ICN
‘5 International
Councll of Nurses
The Minister ot Social Affairs
Ministry of Social Affairs
Gonsiori Str. 29
0104 TalIinn
Estonia
13 February 2025
Your Excellency,
Re: Nurses cit the World Health Organization’s 78th World Health Assembly, 19-27
May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland
1 am writing on behalf of the International Council of Nurses (lcN) and our national
nurses’ association (NNA) members to encourage you to include a nurse in your
country’s delegation to the 78th session of the World Health Assembly (wHA). As a
federation of NNAs representing the over 28 million nurses in over 130 countries we
are committed to ensuring quality of care and sound health policies giobally and
view the discussions and decisions of the WHA as very significant to nurses.
Nurses are an important partner in setting and enacting health policy and, over
the years, we have seen the benefits of nursing input in the deliberations of the
WHA. Hoving nurses’ perspective in the current debate and policy setting in
national, regional and international forums wiIl enhance the range of robust and
practical solutions required to address global health challenges.
We would like to use this important opportunity to meet with you to brief you on
ICN’s work and key priorities on the WHA agenda in order to support and
advance nursing in your country. To arrange a bilateral meeting please contact
my Executive Assistant, Marie Carrillo (
[email protected]).
The 78 WHA agenda contains several items where involvement of the nursing
prof ession in the discussion is critical. These include GIobal strategic directions for
nursing and midwifery; noncommunicable diseases; mental health and social
connection; primary healthcare; international recruitment of health personnel;
human resources for health; 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; climate
Change and health; digital health; antimicrobial resistance; women’s, children’s
ICN • CIE • CII
3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva Switzerland Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00
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Fax: +41 2290801 01 e-maiI: icnöjicn.ch web: www.icn.ch
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and adolescents’ health; health emergency preparedness and response;
substandard and falsified medical products; impact of chemicals, waste and
pollution on health.
The enormous pressures on hea)th care professionais and the underinvestment in
the nursing profession have placed the nursing workforce in a very precarious
place. The nursing shortage is currently estimated at 6 million. The care and
Ieadership of nurses to address giobal health challenges everywhere must be
supported and valued. Including a nurse in your delegation is critical to ensure
nurses are valued decision- makers and that their unique expertise is included in
solutions to address current and future health challenges.
Nurse Ieaders in your Country hold great power in their ability to transform health
systems and we urge you to harness this power by ensuring their involvement and
their voice is heard at the WHA. We Iook forward to meeting you and a nurse
delegate from your Country.
Yours sinCerely,
Chief Executive Officer
c.c.: Presidents/Executive Directors/General Secretaries of ICN NNAs member
ICN • CIE • CII
3, Place Jean Marteau, 1201 Geneva - Switzerland — Tel.: +41 22 908 01 00
Fax: +4] 22 908 01 0] — e-mail: icnicn.ch — web: www.icn.ch