Washington, D.C., March 25, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with the Group of Nursing Professionals of Central America and the Caribbean (GPECC, by its Spanish acronym), held the webinar “Strengthening nursing in Central America and the Caribbean”, a technical dialogue space aimed at analyzing recent evidence and generating recommendations for the sustainable development of the health workforce.
During the meeting, the results of three operational research studies on leadership, education, and working conditions of nursing personnel were presented. These studies were developed by GPECC as part of a regional process carried out with the support of PAHO. The presentations addressed priority areas for strengthening nursing in the subregion, including the leadership competencies of government chief nurses, the status of nursing education, and the working conditions of nursing personnel. These topics were analyzed considering the specific contexts of countries in Central America and the Caribbean, highlighting common gaps, heterogeneity across contexts, and opportunities for improvement that require coordinated responses at the subregional level.
The webinar was attended by 2,066 participants from 43 countries, including representatives from academic institutions, ministries of health, and health services, who exchanged perspectives on the main challenges and opportunities for strengthening the development of the profession in Central America and the Caribbean.
“We hope that this space not only gives visibility to the research, but also contributes to the development of recommendations that can influence public policies and strengthen nursing as a fundamental profession for the health of our peoples,” said Yolanda Saturria, Coordinator of GPECC.
“It is an opportunity to share evidence, foster dialogue, and build consensus, especially in complex contexts. Strengthening nursing requires joint work, coordination, and sustained commitment, as only through coordination and collaborative work can we move toward more resilient and equitable health systems”, said Benjamín Puertas, Unit Chief, Human Resources for Health, PAHO.
The webinar is aligned with PAHO’s Policy on the Health Workforce 2030, which guides Member States in strengthening human resources for health with a view to building resilient health systems, and is part of PAHO’s technical cooperation efforts aimed at strengthening nursing and midwifery in the Region of the Americas, recognizing the essential role of these professionals in advancing universal health and health equity.
