The Nursing Council of Kenya is urging nurses and midwives to build partnerships that will contribute to the overall improvement of health services in Kenya. The council says applying concerted effort will also propel nurses into leadership roles as the country gears up to offering universal health coverage.
Speaking at an event to commemorate International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife, at the Aga Khan University (AKU), Nursing Council of Kenya Chief Executive Edna Tallam-Kimaiyo said partnerships will make it easier to disseminate information that will empower individuals to be health champions in their communities.
“Nurses are often the first and sometimes the only health professional that people see and the quality of their initial assessment, care and treatment is vital. They are also part of their local community where they share in its culture, strengths and vulnerabilities and can shape and deliver effective interventions to meet the needs of patients, families and communities,” Ms Kimaiyo said.
She added: “Nursing will play an even greater role in delivering a better, sooner, more convenient healthcare service for Kenyans towards realisation of universal health coverage,” during the event that brought together alumni from AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa, current students, and faculty to celebrate achievements in the profession.
Dr Alex Awiti, vice-provost at Aga Khan University lauded the contributions nurses have made towards UHC. “We need nurses to be at the forefront of healthcare and take up leadership roles. They not only need to be involved in in policymaking but also assume positions of leadership,” he said. “Technology is making patients more knowledgeable about diseases and there is an increased demand for healthcare services globally. This calls for continuous training to meet demands.”
Dr Nurallah Rahim, director of surgical services at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi called on nurses to be full partners with physicians and other health professionals in redesigning healthcare, adding that the nursing field has experienced unprecedented growth in the recent years.
“The demand for nurses is greater than ever, and we call upon you to practice to the full extent of your education and training. Nurses should achieve higher levels of education and training through a system that promotes seamless academic progression,” Dr Rahim concluded.
