The East, Central, and Southern Africa College of Nursing and Midwifery (ECSACONM) was confidently established in 1990 as a pivotal arm of the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East, Central, and Southern Africa (CRHCS-ECSA), founded in 1974 in Arusha, Tanzania. This institution is dedicated to advancing nursing and midwifery education throughout the region, significantly enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery. In September 2024, Nonhlanhla Mtolo and Minette Coetzee travelled to Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho for the 16^th Biennial East, Central and Sothern African College of Nursing and Midwifery (ECSACONM).

This conference was attended by 1,000 nurses and midwives, all from the 17 member countries, including the newest member, Seychelles.  It was a celebratory event, coinciding with Lesotho’s 200th anniversary as a nation, founded by King Moshoeshoe. The atmosphere was vibrant, featuring singing and performances by an army brass band. Delegates wore their national colours in an array of tailored outfits as varied as the delegates themselves.

It was a valuable experience the well-organised event featured a variety of informative presentations on key topics such as innovations in clinical practice, nursing education, clinician scholarship and leadership strategies. These discussions offered actionable insights for advancing nursing and midwifery in our region.

The ECSACONM decentralised model of teaching, where students access learning through online spaces with clinical placements and accompaniment in their own countries was interesting to see. We were heartened to witness the extensive support provided to emerging academics, and it was inspiring to see their work embraced by the seasoned and accomplished delegates at the conference. The conference and the organisation have significantly contributed to our region's ongoing advancement of nursing and midwifery.

Some of the highlights were connecting with colleagues from Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe who had been leads on the Best Practice Project, setting the stage for future collaborations.  Another highlight was the creativity, and the amount of information displayed during the poster presentations, which served as a platform for sharing innovative research and sparking meaningful discussions. Interacting with the creators deepened my understanding of what they were working on in terms of practical applications and the creation of guidelines in clinical settings, nursing education and practice development.

We really enjoyed the diverse cultural presence and conversations with different people.