Low Income Country Stream

Introduction

Voices of Change: Shaping the Next Era of Critical Care Nursing

We invite you to participate in an inspiring virtual stream at the upcoming joint British Association of Critical Care Nurses and Irish Association of Critical Care Nurses conference. This event unites a diverse global community dedicated to advancing excellence, innovation, and compassion in critical care nursing.

We are excited to introduce a specific virtual conference stream for delegates from low-income countries in collaboration with the Birmingham City University’s Centre for International Health Partnerships. This stream will include all keynote sessions, followed by oral presentations from virtual participants. Our initiative aims to improve access for critical care nursing professionals in low-income regions, where in-person attendance can pose significant logistical and financial challenges. By providing this virtual option, we hope to create a platform for delegates to share their valuable insights and experiences, promoting inclusivity and diverse perspectives in our global discourse.

We encourage delegates from low-income countries to seize this exceptional opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and exchanges throughout the event.

Call for Abstracts

As we navigate the complexities of an ever-changing healthcare landscape, we recognise the crucial need for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cultural understanding. Your unique experiences and insights are vital for driving positive change, advocating for our profession, and empowering critical care nurses to deliver patient-centred care at the highest standards.

This year's theme, “Voices of Change,” underscores our commitment to amplifying the voices of critical care nurses across borders. We aim to inspire new ideas and foster leadership at every level. Together, we are crafting a future characterised by resilience, innovation, and a strong dedication to enhancing patient outcomes worldwide.

Important Submission Details:

• Submission Deadline: 18th April 2026
• Presentation Format: Virtual. Presenters will be asked to pre-record their presentation, and guidance will be provided. They will then be invited to join the conference live for 5 minutes of questions per presentation.

We look forward to seeing your submissions and welcoming you to this vibrant community, committed to excellence in critical care nursing.

Registration

Please note that this virtual conference is only available to delegates who work within a Low Income Country, as classified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). A full list of countries can be viewed here.

To register for the Low Income Country Virtual Conference, please click on the button below.

If you would like to register and attend the full in-person conference, please register via this page.

Session: Recognising the Role of the Critical Care Nurse in challenging environments

Critical care services in many low resource countries have been evolving with critical care nurses being the backbone of services. However, it is important to recognise that critical care services vary between countries and regions, in consequence, context specific research, education and practice need to be developed. In this presentation, we discuss opportunities and innovations that are taking place within our critical care nursing in our countries. We demonstrate the power of partnerships within teams, nationally, regionally, and internationally.

This presentation will resonate with fellow critical care nurses working in resource constrained settings this presentation and provide an opportunity to share ideas, practice and network. For critical care nurses from high-income countries, it is hoped this presentation will challenge perceptions, identify challenges that encompass all settings and the need for sharing. It will set the scene the section of the BACCN Conference.  

In brief, the session will explore how delivering high quality Critical care in resourse constrained setting presents a different clinical, ethical and leadership challenges. And how Critical care staff adapt to evidence based standards to context specific realities  without compromising patient safety and quality Care.

We are delighted to have the following speakers present this session:

Rutendo Tembo, Registered Critical Care Nurse, RN, BSc (Hons) Rutendo Tembo is an experienced Critical Care Nurse with over a decade of experience of working in the public, private and NGO sectors. A committed critical care nurse leader with a strong foundation in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care in critical and complex clinical situations, demonstrating adaptability, professionalism, and a commitment to lifelong learning. A nurse leader and mentor, passionate about guiding and empowering fellow nurses to achieve excellence in practice. Rutendo was pivotal in the establishment of the Critical Care Nurses Association of Zambia and is currently serving as Secretary, actively contributing to professional development and advocacy for critical care nursing. Rutendo is currently pursuing further studies in Cardiac Nursing at Birmingham City University and will be of the first nurses in the country in this new speciality.

Ndaona Botha, RN, RM, BScN, MSc (Critical Care Nursing) Ndaona Regina Botha is a Principal Nursing Officer in the Intensive Care Unit at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi. A Registered Nurse Midwife with over 13 years of clinical experience, including more than a decade in critical care practice. Ndaona has recently completed a Master of Science in Professional Practice majoring in Critical Care Nursing with Birmingham City University, UK. Her academic and clinical interests focus on quality improvement, infection prevention, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) reduction, and strengthening critical care systems in resource-limited settings. She is passionate about leadership development, critical care capacity building in Africa, and advancing nursing-led research to improve patient outcomes.