Nursing professionals across the Caribbean were commended for their resilience and leadership during the opening of the 53rd Meeting of the Regional Nursing Body

Nursing professionals across the Caribbean were commended for their resilience and leadership during the opening of the 53rd Meeting of the Regional Nursing Body in Georgetown, Guyana. 

Annastacia Jordan, Chair of the meeting and Chief Nursing Officer of Barbados, highlighted that Caribbean health systems face 
unprecedented pressures, including workforce shortages, migration, demographic shifts, chronic diseases, and natural disasters. 

She observed that despite these hurdles, nurses and midwives remain a constant pillar of strength, gaining increased visibility as key decision-makers, researchers, and system architects. Jordan also expressed gratitude for regional solidarity during emergencies and acknowledged the strong partnerships supporting the RNB's initiatives. 

Echoing these sentiments, Helen Royer, Director of Human Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasized the vital role of nurses and midwives as the largest segment of the global health workforce. 

Royer stressed that their expertise is essential to shaping policy and improving regional health outcomes, while calling on the RNB to prioritize turning strategic plans and policies into practical, measurable actions across national and regional levels. 

Held under the theme "Bridging Divides, Driving Reform: Caribbean Nursing and Midwifery at the Forefront of Change," the five-day conference will run through August 7, covering key topics such as regulatory capacity, nurse-to-patient ratios, standardized midwifery education, leadership, and disaster response.