Background

The African Nurses and Midwives Network (ANMN) was borne out of a drive to see the nursing and midwifery profession in Africa grow and improve and be recognized as a key contributor to the healthcare sector in Africa. Brain drain, poor remuneration as well as low economic status has taken its toll on the profession. The lack of a solid foundation and focus for nurses and midwives to ensure they have the competences and support to deliver safe, quality care; where they can share and showcase their huge contribution and influence the healthcare agenda, are the great challenges facing nursing in Africa, Currently there is no platform to promote nurses as one voice and encourage collaboration amongst nurses and midwives and nurse led organizations across Africa. The fragmentation and lack of cohesion of the profession in Africa, potentially excludes African nurses and midwives from the international stage.

Initial development of the ANMN -progress so far

In 2017 Ralueke Ekezie, a registered nurse and founder of Blue Torch Home Care Limited the first home care agency in Nigeria, took the initiative to use the extensive networks he had developed across Africa, (through his teaching, conference presentations, membership of national and international organizations, and use of social media) to select innovative, enthusiastic and like-minded nurses and midwives of African origin. He brought them together in a Whatsapp group explaining his vision of an organization which had the potential to achieve so much for the professions of nursing and midwifery in Africa, improving quality of care and health outcomes and with a voice at the African Union. Ralueke and the team were able to engage with representatives from 19 African countries, with clinical practitioners, educators, department of health officials and researchers. After several meetings a working document was drawn up and the ANMN was registered as a membership organization in Nigeria and for Africa.

The Aims of the ANMN

The African Nurses and Midwives Network is a Pan-African Nursing and Midwifery Organization of African nurses and midwives. It’s aims are:

• to ensure the views of African nurses and midwives are taken account of at national, continental and international levels
• to bring national and regional nursing and midwifery bodies into one formidable force – setting, regulating and improving professional standards; supporting continuous improvement and ensuring patient safety
• to actively advocate for the patient’s right to accessible, affordable, quality, safe healthcare; ensuring they are all treated as individuals – with dignity and compassion
• to be recognized as the focal point for all matters relevant to African nurses and midwives within African countries, the African continent and worldwide; influencing nursing and midwifery practice and health policy; developing and distributing resources; building capacity
• to champion innovation within the nursing and midwifery sector in Africa; supporting, sharing and encouraging innovation and best practice
• to support and contribute to existing international nursing and midwifery bodies
• to serve as a coalition of all nursing and midwifery associations, nurse and midwife led organizations in Africa and of African origin
• to promote professional leadership, entrepreneurship, research, collaboration and mentorship in the nursing and midwifery sector in Africa
• to establish sustainable professional development programmes that will equip nurses and midwives with the clinical, leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation skills to meet the health challenges facing Africa.

Next steps

Having agreed on the main aims of the ANMN and drafted a working document outlining a possible way forward, the ANMN will now consult with internationally recognized nurse leaders who may able to advise the Network on how best to proceed, ensuring that frontline nurses and midwives continue to be involved at all stages and at all levels of decision making, developing Regional and country chapters as well as individual organization. We therefore invite you to register and be a member of this great movement.

Ralueke Ekezie RN
ANMN President