KATHMANDU, Sept 12: A two-day international conference on Nursing and Midwifery will begin on Friday in Kathmandu. 

The conference, entitled "Leading Innovation in Nursing and Midwifery Education, Policy, and Practice" will bring together nearly 275 participants, including nursing scholars, academicians, students, administrators, clinical practitioners and other healthcare professionals from Nepal and around the world. Minister for Health and Population Pradip Poudel will inaugurate the conference. 

The conference, organized from September 13-14, will take place at the Smart Durbar Banquet in Chappal Karkhana, Kathmandu. This landmark event, hosted by the Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, will cover a wide range of critical topics, including Sexual and Reproductive Health, Evidence-Based Practice in Neonatal and Child Health, Professionalism in Midwifery, Advances in Child and Adolescent Health, School Health and Health Promotion, Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, Mental Health, and Substance Use, among others.

Participants will have the opportunity to present and discuss recent research articles, case studies, review articles, and policy review papers related to the fields of nursing and midwifery. The conference is designed to be accessible to both in-person and virtual attendees, ensuring a wide-reaching impact, according to the organizer.

Keynote speeches will address topics such as “Professional Advancement and the Future Direction of Nursing Practice,” “Achieving Equity in Health and Healthcare through Nurses and Midwives,” “Nursing Task-force Management Policy Model in Nepal,” “Nursing and Midwifery Service and the Economy of Healthcare Outcomes,” and “Nursing Professionals in Policy-Informed Research.”

The keynote speeches, discussions, and debates on contemporary issues will significantly contribute to the professionalism of nursing faculty, administrators, clinical nurses, and students alike. Professor Muna Rana Thapa, the Campus Chief at Maharajgunj Nursing Campus and President of the Conference, highlighted the limited number of such events organized by medical institutions in Nepal and emphasized the conference's potential to foster the exchange of ideas, strategies, and innovations in the field of nursing and midwifery. 

As the first event of its kind organized by the Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, the conference is expected to play a crucial role in advancing professional excellence, improving patient care, and driving innovative changes through the dissemination of research findings. The event provides an excellent platform for networking opportunities among healthcare professionals, nursing students, and leaders in the nursing profession.

Dr. Muna Sharma, Associate Professor at Maharajgunj Nursing Campus and coordinator of the conference, expressed, "Participants will be updated on the latest advancements in healthcare, making this forum an exceptional avenue for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration across various nursing specialties. It is also anticipated to contribute significantly to advocacy for the nursing profession and policy-making."

According to the Nepal Nursing Council, as of July 2024, there are over 83,000 registered nurses, 1,695 nursing specialists, 91 midwives, and 37,453 ANMs in Nepal. The country offers various levels of nursing education, including ANM, PCL Nursing, BN/BNS, B.Sc. Nursing, MN/M.Sc. Nursing, and Ph.D. in Nursing, with numerous public and private institutions providing education from basic to advanced nursing.

 
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