Partnering on Prevention: Leadership Training Program Empowers Nurses in Infection Control

In partnership with India’s National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), several Johns Hopkins faculty developed and recently implemented a master nursing leadership training program on infection prevention and control practices.  Dr. Nancy Reynolds, Dr. Vinciya Pandian, and Maria Docal of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Dr. Brian Wahl of the Bloomberg School of Public Health represented JHU’s contributions to the program, which is part of a nationwide initiative by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). Between October 2022 and February 2023, training was provided to 128 nurses representing northeastern, northwestern, and southern states in India.

Two more sessions are planned, with a goal for the MOHFW to fund sessions for additional nurse leaders. Leaders will then work at the grassroots level to disseminate knowledge and skilled nursing practices for infection control and prevention, and empower nurses nationwide to serve as leaders in this space.

“I am proud to be part of this initiative representing JHU and advocating for Indian nurses at the health policy level,” Pandian said. “This is the first initiative by the MOHFW to allocate funds for nursing education on such a large scale, and it has been sorely needed.”