Invest in nurses and midwives to better the healthcare system
AKU-SONAM alumna, Emelda Kuvumbi visits patients at a health centre in Tanzania.
AKU
Media Source: The Standard (Kenya)
Date: 19 June 2024
The global nursing and midwifery workforce makes up nearly 50 per cent of the health workforce and plays a critical role in healthcare systems worldwide and the overall well-being of our populations. Ironically, not only is the recognition needed but this is also one of the most underpaid and understaffed professions in the…
The global nursing and midwifery workforce makes up nearly 50 per cent of the health workforce and plays a critical role in healthcare systems worldwide and the overall well-being of our populations. Ironically, not only is the recognition needed but this is also one of the most underpaid and understaffed professions in the healthcare system. In 2020, the first State of the World's Nursing (SOWN) report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed the global nursing workforce at 27.9 million. SOWN estimated a current global nursing shortfall of 5.9 million. This shortage of human resources coupled with poor remuneration of nurses makes it difficult to attract enough professionals to the field which in turn affects nurse to patient-care ratio which leads to constant burn-out. “Given the substantial social and economic value that the nursing profession contributes to society, we need to invest more in nurses to secure the future of healthcare. The first place to start is ensuring that our nurses and midwives are well remunerated,” writes Professor Eunice Ndirangu, the Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa, Aga Khan University in a recent op-ed.