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MOHAP - Innovation in Government Events

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Company: MOHAP, Dubai
Company Description: Ministry of Health and Prevention - Nursing Department
Nomination Category: Live Event Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Award for Innovation in Government Events

Nomination Title: First International Virtual Forum "Envisioning The Nursing Profession After COVID-19 Pandemic"

The virtual forum moderated by Dr. Sumaya Mohamed AlBlooshi - Director of Nursing, Ministry of Health and Prevention, UAE - included the following prestigious international nursing experts:
Howard Cotton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses.

Dr. Ruwaida Al-Maaytah, Advisor to Princess Mona Al-Hussein for nursing and community health, member of the board of directors of the global campaign "Nursing Now", a member of the High Health Council of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Dr. Arwa Owais, Nursing & Midwifery Regional Advisor, World Health Organization.

Zulekha Yousef Al Hosani, Executive Director of Nursing at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, UAE.

Dr. Nizam Al-Naseer, Dean of the College of Nursing at the Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE.

Provide the date on which this nominated event was staged: 24th September 2020

Provide an essay of up to 625 words describing the nominated innovation(s) in event conception, development, planning, promotion, and/or execution.

The event is considered the firstinternational virtual forum to explore the future of nursing profession post COVID-19 in the presence of 696 specialists and experts from all over the world. Itwas conducted as part of honoring the "International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, 2020" and in recognition of the vital role nurses playas one of the frontliners. It aimed at providing an international platform for nursing experts and nurses to reflect on the lessons learned during the pandemic and identify the key actions and stategies needed to promote nursing profession in the presence of international nursing experts from World Health Organization (WHO) and International Council of Nurses (ICN). It provided a good networking opportunity and supported strenghting the international collaboration and partnership.

The planning for the forum started in July,2020. It included agenda specification, speakers invitation, designing and setting up the virtual platform and event invitation. It was fundemental to assure the platform capabilites to support involvement of international speakers and big number of attendees. Also, it was essential to assure having the final design matching the visual identity of the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). This was assured through several reviews, modifications and approval from MOHAPgovernment communication department. Online registration portal was created and tested for user friendly features. Virtual rehersal sessions were conducted with all the speakers to familize them with the platform in terms of how to navigate the presentation slides, how to communicate internally with other speakers and the moderator, how to view and manage the audience questions and technical support plan during the forum. It also included testing the technical aspects related to network connectivity and audio prior to the event. Technical support team were deployed to some speakers who were expeirncing technical challenges during the rehearsal session while others were provided with virtual support prior and throughout the forum.

The invitation was shared world-wide marking an international attendnace of 696. Furthermore, the record of the forum was deployed within the learning management system of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and announced to all its employees providing them the access and opportunity to attend and benefit from the insights and recommendations shared.

The forum started with opening remarks byDr. Sumaya Mohamed Al Blooshi -Director of Nursing Department, MOHAP, in which sheunderlineded that the current global conditions have evidently demonstrated the importance of the nursing profession in the health sector and the need to optimise investment in it to achieve the country’s strategy, in terms of having a world-class health system that is completely ready to manage various health emergencies and fulfill the objectives related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and universal health coverage. The forumconcluded ; through the rich presentations and interactive panel of discussion; with a set of recommendations, including the following:

The importance of investment in employment, nursing services, education, positive work environment, community nursing care, and clinical leadership.

The criticality of nurses well-being and support.

International call for strengthening professional development systems andreforming education strategies and effective integration of technology.

The importance of implementing best practices in nursing education in terms of evaluation methods and clinical training.

The forum was covered in the local news agencies and mentioned by the International Council of Nurses. A detailed newsletter with the forum insights and recommendations was developed and shared.