(Left to right) Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair, WISH; Sultana Afdhal, CEO, WISH; Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health; Dr. Nicola Ryley, Chief Nursing Officer, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); and Mariam Nooh Al Mutawah, Executive Director of Nursing, HMC, launched Nursing Now Qatar at the Middle East Forum for Quality and Safety in Healthcare.
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) has joined forces with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to launch Nursing Now Qatar. Qatar is the first country in the Arabian Gulf region to set up its own national Nursing Now group.
Qatar’s Nursing Now group has received the support and endorsement of Qatar’s Minister of Public Health, Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari. Speaking of the important role played by nurses both in Qatar and around the world, Dr Al Kuwari commented:
“I am proud of our nurses who work across the health sector in Qatar, bringing a unique and valuable set of competences and experiences that are relevant to the diverse population groups we care for. This global campaign is so important in our efforts to profile the professionalism of nurses and midwives in our health sector; and will help to promote this important profession among Qatari nursing professionals.”
Dr Nicola Ryley, Chief Nursing Officer, HMC, was joined on stage at the Middle East Forum for Quality and Safety in Healthcare by Sultana Afdhal, CEO, WISH to announce the formation of a Nursing Now Qatar committee. The committee will be headed by Dr Ryley, with support from Mariam Nooh Al-Mutawa, Executive Director of Nursing at HMC.
Also present on stage to support the launch announcement was Nursing Now Board Member Maureen Bisognano from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, who reviewed the five strategic priorities for the Nursing Now campaign.
Messages of encouragement were received from Elizabeth Iro, Chief Nursing Officer, World Health Organization, and from representatives of the nursing community of Jordan, who will be launching Nursing Now Jordan in the coming months.
Speaking at the launch of Nursing Now Qatar, Ms. Afdhal said:
“WISH was privileged to be a part of the Nursing Now campaign’s London launch and it was inspiring to witness the heartfelt passion for nursing by all involved and the desire to promote awareness of the vital role nurses and midwives play in shaping global health. I’m delighted that WISH has been able to connect the global Nursing Now movement with those at HMC who are positively shaping the evolution of nursing in Qatar.”
Dr. Nicola Ryley added:
“This campaign is an invaluable opportunity for Qatar and the profile of nursing and midwifery in this country; which is aligned with international best practice for nursing and midwifery healthcare professionals. I look forward to working with WISH to progress this important agenda, which will benefit future nurses, local healthcare policies and our patients.”
Looking to the future, research into nursing and universal health coverage commissioned by the WISH will be the first piece of research released as part of the Nursing Now campaign. Findings will be presented at the WISH 2018 conference, taking place from 13 to 14 November.
For more information about Nursing Now Qatar, please contact Nick Bradshaw, World Innovation Summit for Health.
