By Derick Tsimba

Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health and Childcare has joined the World Health Assembly to dedicate 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

On its twitter handle the Ministry of Health and Child Care said it was going to advocate for increasing investment in the nursing and midwifery workforce to address their challenges.

“World Health Assembly has dedicated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, a year-long effort to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives, highlighting the challenging conditions they often face and advocate for increased investments in the nursing and midwifery workforce.

“The world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030,” the Ministry tweeted.

The Harare Post has learnt The World Health Assembly is a forum that governs World Health Organization (WHO) through its 194 member states. It is the world’s highest health policy setting body composed of health ministers from member states.

Functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of WHO, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.