WHO CC involvement: Michele Rumsey, Professor John Daly, Professor Caroline Homer, Jodi Thiessen, Amanda Neill
Dates: 2014-2018
The Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres (WHOCCs) for Nursing and Midwifery Development is a network comprising of WHO Collaborating Centres from the six regions of WHO, who focus on nursing and midwifery. Founded in 1988 the Network strives to enhance the collaborative activities of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres, supporting WHO's efforts toward universal health coverage.
In June 2014, the WHO CC hosted an official event to celebrate its election as Global Secretariat for the WHO CC Network at the University of Technology Sydney and a photo exhibition capturing some of the Western Pacific Region’s midwives and nurses in action. The event was opened by UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs and the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Deputy Leader of the Australian Federal Opposition. The attendees also included representatives from the World Bank, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, World Vision and Chief Nurses from the Pacific Island Countries.
The 12th Biennial Conference and Meetings of the Global Network of World Health Organization Collaborating Centres (GN WHO CC) for Nursing and Midwifery was held in Cairns, Australia 17-19 July 2018. James Cook University hosted the event with the theme of "Universal Health Care: SDGs are Everyone's Business". The bi-yearly General Meeting was also held at this time on the 20th of July and Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres (GN WHO CC) noted the support and continual strengthening of the GN WHO CC partnership with the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) in their structural reinforcement of the GN WHO CC as it strives to provide a voice for nurses and midwives as well as adhering to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The consensus statement developed at the meeting expressed intentions for future commitments as it welcomed its inclusion in the State of the World's Nursing and the State of the World's Midwifery reports. The GN WHO CC continues to improve its research capacity by sharing expertise with both WHO and partner organisations to advocate for the representation of nurses and midwives within global health policy by consultation and recognition of nurses and midwives. The GN WHO CC also continues to work with partner organisations to facilitate cohesion in presenting statements at regional and global events, toward the Florence Nightingale Bicentenary 2020 and to support and work in tandem with the Global Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery 2016-2020.
WHO CC UTS has enjoyed its time as Secretariat 2014-2018, and now passes the role to the incoming Secretariat - John Hopkins University in the USA. We wish them all the best in their new role.