Faith Nawagi, Nursing leadership and policy in Africa

We are the biggest providers of holistic care

We spend the most time with patientsand that makes us the strongest support of any health system.

I received a grant from the Burdett Trust for Nursing where I led the mapping of nursing and midwifery leadership and governance tools across Africa.

This work helped us understand what is happening in different countries. It gave us clear information to guide health workforce planning and policy for nursing and midwifery.

The findings are now being used as a learning benchmark in different nursing and midwifery leadership development programmes. We saw clearly that many nurses do not have enough leadership and governance skills, and this showed where support is needed.
In some countries we found there was no strategic plan, no clear policy and sometimes not even a Chief Nurse in the Ministry of Health. But we also found countries that are doing well and can show others how to do things better.

This work has helped Africa see where each country stands. It has encouraged countries to put the right structures in place so that nursing and midwifery can grow and become stronger.

Our aim is simple: every person, even in the smallest village, must receive care from nurses who are skilled, confident and well supported.