Rohit Shishodia
The World Health Organization has said that there is need of nine million more nurses and midwives to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The WHO has designated the upcoming year 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. The UN agency will highlight the challenging conditions nurses and midwives often face. The WHO will advocate for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.

The WHO and its partners, including the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), International Council of Nurses (ICN), Nursing Now and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will highlight the work of nurses the entire year in the different regions of the globe.

The WHO has said that nurses and midwives play a vital role in providing health services. These are the people who devote their lives to caring for mothers and children and give lifesaving immunizations and health advice.

“They look after older people and generally meet everyday essential health needs. They are often the first and only point of care in their communities. The world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030,” said the WHO.