Date: 2013
WHO CC involvement: in partnership with SPCNMOA
The Tenth Pacific Health Ministers Meeting was held in Apia, Samoa from July 2nd-4th with the theme of “Healthy Islands, Healthy Pacific”. Professor Pelenatete Stowers, Chief Nurse of Samoa, represented the SPCNMOA and spoke on key ways to strengthen nursing and midwifery capacity for Pacific health systems development. Key Recommendations included:
- SPCNMOA to be integrated as a vital and visible entity of the Pacific Island Health Governance Architecture
- Each South Pacific Island country have a Government Chief Nursing/Midwifery Officer at the policy making and regulatory level of national health systems, and that they are the expert technical and professional advisors on nursing and midwifery.
Nursing and midwifery priorities were highlighted as integral to improving human resources for health, and increase the sustainability of the South Pacific workforce while improving access and quality of health care.
The Pacific Health Ministers Meeting produced recommendations including “Increased involvement of nursing in national and regional health governance structures”, which was a direct result of Professor Pelenatete Stowers representing the SPCNMOA at the meeting.
The Health Ministers meeting is an excellent opportunity for health leaders to recognise priority areas devised by SPCNMOA and also acknowledge the role of the organization in addressing nursing and midwifery related issues in the Pacific.