Following the leaders in Health for All

"Leadership Development for Health for All," the theme of the technical discussions at the 41st World Health Assembly in May, was explored by leaders in health and health-related fields, including eminent persons from all walks of life and decisionmakers from the national to the community level. Two prominent nurses were among those who led the debates: Dame Nita Barrow, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN, who chaired the discussions, and Eunice Muringo Kiereini, Chairperson of the African Regional Nursing Task Force, who moderated the working group on educational institutions. The principal thrust of the discussions was to engage these leaders in a lively debate, specifically on the issues evolving from three major questions: 1) Why leadership is needed for health for all? 2) What can leadership do in support of health for all? and 3) How can leadership be developed and enhanced? Excerpts from their main conclusions follow.