Pöördumine

ICN ‘5 International

Councll of Nurses

The Minister ot Social Affairs

Ministry of Social Affairs

Gonsiori Str. 29

0104 TalIinn

Estonia

13 February 2025

Your Excellency,

Re: Nurses cit the World Health Organization’s 78th World Health Assembly, 19-27

May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland

1 am writing on behalf of the International Council of Nurses (lcN) and our national

nurses’ association (NNA) members to encourage you to include a nurse in your

country’s delegation to the 78th session of the World Health Assembly (wHA). As a

federation of NNAs representing the over 28 million nurses in over 130 countries we

are committed to ensuring quality of care and sound health policies giobally and

view the discussions and decisions of the WHA as very significant to nurses.

Nurses are an important partner in setting and enacting health policy and, over

the years, we have seen the benefits of nursing input in the deliberations of the

WHA. Hoving nurses’ perspective in the current debate and policy setting in

national, regional and international forums wiIl enhance the range of robust and

practical solutions required to address global health challenges.

We would like to use this important opportunity to meet with you to brief you on

ICN’s work and key priorities on the WHA agenda in order to support and

advance nursing in your country. To arrange a bilateral meeting please contact

my Executive Assistant, Marie Carrillo ([email protected]).

The 78 WHA agenda contains several items where involvement of the nursing

profession in the discussion is critical. These include GIobal strategic directions for

nursing and midwifery; noncommunicable diseases; mental health and social

connection; primary healthcare; international recruitment of health personnel;

human resources for health; 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; climate

Change and health; digital health; antimicrobial resistance; women’s, children’s

ICN • CIE • CII

3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva - Switzerland — Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00

Fax: +41 2290801 01 — e-maiI: icnöjicn.ch — web: www.icn.ch nnsteeriu r. .AAEUNUD

2OUa. Nr

and adolescents’ health; health emergency preparedness and response; substandard and falsified medical products; impact of chemicals, waste and

pollution on health.

The enormous pressures on hea)th care professionais and the underinvestment in the nursing profession have placed the nursing workforce in a very precarious

place. The nursing shortage is currently estimated at 6 million. The care and

Ieadership of nurses to address giobal health challenges everywhere must be

supported and valued. Including a nurse in your delegation is critical to ensure nurses are valued decision- makers and that their unique expertise is included in

solutions to address current and future health challenges.

Nurse Ieaders in your Country hold great power in their ability to transform health

systems and we urge you to harness this power by ensuring their involvement and their voice is heard at the WHA. We Iook forward to meeting you and a nurse

delegate from your Country.

Yours sinCerely,

Chief Executive Officer

c.c.: Presidents/Executive Directors/General Secretaries of ICN NNAs member

ICN • CIE • CII

3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva - Switzerland — Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00

Fax: +4] 22 908 01 0] — e-mail: icnicn.ch — web: www.icn.ch