Federal Health Minister Muhammad Yusuf Shaikh in a statement said nurses are an integral part of health teams, playing a crucial role in health promotion, disease prevention and treatment. As the health professionals who are closest to the community they have an important role in developing new models of community based care and supporting local efforts to promote health and prevent disease. It is in this context that the Government is establishing a National Nursing Forum which will be housed in the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Islamabad. The Ministry will provide a platform for functioning of forum and will make efforts to bring the recommendations to policies. He said the forum will improve health by raising the profile and status of nurses in country, influencing policymakers and supporting nurses themselves to lead, learn and build a global movement, Empower nurses to become role models and leaders, Breaking taboos on the nursing profession and promote females to join the profession, Collegial support fostered through sharing of tools and resources, Relationships be maintained in an environment of mutual respect and collaboration, Support and formulate Sub-National Groups to carry forward the objectives The Minister said that soon a national meeting of stakeholders will be organized for unveiling the vision. Besides this, Provincial meetings involving local nursing societies will be organized. He said deliberations with Government will be held to enhance the status of nursing profession through incentivization involvement of nurses in policy making and image making. The changing needs of the 21st Century mean nurses have an even greater role to play in the future. New and innovative types of services are needed – more community and home-based, more holistic and people-centered, with increased focus on prevention and making better use of technology. These are all areas where nurses can play a leading role. However, maximizing nurses’ contributions will require that they are properly deployed, valued and included in policy and decision-making. The forum will work in connivance with Nursing Now Global initiative which aims at working with partners around the world to advocate for more nurses in leadership positions – to help nurses achieve the influence they deserve. It will also help nurses access better education and training, while supporting them to share research and evidence of effective practice. Nursing Now will encourage health leaders to invest in nursing and introduce new models of care that maximize nurses’ contributions to achieving Universal Health Coverage which would guarantee everyone the right to quality health care without financial hardship. *-*-*-*
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