The South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) proudly participated in the high-level side event “Nursing and Midwifery Leadership: Driving Global Health Goals” on the margins of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), affirming its commitment to elevate nursing and midwifery leadership as a cornerstone of health system transformation in the region.
SEEHN was represented by senior officials from its member states, as well as by the a.i. Director of the SEEHN Secretariat, Dr. Tatiana Păduraru.
The event was co-hosted by the Romanian Ministry of Health and the Romanian Order of Nurses, and co-sponsored by Jordan, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and the South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN). This multiregional initiative created a dynamic forum for dialogue and cooperation, providing a platform for global leaders to share experiences and strategies to strengthen the nursing and midwifery workforce.
The session featured an outstanding lineup of global and regional leaders, including Dr. Jim Campbell (WHO), Dr. Amelia Afuhaamango Latu (Tonga), Dr. Pamela Cipriano (President, ICN), Mr. Howard Catton (CEO, ICN), and Dr. Carey McCarthy (WHO), alongside powerful regional contributions from Thailand, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and SEEHN. Their inspiring exchange underscored both the urgency and opportunity to invest in nursing and midwifery leadership as a key strategy for achieving universal health coverage.
In her address, the a.i. Director of the SEEHN Secretariat emphasized that “leadership is not a luxury; it is a necessity. In empowering our nursing and midwifery professionals, we empower our health systems — and by doing so, we bring health, dignity, and equity to our communities.” Her message highlighted persistent regional disparities in education, leadership representation, and workforce migration, while also recognizing recent progress through the WHO Collaborating Centre for Leadership and Governance in Nursing in Israel, and the establishment of the Regional Health Development Centre on Nursing and Midwifery in Romania.
Following the side event, SEEHN took a firm and united stance by co-sponsoring Romania’s statement in Committee B of WHA78, calling for the extension of the Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (GSDNM) through 2030. This collective action underscores SEEHN’s belief that sustained investment in nursing and midwifery leadership is essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 and advancing universal health coverage across South Eastern Europe.
SEEHN reiterates its commitment to supporting member states in:
- Establishing Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers at the national level,
- Strengthening academic pathways and career ladders,
- Integrating nursing leadership into health governance,
- Promoting gender-transformative policies,
- Developing effective retention and workforce sustainability strategies.
With a unified voice, SEEHN continues to position nursing and midwifery leadership as a strategic priority for resilient and equitable health systems—across the region and beyond.
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