Regional nursing and midwifery leaders gathered in the Virgin Islands from March 23 to 26 for the Fifty-Fourth Joint Meeting of the Executive and Education Committees and the Twenty-Third Meeting of the Practice Committee of the Regional Nursing Body (RNB), focusing on strengthening healthcare systems across the Caribbean.
The four-day meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Health and Social Development under the theme “Bridging Divides, Driving Reform: Caribbean Nursing and Midwifery at the Forefront of Change,” brought together Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers, regulators, educators and regional partners from CARICOM, including representatives from the Pan American Health Organization, the Caribbean Examinations Council and the University of the West Indies.
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Vincent Wheatley said nurses continue to play a central role in healthcare delivery across the region. “Nurses remain the backbone of our health systems,” he said, noting their role in emergency response, public health and reaching vulnerable communities. He also highlighted the Territory’s healthcare model, where nurses in Jost Van Dyke and Anegada often serve as sole providers on a 24-hour basis, delivering both primary and emergency care. He further noted a 93 percent HPV vaccination coverage rate in the Territory.
Speaking on behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, Director of Human Development Helen Royer commended nurses and midwives for their resilience, particularly following Hurricane Melissa. She outlined regional priorities including the review of the Caribbean Examinations Council-managed Regional Examination for Nurse Registration, development of the RNB Strategic Plan 2026–2035 and efforts to harmonise midwifery education and regulation with support from the Pan American Health Organization.
Chair of the Regional Nursing Body and Chief Nursing Officer of Barbados Annastasia Jordan said the meeting focused on strengthening governance, advancing education and improving regulatory frameworks. “The meeting agenda represents a clear roadmap for action,” she said, citing workforce mobility, migration and disaster preparedness among key areas.
Discussions also addressed workforce shortages, disaster impacts and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. Participants examined the role of advanced practice nurses in managing chronic illnesses and mental health, strategies to expand educator capacity and mechanisms to support the ethical movement of health professionals during emergencies.
Chief Nursing Officer Jascinth Hannibal said hosting the meeting reflected a commitment to advancing the professions. “The meeting provided a valuable platform to discuss and advance a unified regional agenda for nursing and midwifery,” she said.
Organisers said the outcomes are expected to guide the future direction of the Regional Nursing Body and strengthen nursing and midwifery across the Caribbean.
The meeting was supported by the National Bank of the Virgin Islands, Bougainvillea Clinic and CCT Mobile Telecommunications.
