Opening remarks by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
Good morning to everyone joining this training and thank you very much for connecting with us.
As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving rapidly around the world and in Africa. You are on the front lines of this response and on behalf of all my colleagues I would like to sincerely thank you for your commitment to the communities you serve.
While COVID-19 affects even one community, it is a risk to all countries, and the work you are doing is vital to WHO’s mission of promoting health, keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable.
On Tuesday, it was World Health Day, which we also know as WHO’s birthday. This year, we are appreciating the life-saving roles of nurses and midwives. This is a year-long celebration, as part of the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
Nurses are at the core of the primary health care approach, which is a cornerstone for attaining WHO’s top priority of universal health coverage.
Nurses make up at least half of the global health workforce, and are critical links between individuals, families, communities and the health system.
You provide support along the continuum of care, from promotion, to prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation to end-of-life care, and you play key roles in empowering patients, facilitating teamwork across disciplines, and providing people-centred care.
We know that many of you are working non-stop to provide quality care, share health information, implement infection prevention and control, serve in intensive care units, and ensure routine services continue to be delivered.
I hope that in today’s training, you will refresh some skills and learn others that are practical and that help you in your daily work.
In closing, I assure you that I will continue to advocate for the valuable service of nurses in improving health and well-being and saving lives. I will continue to work with your governments and with public and private partners, to ensure you have the supplies and equipment you need to do your work.
In return and in support, I would like to ask you to consider three things:
First, is the importance of collecting quality data and information, so that together, we can better understand situations and develop evidence-based policies.
Second, is the importance of your individual professional development. By joining us today, already you are demonstrating your commitment. The health challenges we face are constantly evolving, and so I ask that you commit to lifelong learning and continuous improvement.
And third, I know that in the coming days and months, many of you will be working under tremendous pressure, even more so than usual. So, I ask that you take care of yourselves and that you reach out to your support networks for help.
COVID-19 has shown the world that you, our front-line health workers, are our heroes. By engaging communities to support you – by staying home and staying healthy, by washing their hands and physical distancing, by helping with child care or errands – we will all benefit, because you will be able to do your best to support people who are ill with COVID-19 and those seeking other essential health care.
I wish you a productive training, please ask any questions you may have. My team may not be with you in person, but we are here to support you.
Thank you.