Mariam Nooh Al-Mutawa, Acting Chief Nursing Officer at HMC (left) and Muna Al Hetmi, Director of Nursing Education at HMC
Doha: The Corporate Nursing and Midwifery Department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is collaborating with local partners to host the 2nd Arab Nurses and Midwives Virtual Conference, which will take place online on Saturday, October 29, 2022. The educational and celebratory event is a prequel activity to mark Arab Nurses and Midwives Day. The conference is held online to enable participants from across the 22 Arab countries to join more easily.
The aim of this virtual conference is to bring together professionals from across the Arab region to learn about the latest innovations in evidence-based practice in the nursing and midwifery community. The virtual conference agenda was developed by a local committee including representation from Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, the Police Clinic and Army Hospital under Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, Primary Health Care Corporation, Sidra Medicinal, Aspetar Hospital, and HMC.
Mariam Nooh Al-Mutawa, Acting Chief Nursing Officer at HMC explained the reasoning for hosting the event in October: “The Arab Board of Ministers of Health decreed in 2021 that all Arab countries will celebrate Arab Nurses and Midwives Day annually on the 3rd of November. Each year one of the Arab nations is selected to host a regional event and this year it is Qatar’s privilege to organize an event that is designed to bring together nurses and midwives in a targeted forum where they can benefit from educational sessions as well as share their experiences with peers from other organizations.”
“Not only are we honored to host the regional event to mark Arab Nurses and Midwives Day 2022, but this year also represents an amazing opportunity and honor for Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the first time such event is held in an Arab country. Many of our nurses are involved in the plans for healthcare services provided during the World Cup. Certainly, this is a testament to the indispensable value and contribution of nurses and midwives in supporting the country’s efforts to secure the health and wellbeing of all who will be here for this momentous occasion,” said Al-Mutawa.
“This virtual conference aims to recognize the legacy of those pioneers who provided nursing and midwifery services in this region from historic times right through to the modern age, where well trained, licensed professionals use evidence-based best practices to provide care in this complex healthcare systems. Alongside the celebrations, we developed a rich educational program that is accredited as a learning event by the Qatar Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Healthcare Professionals and will offer 6 Continuing Professional Development hours for participants,” said Muna Al Hetmi, Director of Nursing Education at HMC and the Lead for the Conference Organizing Committee.
“One of the reasons for us to hold the conference on the 29th of October is that we recognize that countries will want to host local activities marking Arab Nurses and Midwives Day on the 3rd of November, and we therefore wanted to enable more nurses from across the Arab world to participate in our conference. This conference, just like the Arab Nurses and Midwives Day, is for all nurses and midwives, men and women from all nationalities and cultures who live and work in the Arab world, and who are united by a desire to help patients who need and deserve professional and compassionate care,” added Al Hetmi. “We welcome any nurses and midwives from Qatar and to register and attend this conference by visiting www.hamad.qa/anmd2022.”
