VIHIGA COUNTY HOSTS THE FOURTH EAST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY-KENYAN CHAPTER CONFERENCE

Vihiga County hosted the fourth edition of the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Nursing and Midwifery – Kenyan Chapter Conference at Sosa Cottages to advance the nursing and midwifery practice in the region.

The conference held under the theme of “Towards a Healthier Nation: The Role of Nurses and Midwives,” saw the attendance of nurses and midwives from across the 47 counties including attendees from Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Somalia.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the conference, Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo applauded nurses and midwives for their role in building healthy communities.

“As Kenya and our region strive towards Universal Health Coverage and resilient health systems, we are reminded that the efforts of nurses and midwives do not merely support our health sector-they ground it. In Vihiga County, we have seen time and again the profound difference that dedicated nurses and midwives make. This conference gives us the opportunity to reflect on the priorities that will empower and elevate the nursing and midwifery workforce. The voice of nurses and midwives must be heard not only at the patient’s bedside but also in the boardrooms and policymaking arenas where decisions are made,” said the Governor, Dr. Wilber Ottichilo.

The Ministry of Health Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Dr. Judith Awinja while delivering her remarks encouraged the conference attendees to understand what the law says in order to implement it well.

“Part II, Section 18A(ii) of The Health Act, 2017 says that a nursing should have a directorate. We have therefore developed career progression guidelines for the profession but I would like us to first read and understand what it says for the county and for the nation. It is important for nurses and midwives to understand their scope of practice and policies. The guidelines will be presented to the Council of Governors and we call on the Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo to support us when the document is presented,” noted Dr. Judith Awinja.

The two-day conference was also attended by the Vihiga County Executive Committee Member for the Health Nicholas Kitungulu, Bungoma County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation CPA Chrispinus Barasa, ECSACONM-Kenya Chair Fredrick Omiah, National Nurses Association of Kenya National Chairman Collins Ajwang, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union President Justus Kiplangat.

The East, Central, and Southern Africa College of Nursing and Midwifery (ECSACONM) is the professional body for nurses and midwives in the ECSA Region. ECSACONM was established in 1990 as an executing arm of the then Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa (CRHCS-ECSA) in the area of nursing and midwifery.