Nyeri: A total of 51 nurses from Nyeri have departed to attend the 67th International Annual Scientific Conference and AGM at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu.
According to Kenya News Agency, the nurses were flagged off by Nyeri Deputy Governor David Warui Kinanire, who praised their essential role in the county's healthcare system and encouraged them to use the conference as a learning and benchmarking opportunity to improve local healthcare services.
Kinanire emphasized the importance of continuous training for nurses to enhance their skills in addressing both established and new health challenges. He expressed his gratitude for the nurses' dedication, highlighting their significant contributions to patient recovery and comfort in both urban and rural healthcare facilities. The Deputy Governor recognized the nurses as invaluable assets to the healthcare sector, deserving of recognition for their hard work.
The conference, scheduled from October 29 to October 31, will focus on this year's theme, 'Nursing Power to Change the World: A Call to Transformative Healthcare.' In 2023, the 65th nurses conference was hosted by Kagumo Teachers Training College, attracting over 2,000 nurses from all 47 counties with the theme 'Our nurses, our future; addressing climate change for sustainable universal coverage.'
Kinanire urged the nurses to apply the knowledge and insights gained at the conference to enhance their practices upon returning to their respective roles. He reaffirmed the County Government of Nyeri's commitment to fostering growth opportunities that benefit the community and wished the nurses a safe journey and productive conference filled with learning and collaboration.
National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) Chair (Nyeri Branch) Thomas Kabanya expressed excitement about the conference, viewing it as a crucial event for the nursing community. Kabanya commended Dr. Mutahi Kahiga's administration for its substantial investment in healthcare and pledged to inspire nurses to work towards ensuring residents receive quality healthcare. He acknowledged the county's efforts to address the nursing shortage by announcing 43 additional nursing positions, which he believes will help close the gap of 1,000 nurses needed against the current 862.
In 2024, the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) estimated there were 81,564 registered nurses in the country. A 2020 NCK report indicated a total health workforce of 189,932, with the Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse occupation being the largest group. The 2025 State of the World's Nursing Report by the World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses projected the number of registered nurses in Kenya at 125,499, a significant increase from 40,000 in 2013, with the country graduating an average of 7,125 nurses per year.