwives is a critical precondition for the development of an investment case for intervention hence such a study was conceptualized to address such a big need towards realizing Universal Health Coverage.
In addressing such a need a consultation meeting involving the nurse leaders comprising of representatives of the Directors of Nursing and Midwifery services, Registrars of the Nursing and Midwifery Councils, Presidents of National Nurses associations, Nurse Educators from universities and ECSACON leaders from 15 countries in ECSA region met in Nairobi Kenya to have a better understanding of the upcoming study in nursing education. Countries represented include Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda , Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The consultation was organized under the auspice of ECSACON and the partners involved in this study include ECSA Health Community, Jhpiego, International Council of Nurses (ICN) and World Bank.
The meeting objectives were as follows;
- To discuss the proposed analytical work aiming to assess nursing labor and education markets in the ECSA countries;
- To engage nurse leaders from ECSA countries to build consensus and action plan for investing in nursing education in the ECSA countries
- To identify synergies with other regional initiatives and develop partnerships to implement and disseminate the results from the analytical work and action plan for investments
During the meeting the background information for the study were provided and synergies with ongoing regional and country initiatives were noted. The consultation laid down the action plan and the strategies towards completion of the activity by December 2018.
During opening of the consultation, the president of ECSACON Ms. Susan Otieno informed the participants that this activity has come at the right time to complement the efforts of the college in strengthening Nursing and Midwifery profession in ECSA region. In attendance was Ms. Judith Shamian the outgoing President of ICN and Peter Johnson the Director of Nursing and Midwifery for Jhpiego.
During closing of the consultation, the Director General of ECSA Prof. Yoswa Dambisya reaffirmed the commitment of the ECSA and member countries towards successful completion of the study. He concluded by saying that, “ECSA is ready, able, willing and at your service “.
