South-East Asia countries need to strengthen nurses' cadre:WHO

Lauding tireless efforts being made by frontline health workers in tackling COVID-19, the World Health Organization on Tuesday said countries in South-East Asia need to redouble efforts to strengthen and expand their nurses and midwives' cadre by 1.9 million to achieve health for all by 2030.

Nurses and midwives are central to quality health services for all, for preventing illness, promoting health throughout the life-course, caring for mothers, newborns and children to giving life-saving immunizations, health advice, and looking after older people, said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, on the occasion of the World Health Day
There has been progress, but more needs to be done, the Regional Director said. The regional average is still far below the global average of 37 nurses per 10,000 population, and the required minimum of 40 nurses by