Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean convened a regional webinar to mark International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day, bringing together health professionals, policy-makers, key partners, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to highlight the crucial role played by nurses and midwives.
Held under the theme Invest in, empower and protect nurses and midwives, the webinar called for stronger and more sustained support for the workforce, particularly for those serving in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Participants underscored that nurses and midwives, often working in extraordinarily challenging circumstances, are not only essential service providers, they are central to sustaining health systems, responding to growing health needs and ensuring access to quality care. Their contributions are fundamental to building more resilient health systems.
Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al-Hussein of Jordan emphasized that “no nation can achieve universal health coverage without an empowered nursing and midwifery workforce,” adding, “this is a defining moment for governments to act.”
The event amplified the voices and perspectives of early career nurses and midwives, highlighting both their contributions and the challenges they face. Discussions focused on improving working conditions, strengthening health safety and well-being and building more robust support systems for the workforce.
“At the centre of all of this are nurses and midwives. They are the largest and most essential segment of the health workforce – delivering care across the life course, anchoring primary health care and sustaining services in the most complex settings,” said WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy.
Participants stressed that addressing the challenges faced by nurses and midwives requires concrete and coordinated action. Priorities include ensuring safe and supportive working environments, expanding access to mentorship and professional development opportunities and fostering inclusive leadership pathways for early-career professionals. Such efforts are critical to unblocking the full potential of the workforce and advancing more resilient and equitable health systems.
“If COVID-19 taught us anything, it is that when the world stops, nurses and midwives don’t. They stay, they serve, they lead,” said WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Director of Programme Management Dr Adham Ismail.
Recognizing the critical role of nurses and midwives in improving health outcomes and delivering trusted, person-centred primary care, the Regional Office reaffirmed its commitment to working with Member States and partners to strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce and address the Region’s and the world’s most pressing health challenges.
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