The Gambian chapter of the West African College of Nursing (WACN) has commended the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, and the first lady, Madam Zainab Yahya Jammeh.

A distinguished Honorary Fellow, for their benevolent gesture - providing them with funds, making it possible for ten of their members to attend a sub-regional nursing conference (the 10th biennial general meeting, 19th scientific session and 29th Council meeting of the West African College of Nursing, March 21-28 2009, in Cotonou, Benin Republic).

According to a press release obtained from the WACN Gambia office, the president’s sponsorship provided for return air tickets (Banjul - Cotonou Via Dakar), conference registration fees, accommodation and feeding allowances for 10 of their members. The sub-regional meeting, which will bring together nurses from both the Francophone and Anglophone countries in the sub-region, will also be attended by 5 other members thanks to The Gambia government, through the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare.

The theme of the conference is ‘Health Information System as a Tool for Decision Making: The Implication for Nursing and Midwifery Practice.’ According to the release, it is expected that a number of scientific papers on the advancement of nursing will be presented and discussed, and this is expected to result in the formulation of resolutions and recommendations on issues affecting nurses and nursing care delivery in the West Africa sub-region.

The participation of Gambian nurses at this meeting, the release further stated, will be an invaluable experience as it will offer them the opportunity to relate to colleagues from nursing institutions in the sub-region, and to observe the similarities and differences in nursing education and practice. "It will also enable us to improve on the education and practice of nurses and thus help to achieve the objectives of WACN, which is excellence in nursing education and practice," the release concludes.