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Haya inaugurates UAE Nursing & Midwifery Council

DUBAI – President of the UAE Nursing & Midwifery Council Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday inaugurated the launch of the UAE Nursing & Midwifery Council at Dubai’s Atlantis – The Palm, in the presence of Princess Muna Al-Hussein, President of the Jordanian Nursing Council (JNC) and Patron of Nursing & Midwifery for the WHO-EMRO, Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, UAE Minister of Health and Humaid Al Qutami, UAE Minister of Education.

Approximately 200 guests from the Ministry of Health, healthcare authorities, members of the Councils from across the region and Chief Nursing Officers from national and regional healthcare organizations attended the launch ceremony. As part of the event, Dr. Naeema Al Gasser, Assistant Regional Director, WHO - EMRO and expert on nursing and midwifery regulation and practice, gave a presentation about Nurses and Midwifes: Contributing to Health Governance.

In his speech, HE Dr. Hanif commented on the future of the Council, stating that they look forward to implementing its objectives and tasks such as the strategies of regulating the profession, developing its standards and accreditation programs. “The Council will also authorize health organizations as nursing training centers, stipulate the foundations and criteria for raising the profession’s standards, propose new legislations and practices to promote nursing and midwifery to achieve quality and excellence in their services.”

In closing, Princess Haya, Princess Muna and HE Dr. Hanif congratulated each of the task force members for their efforts in setting up the Council by presenting them with certificates. Princess Muna also presented Princess Haya with an award on behalf of the Jordanian Nursing Council to congratulate Her on the launch of the UAE Nursing & Midwifery Council.

In March 2009, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issued a decree establishing the United Arab Emirates Nursing and Midwifery Council. The decision to establish the Council reflects the government’s dedication to further improve healthcare by advancing nursing and midwifery, essential components of high quality healthcare for the UAE. The Council, in line with the highest international standards and as a strategy setting and regulatory body will establish unified, national standards for practice, education and professional conduct. The ultimate aim is to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of the public with safe nursing practice.

Princess Haya’s role as President of the Council has been a key driving force in its establishment. She remains committed towards improving access to high quality healthcare across the UAE and continues to encourage the Council and its members to identify sustainable solutions towards nursing.

Council members represent relevant healthcare and educational entities in the UAE, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Higher Education, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, SEHA, Dubai Health Authority, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah University, Fatima College of Health Sciences, the Armed Forces Medical Services, Dubai Healthcare City, Emirates Medical Association, Emirates Nursing Association, and the private healthcare sector.

Prior to the launch, Princess Haya Chaired the Council’s first board meeting in January of this year alongside HE Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, UAE Minister of Health. In March, the Council organized a workshop, facilitated by Ms. Fadwa Affara, World Health Organisation Consultant for Nursing & Midwifery Regulation, to discuss current trends with regards to the establishment of the Council, their plan of action and strategic direction, in addition to discussing planning modalities regarding the health profession’s regulation and implication on delivering high quality health services.