UN health agency launches drive to address crisis in nursing, midwifery services

In a bid to reverse the declining numbers of nurses and midwives, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today said it was launching a new strategy to help countries recruit and retain health care workers.

According to WHO, studies attribute the decline in the number of nurses and midwives to several factors, including low pay, hazardous working conditions, lack of career development, and lack of recognition of professional status and autonomy. These same factors can also contribute to a decline in new recruits to the two professions.

“If the world’s public health community does not correct this trend, the ability of many health systems to function will be seriously jeopardized “ WHO Director-General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland said.

WHO’s new “Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery Services” targets five main areas where urgent intervention is needed: human resources planning and capacity building, personnel management, evidence-based practice, education and stewardship.

The agency said a highly concerted effort will be required from governments to balance all five areas, while nine international partners, including several UN agencies and international professional organizations, have already endorsed this new agenda.

“Nursing and midwifery services are one of the main pillars of health care delivery,” WHO said. “Failure to strengthen these services will seriously impair the quality of health care, access to services, well-being of nurses and midwives, and achievement of national and global health goals.”