Poland to host meeting of Chief Nursing Officers
This week, on 7- 8 October 2011, a meeting of the Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) of all Member States of the WHO European Region will be held in Warsaw, Poland, immediately following the European Union (EU) Presidency meeting for Chief Nursing and Chief Medical Officers, on 6-7 October.
Professor Jose Martin-Moreno, Director of Programme Management at WHO/Europe will open the meeting, together with the Deputy Minister of Health of Poland, and the First Lady of Georgia, Mrs Sandra Roelofs, WHO Goodwill Ambassador in the European Region for the health-related Millennium Development Goals will speak as guest of honour.
The meeting, the first of this group of CNOs since 2005, offers a unique opportunity to renew their collaboration with WHO/Europe. The meeting aims to revitalize the network and encourage its full engagement in decision-making processes at regional level. This meeting will also provide a forum for knowledge exchange and contribute to the implementation of World Health Assembly Resolution 64.7 on strengthening nursing and midwifery, as agreed by WHO Member States in May 2011.
In recognition of the invaluable contribution that nurses and midwives make to promoting health and health care in Europe, participants will be invited to discuss WHO/Europe’s key areas of work including Health 2020, implementing the Tallinn Charter on health systems, as well as the strategic directions for nursing and midwifery in the Region. Additionally, issues which are currently affecting nursing or midwifery, such as the financial crisis will be addressed.
Since 1 July 2011, Poland has been chairing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and many formal and informal meetings have been organized. The two main priorities in the area of public health are:
- closing the health gap in European societies; and
- the prevention of brain diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
