Media www.rajawalisiber.com – WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today bestowed a WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Award to Ms Annette Kennedy, the outgoing President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), for her “outstanding and passionate leadership of the global nursing community”.
Speaking at a special session of the 2021 ICN Congress earlier today, Dr Tedros said Ms Kennedy’s “leadership, partnership, and dedication have played a crucial role in strengthening nursing over the past years”.
You have inspired and will continue to inspire generations of nurses and women globally”, he added.
During her four-year tenure, ICN has been an instrumental partner in the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, the State of the World’s Nursing 2020 report and Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery 2021 to 2025.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Kennedy has advocated tirelessly on behalf of nurses and highlighted the challenges they face.
She has played an important role in the ICN-ICM-WHO “Triad Meeting” and WHO hosted meetings of the Government chief nursing and midwifery officers. ICN is also currently serving on the WHO Steering Committee for the Year of Health and Care Workers.
Ms Kennedy has wide experience of representing nurses, at international level, and she has, in the past, held the position of President of the European Federation of Nurses. She also served as Director of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization for 19 years. She has worked steadfastly to engage with the European Commission, Council and European Parliament members in securing positive developments, for nurses and healthcare systems, right across the European Union.
She was elected the 28th President of the International Council of Nurses in 2017, and steps down as President of ICN at the end of the 2021 ICN Congress.
The International Council of Nurses has been a collaborator and partner with the World Health Organization since 1948.