In observance of International Nurses Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is proposing that its Member States discuss gender, leadership, and nurse training in the Region of the Americas.
At the global level, women account for 67% of the health workforce. In the Region of the Americas, 56% of health workers are nurses and over 80% are women. However, they face structural barriers and unequal opportunities in terms of labor market access and guaranteed labor benefits. On average, women earn 20 per cent less than men, have limited access to leadership positions, and are underrepresented in senior positions, both in health systems and in politics.
The Policy on the Health Workforce 2030: Strengthening Human Resources for Health to Achieve Resilient Health Systems (CD60/6), adopted by PAHO Member States in September 2023, highlights the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective into health sector employment policies, with an emphasis on actions that ensure protection and decent conditions of employment, with guaranteed gender-neutral remuneration for health workers.
Nurses are key players in health promotion and disease prevention. They are the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide, working on the front line of disease prevention, health promotion, and health management. They are often the forgotten heroes in health services and emergency response, despite their critical role. It is necessary to invest in nursing education, jobs, leadership, and service delivery.
Recognizing the outstanding role of nursing professionals, International Nurses Day activities will focus on fostering discussions and sharing knowledge and actions in the areas of gender, leadership, and innovation in nursing education and practice.
International Health Days Events Nursing Health Systems and Services
Foster debate on gender, leadership, and innovation in nursing education and practice in the Region of the Americas.
- The economic power of nursing care
- Nursing Innovation, Education and Practice
- Launch of the Virtual Course - Nursing Leadership: Strengthening Management of Nursing Practice in the Caribbean
- Silvia Cassiani, Advisor on Nursing and Health Technicians, PAHO/WHO
- E. Benjamín Puertas, Unit Chief, Human Resources for Health, PAHO/WHO
- Pamela Cipriano, President, International Council of Nursing
- Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer, Canada
- Heimar Marin, Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics and Full Professor at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Perla Simons Morales, Dean, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
- Gabriel Listovsky, Special Program Chief, Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH), PAHO/WHO