Home / Health / Nurses Mobilize to Curb Resurgence of Preventable Diseases Globally
Nurses Mobilize to Curb Resurgence of Preventable Diseases Globally
28 Jul
Summary
- Alberta facing worst measles outbreak since 1970s
- 30 million nurses globally seen as key to addressing public health challenges
- Declining vaccination rates contributing to rise in infectious diseases
The ongoing measles outbreak in Alberta, which is the province's worst since the 1970s, has prompted a global gathering of public health nurses in Calgary. The International Global Network of Public Health Nursing Conference, co-hosted by the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, is bringing together nursing leaders to address the challenges of rising infectious diseases worldwide.
According to the International Council of Nurses CEO Howard Catton, nurses make up about half of global health systems and are crucial to finding solutions to the public health issues facing countries around the world. Experts say declining vaccination rates, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to the resurgence of diseases like measles that were once thought to be under control.
Nurses, who are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession, are seen as ideally positioned to help reverse these trends and improve public health through vaccination advocacy and health education. As the conference got underway, Alberta Health Services issued a new measles exposure warning for the city, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
