Leadership Communiqué March 2016

CCH III Presented and Consensus Reached on the Way Forward CCH IV

Last time I wrote you in February 2016

we were headed to Trinidad and Tobago to present the findings of the Caribbean Cooperation Health III (CCH III) Strategy Framework 2010-2015 evaluation and recommendations for CCH IV to key stakeholders in the Caribbean 22-23 February 2016.  The presentation and consultation were a success.  More than 50 key stakeholders attended the meeting in the Hilton in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The key stakeholders reached consensus on the following priority areas to be addressed in CCH IV:

1. Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage
2. Safe, resilient, healthy environments to mitigate climate change
3. Health and well-being of Caribbean people throughout the life course
4. Data and evidence for decision-making and accountability
5. Partnership and resource mobilization for health

In addition, participants agreed to a roadmap for the development of CCH IV leading to approval by the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD)

in September 2016. To read more about the CCH III and IV and follow the roadmap for implementation refer to the following link: http://www.paho.org/ocpc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=429:advancing-the-caribbean-cooperation-in-health-cch-&Itemid=1540.

Sub-regional Workshop on Chief Nursing Officer Competencies:

in support of Universal Health Coverage

March 7-9, 2016, I facilitated, on behalf of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO), a three-day Subregional Workshop on Chief Nursing Officer Competencies: In Support of Universal Health Coverage. The Workshop was held in Barbados. This sub-regional meeting was attended by Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) from 17 Member States, along with permanent secretaries, medical officers of health, senior academic staff of University of the West Indies and national schools of nursing, senior planning staff of ministries of health from several Member States.

The main objectives of the meeting were to review and discuss gaps and challenges on competencies for chief nursing/midwifery officers; review and identify areas for strengthening the roles and responsibilities of chief nursing officers, in support of universal health coverage, universal access and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and to develop a plan of action for the process of strengthening competencies, with a timeline.

In order for CNOs to lead and address the challenges of the 21^st century with new and re-emerging diseases, the global and regional agenda in health and represent nursing and midwifery at national, regional and global levels, they need to be aware of the competencies that are required and apply them to in the policy environment in which they operate.

At the end of the meeting CNOs achieved the following:

1. Became more familiar with the global WHO competencies for CNOs for adaptation at the sub-regional level and aligned to universal health coverage;
2. Developed a plan of action for countries to adapt the WHO CNO competencies, which includes milestones for monitoring and evaluation of progress;
3. Produced plans of action that would support the strategic plan and the role and functions of the CARICOM Regional Nursing Body (RNB).

To learn more about the WHO CNO competencies, refer to the following document:

http://www.who.int/hrh/nursing_midwifery/cnweb.pdf

Let us know how we can help you? Lead with us to make the world a better and safer place for all.

Stephanie

Stephanie L. Ferguson

President & CEO

Stephanie L. Ferguson & Associates, LLC