Nurses are the backbone of Pacific health systems, attendees gathered for the Pacific Heads of Nursing and Midwifery Meeting in Nadi have been reminded.
Pacific health leaders are meeting in Nadi this week to address critical challenges faced by their sectors.
Hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC), the three-day meeting aims to explore strategies for strengthening the nursing and midwifery workforce in the region.
Kathryn Zeitz, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) in Austraila set the tone by emphasising the pivotal role of nurses and midwives.
“Our people need us more than ever,” Zeitz said in her keynote address.
“The work we do today will ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for Pacific communities. Nurses and midwives are the backbone of healthcare in this region, and we must continue to empower them with the tools, training, and support they need.”
Selena Motofaga, a representative from SPC’s Department of Public Health, addressed some of the challenges pertinent to the Pacific, saying: “Data tells us nurses account for 75% of the health workforce with an estimated 29 million nurses worldwide and 2.2 million midwives. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a shortage of 4.5 million nurses and 0.31 million midwives by 2030.”
Motofaga also stressed the ongoing issue of healthcare worker migration.
“This comes as no surprise to the Pacific region,” she said.
“We are experiencing an exodus of nurses from health due to migration and other reasons, and this remains one of our key issues amongst others. This is happening globally as well.”
The issue of migration was a focal point during the meeting, with many Pacific countries reporting a growing outflow of healthcare workers to destinations like Australia and New Zealand.
Zeitz encouraged collaboration across borders, noting that the healthcare challenges facing the Pacific were shared globally.
“No country or region can solve these challenges alone,” she said.
“By working together, we can develop sustainable solutions that will improve the lives of our communities and strengthen our health systems.”
