Convening of the Global Nursing and Midwifery Assembly: Report of the fifth Commonwealth Nursing and Midwifery Conference

Before travel restrictions and social distancing requirements were introduced within the UK in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, around 280 nurses and midwives from 34 countries gathered in London in early March 2020 for the fifth^vol Commonwealth Nursing and Midwifery Conference. The theme of the conference – hosted by the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF) – took advantage of the worldwide nature of the celebration attributable to the International 12 months of the Nurse and Midwife announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The mood was high as many participants also greeted Ghana’s National Independence Day (March 6), International Women’s Day (March 8) and Commonwealth Day (March 9). Conference organizers have curated a program of renowned speakers and thought leaders to give attention to how our professions are “breaking down barriers and leaving nobody behind” while striving to attain universal health coverage (UHC) and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Agenda ) 2030 . Community health nurses and health visitors from the Bahamas and Pakistan met with chief nursing officers and executives from Belfast, South Africa and Recent Zealand, discussing learn how to address social determinants of health and ensure health equity for populations all over the world.

The CNMF was established in 1973, bringing together national associations of nurses and midwives in Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth of Nations (also often called the “Commonwealth of Nations”) consists of 54 countries from all over the world. Under the present CNMF structure of 2018, organizations seek to influence health policy across the Community; develop networks; improve education; raise standards and competences; and strengthening nursing and midwifery leadership.

The conference was opened by the sixth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, The Right Honorable Patricia Scotland, Queen’s Counsel. Baroness Scotland encouraged participants to reflect on the “almost… unbearable burden placed on seemingly already overstretched health systems” and to attract international recognition to the “truly vital place of nurses and midwives within the health care delivery system and to boost vigilance in regards to the global shortage [these professionals]” One among its key points reflected a commitment to activities that support the implementation of UHC and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She encouraged stakeholders from all sectors to “transcend making statements and towards mobilizing practical support.” Baroness Scotland’s words were reinforced by her deep historical understanding of nursing’s disciplinary origins, as she recognized the sheer courage of Mary Seacole, the innovation of Florence Nightingale, and the way today’s workforce represents these ideals in the fashionable era.

A videotaped message from WHO Chief Nursing Officer Elizabeth Iro praised the actions of nurses and midwives on the front lines in response to the growing Covid-19 epidemic and international crisis and disaster management. Iro didn’t know that conference participants were already doing all the pieces they might to cut back the transmission of infection, replacing shaking hands and hugging colleagues with elbow bumps and head nodding. After Iro’s message, the CEO of the International Council of Nurses, Howard Catton, took the stage. Catton encouraged nurses working in numerous countries who’re “running towards the needs” of the population, facing immediate dangers corresponding to the recent bushfires in Australia and the bombings in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, his enthusiasm in discussing the inaugural WHO Report on the state of nursing on the earth it was inspiring. The report, published on April 7, 2020, provides a powerful evidence base to encourage investment within the nursing and midwifery workforce to support UHC and SDG goals, and provides technical data describing gender, regulation, practice, leadership and lots of other issues related to nursing on a worldwide scale . Next Report on the state of midwifery on the earth can be published in 2021 and can update the evidence utilized in the previous 2014 report.

Conference participants were naturally and enthusiastically engaged as Lord Nigel Crisp, co-chair of each Nursing Now and the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health, rose to handle the audience. Lord Crisp highlighted the Nursing Now campaign’s aim to enhance global health by raising the profile and standing of nursing all over the world. In actual fact, it is a multidisciplinary goal. Nursing progress ends in the development of all the health care team and, in turn, the development of all the health care delivery system. He outlined a path to achieving UHC that features increasing the variety of nurse-led clinics, increasing the variety of specialist nurses, expanding maternity services, ensuring access to primary health care, and emphasizing nurse leadership in health promotion and disease prevention models. It’s price noting that Lord Crisp called for considering globally and acting locally when he stated that “global affairs are global affairs, but impact comes inside countries” through policy change, investment in education and employment, increased leadership and influence of nurses and improved recruitment and worker retention.

Conference participants heard poster presentations and took part in breakout sessions on global health partnerships between Grenada and the UK; emergency management of road accident injuries in Rwanda; groundbreaking interventions to handle drug abuse challenges in Kenya; and improving mental health literacy in rural India. The sector of palliative care was well represented with reports on the care of members of the family of people that have suffered a traumatic brain injury (Cyprus), increased access to services through nurse prescribing (Uganda), and non-pharmacological pain management methods (Sweden). Experts from the American Nurses Credentialing Center discussed learn how to optimize skilled development to attain organizational goals. Meanwhile, Franklin Shaffer, president and CEO of CGFNS International, mentioned efforts to offer comparable accreditation standards for internationally trained midwives during a period of increased migration of healthcare staff.

Deva-Marie Beck, founder and co-international director of the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health, took to the fundamental hall to deliver the closing speech – “Celebrating our heritage and history: engaging with our present and our future.” As a renowned nightingale researcher, Beck premiered a self-compiled short film entitled In Florence Nightingale’s own words. As a recording of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade played, highlights from Nightingale’s writings faded out and in against a backdrop of emotionally moving images of surroundings and other people of various ages, genders, socioeconomic statuses, cultures, races and ethnicities. Particularly, the 1876 quote from The Nightingale resonates greatly when considered within the context of the urgent needs of humanity and the planet at this very delicate and unsure time. Nightingale wrote, “Love – help one another, fight together, act together, work for a similar goal…” – is not this what we want most today as we prioritize social justice, health equity, and adaptation and mitigation practices within the face of the climate crisis? To implement such an idea NOW, specific paths and pragmatic translation are needed. This message was echoed throughout the CNMF conference and was echoed by Deva-Marie Beck in the ultimate presentation of the second day, who reminded us that “We’re global residents living in a worldwide village.” We’re truly on this together, and we must now, greater than ever, engage in conscious motion that addresses the social and environmental determinants of health to attain health equity.

Earlier on the conference, Lord Crisp said what he was demanding from policymakers was: ‘Have a look at the nurses – take a look at the nurses again… they’ve all of the care and compassion of the past, but they’ve a distinct education [today] it gives them the chance for greater roles and influence.” Perhaps this reflection is a step all of us have to take as we rejoice the 12 months of the Nurse and Midwife 2020… to take a look at ourselves many times and strategically take the steps needed to change into the change makers, advocates, leaders and policy makers we were all the time meant to be.

This self-reflective task isn’t just an option; it is a necessity.

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