KUWAIT CITY, Dec 24: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi announced that, for the first time, the nursing profession has been included among government work initiatives, recognizing its critical role in promoting community health. Speaking on Monday at the opening of the conference titled Innovation in Nursing Care – Transforming the Future of Healthcare, Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasized the ministry's commitment to advancing the skills of nurses through specialized courses in collaboration with international universities and institutions. These initiatives aim to enhance professional efficiency and improve the quality of healthcare services.

Dr. Al-Awadhi noted the significant contribution of the nursing profession, which accounts for approximately 40% of the total workforce in the health sector. He highlighted that the role of the Nursing Services Department extends beyond training and qualification to active involvement in community initiatives, such as health awareness campaigns aimed at enhancing public health knowledge.

Conference chairperson Dr. Iman Al-Awadhi, in a televised speech, underscored the fundamental role of nurses in the healthcare system, noting that the workforce includes approximately 23,000 nurses, among them 1,074 qualified national cadres. She emphasized the department's efforts to develop and qualify nurses by organizing specialized courses in collaboration with international health organizations. These courses have benefited 231 nurses from various hospitals and primary care centers. Additionally, training programs for trainers have prepared 68 trainers, who have subsequently trained over 2,456 nurses.

Dr. Iman Al-Awadhi also highlighted a training program launched in May 2023 for nurses in primary care centers to handle emergency cases. To date, 205 nurses from primary care centers and hospital accident departments have participated in the program.

The two-day conference aims to strengthen the role of nursing in improving healthcare quality by adopting modern technology and fostering a culture of innovation among nurses. The event features discussions on working papers and includes participation from experts and specialists from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses. Two workshops are also being held as part of the conference.