Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery (2016-2020)

Overview

Nurses and midwives are critical in the delivery of essential health services and are core in strengthening the health system. Acting both as individuals and as members and coordinators of interprofessional teams, nurses and midwives bring people-centred care closer to the communities where they are needed most, thereby helping improve health outcomes and the overall cost-effectiveness of services. They help to promote and maintain the health and wellness of an ageing population within the community, in line with the concept of active ageing. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, they can contribute to reductions in newborn, infant and maternal mortality in their role as skilled birth attendants and providers of neonatal care. They provide a wide range of services in hospital settings, from accident and emergency through to palliative care. And as key players in crisis and post-crisis situations, they contribute to the risk communication, response planning and multisectoral participation aspects of emergency preparedness programmes; and provide services ranging from trauma management to mental health and rehabilitation in post-emergency recovery.