“With increased harmony, cooperation, and collaboration across stakeholders, we can dignify the nursing profession so that more bright girls and boys will choose nursing as their future,” said Maqsura Noor, NDC, (Additional Secretary), Director General, Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) at a roundtable today.
AYAT Education organized the roundtable, titled “Elevating Nursing Education: A Roadmap for Global Competence,” in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Simmons University, supported by Dhaka Bank PLC.
Experts discussed strategies to enhance the quality of nursing education in Bangladesh and highlighted prevalent challenges faced by the nursing profession. They collaboratively devised a strategic roadmap to empower nurses with the skills and education necessary to achieve global competence. Emphasis was placed on fostering a supportive environment that dignifies and values the nursing profession.
The discussions also focused on the current state of nursing and nursing education in Bangladesh, the global demand for skilled nurses, the economic impact of the nursing profession, and the social dignity of the nursing profession.
Distinguished guests and representatives from the government, including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, BNMC, NIANER, Dhaka Nursing College, and international partners from Massachusetts General Hospital, Simmons University, University of Nebraska Medical Center, along with development sector partners such as the World Bank, ADB, CARE Bangladesh, UNICEF, WHO, Save the Children, Swisscontact, and ILO, attended the roundtable.
Nusrat Feroz Aman, CEO of AYAT Education, emphasized the need to “acknowledge the pivotal role that skilled nurses play in both our national healthcare system and the global healthcare landscape. We also need to take different initiatives to dignify the nursing profession”
Dr. Bushra Binte Alam, in her keynote presentation, stated, “If we manage to elevate the status of nurses in Bangladesh, more girls and boys will choose nursing as a profession, which points to women empowerment since a woman who earns is one who has a say in society.”
Abdul Hai Sarker, Chairman of Dhaka Bank, added, “We should encourage more banks and private sector partners to sponsor philanthropic activities, resulting in more training for nurses in Bangladesh.”
Rui Liu, Health Specialist from the Asian Development Bank, remarked, “To sustain investment, we must realize the importance of mobilizing domestic resources to make systemic change.”
“Bangladesh is a land of potential and possibilities. To elevate nursing education, we must bring the joy of learning into classrooms. With commitment from both teachers and students, I believe that by 2030, nursing will be one of the top chosen professions in Bangladesh,” said Dr. Bimalangshu R. Dey.
As an outcome of this roundtable, discussants agreed on recommendations to improve nursing education and training, identify key partnerships and collaborations, and propose policy changes to support the growth and dignity of the nursing profession.
Since 2019, AYAT Education and AYAT College of Nursing and Health Sciences have been working to increase the quality of nursing education and research in Bangladesh to enhance the quality of life.
