Contributions of nurses and midwives praised at Abu Dhabi conference

He praised the contributions of Emirati nurses in the service of the nation: “This is all thanks to the tremendous and boundless support provided by our visionary leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, and your brothers. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and his fellow members of the Supreme Council of Rulers of the UAE. By the grace of Allah and thanks to the dedicated support of our wise leadership, Emirati nurses have excelled in their profession, becoming successful role models locally, regionally and globally.”

He concluded his speech by expressing his gratitude to the organizers for promoting best professional practices, encouraging commitment to continuous research, learning, teaching, sharing of experiences and knowledge and dedicating efforts to address the needs of the nation.

Conveying his gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for her sponsorship of the Congress, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, said: “The sponsorship is truly an honor not only for the UAE healthcare community, but all of us. In growing recognition of the value of nursing leadership, nurses are increasingly taking on leadership roles in hospitals around the world and at Burjeel Holdings. “They are well positioned to lead in healthcare settings because they have a deep understanding of patient care and the healthcare delivery system.”

Dr. Aysha Al Mahri, President of the Congress and Deputy CEO of Burjeel Medical City, added: “The conference comprises 12 scientific themes focusing on the themes of development, empowerment and sustainability. 160 scientific research papers will be presented, with the participation of more than 60 international expert speakers, both from inside and outside the country. This edition of the Congress stands out because it will feature live broadcasts of surgical procedures performed with the Da Vinci robot. “This innovative approach aims to empower nursing staff by allowing them to improve their efficiency and keep up to date with technological advances and artificial intelligence, together with the medical team.”

The conference paid tribute to the late Salma Salim Al Sharhan, the first Emirati nurse, who cared for thousands of people and dedicated 52 years of hard work to healthcare. The honor was received on her behalf by her family.

The Emirates Nursing Youth Forum was launched on the first day of the conference, parallel to the main sessions. This platform provided local students and novice nurses the opportunity to interact with their experienced colleagues and establish channels for ongoing communication. On the closing day, representatives of Emirati youth will present their recommendations to the participants.

Over three days, the conference will cover a variety of critical topics, including leadership, advocacy, international policy, patient safety, quality, infection control and multidisciplinary research. On its first day, workshops were held on various topics, including healthcare research, summarizing extensive research articles, healthcare leadership, sustainable healthcare, and the role of medical teams.