WHO and partners call for urgent investment in nurses

The Covid-19 pandemic underscores the urgent need to strengthen the global health workforce. New report, A nurturing country of 2020, provides in-depth insight into the largest component of the health workforce. findings
identify important gaps in the workforce and priority areas for investment in nursing education, jobs, and leadership to strengthen nursing care worldwide and improve the health of all.

Nurses make up more than half of all healthcare professionals in the world, providing vital services in the healthcare system. Throughout history, as today, nurses have been at the forefront of combating epidemics and pandemics that threaten health around the world.
globe. They show their compassion, courage and courage around the world as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: their value has never been more clearly demonstrated before.

“Nurses are the backbone of every healthcare system. Today, many sisters find themselves on the front lines of fighting Covid-19, Said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This report is a great reminder of the unique role they play and the wake-up call to ensure they need support to keep the world healthy. “

A World Health Organization (WHO) report in partnership with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and Nursing Now reveals that there are just under 28 million nurses in the world today. Between 2013 and 2018, the number of nurses increased
for 4.7 million. But that still leaves a global deficit of 5.9 million – with the largest gaps being found in the countries of Africa, Southeast Asia and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region as well as some parts of Latin America.

It is revealed that more than 80 percent of the world’s nurses work in countries where half of the world’s population lives. Each of the eight nurses practices in a country other than the one in which they were born or trained. Aging too
threatening nursing workforce: One in six of the world’s nurses is expected to retire in the next 10 years.

To prevent global disadvantage, the report estimates that countries that are disadvantaged must increase the total number of nursing graduates by an average of 8% per year, with improved employment and retention opportunities in the healthcare system. This one
it would cost approximately $ 10 per capita (population) per year.

“Politicians understand the cost of educating and maintaining a professional nursing workforce, but only now many of them recognize their true value,“ICN President Annette Kennedy said.”Every penny invested in care increases the well-being of people and families in tangible ways that are clear to all. This report highlights the nurse’s contribution and confirms that investing in the nursing profession benefits society, not cost. The world needs millions of nurses, and we urge governments to do the right thing, invest in this wonderful profession and watch their population benefit from the incredible work that only nurses can do. “

About 90 percent of all nurses are women, and few nurses are in high health positions – most of these positions are held by men. But when countries allow nurses to take a leadership role, for example, by having a head of government
a nurse practitioner (or equivalent) and caregiver guidance programs improve conditions for nurses.

“This report puts the necessary data and evidence behind the call to strengthen nursing leadership, advance nursing practice, and educate the nursing workforce for the future.“Said Lord Nigel Crisp, co-chair of Nursing Now.”Policy options reflect activities that we believe all countries could undertake over the next ten years to ensure that there are enough nurses in all countries and that nurses make full use of their education, training and professional scope to improve primary care and healthcare delivery. respond to health emergencies such as COVID-19. This must begin with a broad and cross-sectoral dialogue, positioning evidence of nurture in the context of the health system, the health workforce and health priorities“.

To equip the world with the nurturing workforce it needs, WHO and its partners recommend all countries:

• increase funding for education and employment of more nurses;
• strengthen the ability to collect, analyze and act on health workforce data;
• monitor the mobility and migration of nurses and manage responsibly and ethically;
• educate and train nurses in the scientific, technological and sociological skills they need to make progress in primary care;
• establish leadership positions, including government head nurse and support leadership development of young sisters;
• ensure that nurses in primary care teams work to their full potential, for example in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases;
• improve working conditions, including safe staffing levels, fair wages and respect for the right to health and safety at work;
• implement gender sensitive workforce policies;
• modernize professional nurse regulations by harmonizing education and practice standards and using systems that can recognize and process nursing credentials globally; and
• strengthen the role of nurses in nursing teams by linking different sectors (health, education, immigration, finance and labor) together with interested stakeholders for policy dialogue and workforce planning.

The message of the report is clear: Governments need to invest heavily in accelerating nursing education, creating care and leadership jobs. Without nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals, states cannot win the fight against the epidemic,
or achieve universal health coverage and sustainable development goals.