Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization Academy has called for stronger global partnerships to improve nursing and midwifery education, leadership and healthcare delivery worldwide.
In an update released to mark International Nurses Day 2026, the organisation says international collaboration remains critical to strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage.
The WHO reports that the global nursing workforce increased from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023. However, it warns that major inequalities persist, with 78 per cent of nurses concentrated in countries representing only 49 per cent of the world’s population.
WHO Chief Nursing Officer Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu says the imbalance continues to limit access to essential healthcare services in many regions.
“Addressing this gap requires more than investment alone,” Tuipulotu says. “It calls for coordinated action, shared experiences and sustained collaboration across countries and institutions.”
The organisation highlights the role of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres in Nursing and Midwifery, which includes 45 centres across six WHO regions.
According to the report, the network supports education, leadership development, employment and healthcare service delivery through knowledge sharing and policy collaboration.
University of Technology Sydney, which serves as the network’s secretariat, recently led policy dialogues across 13 Pacific islands following the release of the State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report.
Professor Michele Rumsey says collaboration remains central to strengthening global nursing systems.
“By bringing together centres of excellence within and across regions, we are able to share knowledge, align our efforts and scale solutions to support nurses and midwives around the globe,” Rumsey says.
WHO also confirms that its Office of the Chief Nurse and Health Workforce Department have moved to the WHO Academy in Lyon, France, to strengthen workforce development and learning.
About the Author
Otamere Gladness 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Hussaini Ibrahim 