A ceremony to award Federal Ministry of Health issued Certificates to 15 nurses from West Herzegovina Canton who successfully completed additional training in community nursing was held at the Educational Center of the Primary Health Care Center Grude. This training is an important step in strengthening the role of nurses in provision of high quality health care services at the primary health care level.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of Strengthening Nursing in BiH project, as well as key stakeholders from the health sector: Dr. Vildana Doder, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Tomislav Pejic, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Welfare, Marija Vlasic, Assistant Minister, Dr. Jerko Brzica, Director of Grude Primary Health Care Center and Mirjana Alpeza, Head Nurse along with the representatives of primary health care centers Ljubuski, Siroki Brijeg and Posusje.

Over the past few months, training participants from primary health care centers Grude, Ljubuski, Siroki Brijeg and Posusje attended an intensive professional development program, which lasted a total of 152 hours. The program was designed for nurses to acquire additional knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive community nursing services. After completing the training consisting of theoretical and practical parts, the participants took exam before the Exam Commission of the Federal Ministry of Health at the end of last year.

Thanks to this program, nurses improved their competencies required for community nursing, which will contribute to better availability and quality of health services, especially for vulnerable and socially excluded categories of the population. Strengthening nursing profession is a key step in the reform of primary health care. This type of training helps improve the provision of more efficient and comprehensive care to patients in home settings.

The additional training for nurses is a part of continues activities aimed at strengthening nursing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions. This program not only improves nurses’ skills but also strengthens their role in the health system subsequently leading to provision of better health care services to all citizens.

We congratulate all participants and wish them successful work in the community!