Effective health care the duty of all sectors

 

All sectors of society must play an integral role in order to ensure that every Barbadian citizen is equipped with the tools and knowledge to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
 
 This is the advice that the Minister of Health, John Boyce gave via the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Cheryl Alleyne to participants at the Nurses Week Seminar yesterday at the Hilton Hotel.
 
Alleyne said that included among this group are the key players in the private sector, the various communities across this island, non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals with the Ministry of Health overseeing all of these efforts through quality enhancement, the professional development of nurses and midwives and the improvement of the image of this profession and the health care system in general.
 
“A healthy lifestyle for all Barbadians is the responsibility of all sectors in our society, that is, the Government, the private sector, communities, NGOs and individuals.  However, the focus on quality must be monitored by the Ministry of Health, through the Council in order to encourage action among nursing and midwifery personnel to enhance and strengthen their professional development, the image of the profession and the health care settings of the country.”
 
In addition, a study conducted by Ventura in 2015 showed that nurses play an integral role in the development and management of effective health care systems since they bring a vast amount of knowledge and experience to the sector and therefore, they are able to align this expertise with the needs of the population in which they live, explained Alleyne.
 
“The importance of nursing at all levels of the health system, including Governmental and policy levels, is recognised in health systems strengthening. Ventura et al (2015) reviewed the evolution of WHO’s initiatives for strengthening nursing and midwifery and found clear documentation of the increasing importance of nurses as multidisciplinary health team members and their role in the improvement of health systems. Nurse leaders involved in health systems capacity building, bring knowledge of population needs and can ensure that strategies are in line with these needs. The need for continued excellence in the management of nursing and health systems must be therefore actively promoted.”
 
 It is in consideration of these factors that the Nursing Council of Barbados has instituted the re-registration of nurses and midwives through the Continuing Professional Education, which was implemented earlier this year, said the Permanent Secretary.
 
“In order to support such processes as well as its regulatory mandate, the Nursing Council of Barbados has implemented the process for Continuing Professional Education credits for re-registration of nurses and midwives, with effect from January 2016, as proposed by the Nurses Act-2008. To this end, the government remains committed to ensuring that Nurses remain on the cutting edge of their profession, and can offer a high level of health care service and continue to be a vital force for producing quality care in difficult times.”    

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