WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANT.
IIEGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTEIIN PACIFIC BU~EAU "~GIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Twenty-second Session Manila 21-29 September 1971 Provisional agenda item 21
WPR/RC22/l4 1 July 1971
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
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ESTABLISHMENT OF A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NURSING
WHO has been providing assistance in nursing/midwifery to countries and territories of the Region through advisory services, educational activities and fellowships for twenty years. Since the commencement of this programme various factors, such as economic development, social change, improvement in educational opportunities and standards, expanding community needs and progress in health sciences and technology have continuously created new situations and new problems in the nurSing/midwifery field. Further, in many
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instances the systems adopted in the countries/territories of the Region to provide nursing/midwifery services and to prepare the necessary personnel are still largely influenced by the links of those countries! territories with other larger and more developed countries. It appears, therefore, that the time is ripe to assess the value of past action, to recognize current trends, to make projections for and to define the course for future action, bearing in mind the ways in which WHO can make an increasingly effective contribution to each country's efforts to reach its objectives in this field of health activities. Based on these considerations, it is proposed that an advisory committee on nursing/midwifery be organized at the regional level.
/The project •••
WPR/RC22/14 page 2
The project would be developed in two phases.: (1) In 1972, a working document would be prepared on the situation of nursing/midwifery services and education in the countries!territories of the Region together with a summary of the assistance provided so far by WHO.
(2)
In 1973, a Technical Advisory Committee consisting of nursing/midwifery leaders and resource persons in the field of health and education from countries! territories of the Region would be convened in a five-day session.
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The Committee would use the working document referred to above as a basis for: examining and assessing the various systems of the preparation and utilization of nursing/midwifery personnel in the Region; identifying the areas of nursing/midwifery education and services which require special attention, strengthening or further study; prOViding guidelines on the methodology to follow with a view to solving the problems of training and the utilization of nursing/midwifery personnel as required by the needs and resources of the countries; and making suggestions to the Organization on the programmes and activities which may be developed to assist countries/ territories to plan for and to implement the nursing! midwifery education and service systems they need and can support. r
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/The composition •••
WPR/RC22/l4 page 3 The composition of the Technical Advisory Committee would be as follows: (1) two two-month consultants, one in nursing/midwifery service and the other in nursing/midwifery education; (2) five temporary advisers: three nurses from countries
of the Region who are in positions of responsibility; two medical officers, one in a position of responsibility in public health administration and the other in medical education; (3) WHO staff: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Regional Nursing Advisers; The Assistant Director of Health Services concerned with health planning; Regional Adviser on Education and Training; Regional Adviser on Community Health Services; Regional Adviser on Organization of Medical Care; and (f) r a nurse from a field project. During both phases of the project, full consideration will be
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given to the specific health problems of the countries/territories in the Region and their human and material resources. The fact that nursing/ midwifery is a component of health services will be stressed and its relationships with other health fields will be fully recognized. It is also suggested that a further meeting of the Committee should be held in 1975 or 1976 to assess the effect, if any, of its recommendations in the light of the experience gained during the intervening years.