The European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA) is the voice of nursing and midwifery within WHO European Region.Working in partnership and strategically with WHO and other key stakeholders we aim to influence health policy, improve the quality of health services and the health of people across the 53 Member States of the Region. We are passionate advocates of the central and unique contribution that Nurses and Midwives make to individual and population health and well-being across Europe and are committed to ensuring both professions are supported to deliver excellence in their practice. As the nature of care changes we believe that strengthening and developing the nursing and midwifery workforce through the provision of lifelong learning and research delivers excellence in public health and people-centered healthcare.
19th EFNNMA Annual meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 29 - March 1, 2016
On February 29 – March 1, 2016, EFNNMA held it’s Anniversary 20
During the business session EFNNMA Chair, Treasurer and SC members reported on the organization activities in the last two years and actions undertaken in partnership with WHO, discussed the EFNNMA Operational Principles and elected new members of the Steering Committee who will share the main responsibilities for the future successful collaboration of EFNNMA and WHO.
The major part of the meeting was devoted to technical discussions. Dr Elkhan Gasimov, Technical Officer updated participants with the current information on the Zika virus disease outbreak.
Dr Isabel Yordi Aguirre presented the Women’s Health Strategy for Europe based on the Health 2020 goals of achieving Health and Social equity. Both nurses and midwifes can make an input into implementation of this Strategy and were fully involved into discussion and exchange with WHO.
Dr Hans Kluge presented the Priorities for health systems strengthening in the WHO European Region 2015-2020 with the focus on people centredness. EFNNMA participants were involved into discussion on Health Systems’ transformation and successful country cases and were invited to lead transformation changes that at times require changed attitudes rather than enormous funds.
Dr Galina Perfilieva updated participants on the European strategic directions for strengthening nursing and midwifery towards Health 2020 goals (ESDNM). The ESDNM has been jointly developed and discussed at several meetings with the Chief Governmental Nursing and Midwifery officers, representatives of WHO Collaborating centers and National Nursing and Midwifery Associations, approved at the WHO Europe Regional Committee 65 in September 2015 and already translated to a large number of European languages, including English, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Serbian, Bosnian, Romanian.
Participants discussed the further steps and potential input of the National Nursing and Midwifery Associations and other interested parties in order to support the ESDNM implementation. EFNNMA and WHO discussed the joint plan of actions and agreed upon the priority tasks.
One of the technical sessions was devoted to WHO HRH Strategy, Dr. James Buchan, WHO Senior Consultant suggested to discuss the NNAs/NMAs potential in supporting the HRH sustainability through developing alliances, investing into analysis and generating evidence, focusing beyond nursing/midwifery and health, and sustaining a long-term vision.
19th EFNNMA Annual Meeting Report - English, Pdf
Meeting documentation
EFNNMA Chair and Steering Committee Report
Valentina Sarkisova, Chair of the European Forum of national Nursing and Midwifery Associations, President of the Russian Nurses Association
Update to the Zika virus disease outbreak
Elkhan Gasimov, Technical Officer, Communicable Diseases and Health Security, WHO Europe
WHO European Women’s Health Strategy, relevance for nurses and midwives
Isabel Yordi Aguirre, Technical Officer, Gender and Health, WHO Europe
Priorities for health systems strengthening in the WHO European Region 2015-2020: walking the talk on people centredness
Hans Kluge, Director, Health Systems and Public Health, WHO Europe
European strategic directions for strengthening nursing and midwifery towards Health 2020 goals (ESDNM): a way forward.
Galina Perfilieva, Programme Manager, Human Resources for
Health Programme, WHO Europe
Global and national HRH strategies- where national associations can make a difference
James Buchan, Senior Consultant, Human Resources for
Health Programme, WHO Europe