Welcome to 2023

The Board of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF) wishes all our members and friends a happy, healthy and peaceful 2023.


There are a number of issues of concern for our members which have already been raised with us, which include:

  • recovery of health systems after the pandemic;
  • increasing each country's intake of nurses and midwives to build the workforce;
  • implementing retention strategies for nurses and midwives currently in the workforce;
  • recruitment by developed countries of nurses and midwives from developing countries;
  • addressing inequities in the provision of health care;
  • mitigating climate change, and addressing the effects of climate change on health and wellbeing; and
  • securing peace in our very troubled world.


The CNMF Board hopes to be able to start conversations over the coming year with members and friends to address some of these issues.

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25th CNMF Biennial Meeting of Members       


At the 2022 Biennial Meeting of Members held on Friday 23 - Saturday 24 September, a number of policy statements were finalised.

>> Gender equity
>> International Recruitment of Nurses and Midwives
>> Climate change and health

These policy statements have now been sent out to members for endorsement.

The development of three additional policy statements were recommended. A first draft is expected to be submitted to the CNMF Board in the first half of this year before being circulated to members for comment.

>> Universal health coverage
>> Health equity
>> Emergency and disaster preparedness

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6th Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference

The CNMF Board have taken the decision to postpone the 6th Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference which was due to be held in 2022. The CNMF was very fortunate that a successful 5th Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference was able to be held just before country lock downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is still very difficult for CNMF members fom many countries to travel internationally. Information about the date, venue and theme for the 6th Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference will be circulated to CNMF members and friends as soon as it is available.

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           Oral Health Project
              
The CNMF has joined with C3 Collaborating for Health and the World Continuing Education Alliance in a project on oral health funded by Colgate. The project aims to provide education for nurses and midwives on
oral health as well as exploring changes to patient intake and nursing and midwifery care plans to provide a more comprehensive assessment of oral health.

In May 2021, the World Health Assembly adopted an historic resolution (WHA 74.5) recognising that oral health should be firmly embedded within the NCD agenda and that oral health intervention should be included in universal health coverage programs. The WHO was asked to develop a draft global strategy for tackling oral disease which was adopted by the WHA in 2022. The WHO is now developing an action plan to go to the WHA in 2023 for the implementation of the global strategy and a monitoring framework for tracking progress with clear measurable targets to be achieved by 2030.

Oral health is vital to an individual's general health and wellbeing. Healthy teeth and gums are an essential element for maintaining adequate nutrition and supporting digestion. Nurses and midwives can play a critical role in detecting oral health disease and in educating individuals, families and communities about oral health.

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