A New Secretariat for the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is making its way across Australia. Our first stop is Cairns, a beautiful city on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, where Dean Patricia Davidson and Drs. Teresa Brockie, Nancy Reynolds, and Phyllis Sharps are attending the 12th Biennial Conference and Meetings of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres (WHOCCs) for Nursing and Midwifery.

At this conference, JHSON will be installed as the Secretariat for the Global Network of WHOCCs for Nursing and Midwifery. This means JHSON will lead the Network’s efforts in achieving its mission of strengthening nursing and midwifery to promote universal primary health care. Similarly, the mission of the Secretariat is to build upon the structure and work already developed and disseminate information about and for Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres.

Also at this conference, JHSON Assistant Professor Teresa Brockie, PhD, RN, FAAN, delivered a keynote speech discussing how to achieve health equity for indigenous people through community-based prevention and interventions. Brockie is the first Native American on JHSON faculty and has a joint appointment at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. Her research focuses on achieving health equity for Native Americans through community-based prevention and intervention about suicide, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences. In 2011, she led an all Native American team to collect data to study suicidal behavior among reservation-based Native American youth.

On background, the Global Network of WHOCCs for Nursing and Midwifery was established in 1988 and is comprised from six regions who work together to share knowledge and resources, promote health through community partnership and empowerment, address emerging health care issues, and participate in policy to advance health care and resources for all populations. JHSON will provide support for the Centres and stakeholders in communication, collaborative activities, and goal achievement.

The theme of this conference is “Universal Health Care: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are Everyone’s Business.” There are 17 sustainable development goals that were proposed by the UN and adopted by several countries that aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. JHSON is proud to be part of the Global Network of WHOCCs for Nursing and Midwifery’s effort to ensure SDG 3, “Good Health & Wellbeing,” among the others, can be achieved for all.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SYDNEE LOGAN

Sydnee Logan is the Social Media and Digital Content Coordinator for Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She shares what’s going on here with the world.