A new group representing nurses from around the world working in the UK health sector gathered at the beautiful and historic St Gilda’s College in Oxford (Riverside Pavilion) for an oath-taking ceremony on 30 January 2026.
Mary Seacole Trust co-Vice chair, Elizabeth Pearson, as founder and Director of Diaspora Uganda Nurses Midwives Society, and inaugural President and founder of Uganda Nurses Midwives Association (2020-2023), was joined by other members of the newly formed Alliance of Internationally Educated Nurses and Midwives Diasporas in the United Kingdom at the ceremony.
Elizabeth said: ‘Taking the oath today symbolises my commitment to continue working together to solidify our solemn, unseen, unheard, and unrecognised contributions, and I call upon all our stakeholders to work with the Alliance and its member organisations for both home and global health projects.’
The Alliance and event were chaired by duly elected Ariel Lanada, President, Filipino Nurses Association UK, and Divisional Lead for Practice Development and Education, at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Ariel said: “We have been collaborating for international and diaspora nurses and midwives working in the NHS, social care, and the third sector, and the Alliance will strengthen these efforts. We are committed to unity, equality, diversity, and inclusivity and to advancing our members’ welfare, leadership, and career development.
“Our purpose is to speak as one voice and in an advisory capacity to influence policy, promote equitable access, enhance inclusivity, and improve health and well-being outcomes for BAME nurses and midwives in the UK healthcare system.”
The ceremony highlights the contribution of the internationally educated and diaspora nurses and midwives.
Guests included chief nurses/midwives across the country, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, community leaders, and various stakeholders.
Steve Ford, Editor-in-Chief of Nursing times was the chief host.
The other five Alliance executive officers who took the oath are:
LOUIE HORNE, BEM – Press Relations Officer, UNISON nursing director.
Sally Nyinza – Vice Chair, Alliance of International Nurses and Midwives Diasporas UK and President and Founder, Kenyan Nurses and Midwives Association UK
Charity Gladston, BEM – Vice Chair, Alliance of International Nurses and Midwives Diasporas UK and President, Malawian UK Nurses Association
Reema D’souza – Secretary, Alliance of International Nurses and Midwives Diasporas UK and General Secretary, British Indian Nurses Association
Timothy Mugerwa – Secretary, Alliance of International Nurses and Midwives Diasporas UK and Vice President, Uganda Nurses and Midwives Association UK
The registered Members of the Alliance are:
- Association of South Asian Midwives
- Association of Zambian Nurses UK
- British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association
- British Indian Nurses Association
- British Pakistani Nurses and Midwives Association UK
- Cameroon Nurses and Midwives Association UK
- Caribbean Nurses and Midwives Associati
- on UK
- Diaspora Uganda Nurses Midwives Society
- Filipino Nurses Association UK
- Filipino Senior Nurses Alliance UK
- Gambia Healthcare Matters UK
- Ghana Nurses Association UK
- Hellenic British Midwifery Association
- Ivorian Association for Health Promotion UK
- Kairali Nurses Forum
- Kenyan Nurses and Midwives Association UK
- Malawian UK Nurses Association
- Nepalese Nursing Association UK
- Network of Internationally Educated Nurse Academics
- Nurses Association of Jamaica UK
- Philippine Nurses Association UK
- Society of African Caribbean Midwives
- Spanish Association of Nurses and Healthcare Professionals in the UK
- Sri Lanka British Nursing and Midwives Association UK
- The Organisation of Sierra Leonean Healthcare Professionals Abroad
- Uganda Nurses and Midwives Association UK
- UK Tibetan Nurses Group. And,
- Filipinos in care from the Department of Health and Social Care sector.
For further information about the Alliance, please contact the Public Relations Officers:
Elizabeth Pearson
LOUIE HORNE, BEM
