THE GLOBAL NETWORK OF WHO COLLABORATING CENTRES FOR NURSING AND MIDWIFERY DEVELOPMENT: A POLICY APPROACH TO HEALTH FOR ALL THROUGH NURSING AND MIDWIFERY EXCELLENCE

In response to the complexities of health services delivery within the context of cultures, world events, medical technologies, and natural and manmade disasters, WHO recognized the need for external resources to assist it to meet its goals. In line with WHO’s policy that research in the field of health is best advanced by assisting, coordinating and utilizing the activities of existing institutions, WHO Collaborating Centres were developed to support WHO with external expertise at the local, country and international levels. Of the 1,000 Collaborating Centres worldwide representing all the major health disciplines, 36, in 19 different countries, are dedicated to nursing and midwifery services, education, research and policy. These 36 Centres have joined forces as the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Development. Since its inception in 1987, the Global Network has developed into a significant force in international nursing leadership. Its far-reaching sphere of influence, its communications technology and its ability to develop collaborative projects, enable it to have a significant impact on the health of the people of the world.


COLLABORATING CENTRES
A WHO Collaborating Centre is an institution designated by the World Health Organization to form a part of an international collaborative network carrying out activities in support of the organization's programs at all levels.Of the more than 1,000 health-

THE GLOBAL NETWORK FOR NURSING AND MIDWIFERY DEVELOPMENT
The

THE PROCESS TO BECOME A CENTRE
The World Health Organization is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and carries out its health programs of work both directly from headquarters and via its regional and country offices.
The World Health Assembly defines the geographical areas that constitute the WHO regions, and in accordance with the WHO Constitution, each regional organization is an integral part of WHO.Although the final designation decision comes from WHO, the process of becoming a Centre is lengthy and complex.Several entities are involved, including the institution where the Centre is located, the country of origin's ministry of health (in the U.S. it is the Surgeon General's Office), and the WHO office of the world region where the Centre is located.
Prospective Centres must demonstrate throughout a two-year probationary period that they are indeed engaged in international health activities that meet the health goals of the WHO Region and WHO as a whole.

CONCLUSION
Since 1987, the Global Network has developed, organized, and stabilized into a significant player in the area of international nursing leadership.The Network's far-reaching sphere of influence, its communications capability, and its ability to develop collaborative projects, enable it to have a significant impact with outcomes that make a difference.
Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Development is dedicated to "Health for All" through nursing and midwifery excellence.Its mission is "to maximize the contribution of nursing and midwifery in order to advance Health for All in partnership with the World Health Organization and its member states, member Centres, non-governmental organizations, and others interested in promoting the health of populations.The Network's goal is to carry out advocacy and evidence based policy activities within the framework of WHA and regional resolutions and the WHO programs of work."HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Historically, the need for organized attempts to impact the health of populations led to the creation of entities such as the International Sanitary Bureau in Washington D.C. in 1902.It was later re-named the Pan American Sanitary Organization, and is the forerunner of today's Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which also serves as WHO's Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO).In 1919, the Health Organization of the League of Nations was set up in Geneva, in parallel with the International Office of Public Hygiene in Paris, and in 1946 the International Health Conference in New York approved the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO).Adopted in 1946, the Constitution of the World Health Organization states that the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the fullest cooperation of individuals and States (Constitution, World Health Organization, Geneva 1989.)The health of world populations is of immense importance to the nurses of global societies, and in response to growing realities concerning the complexity of health within the context of cultures, world events, and natural and man-made disasters, other organized elements were needed for the superstructure of WHO to meet its goals.Opportunities were identified to tap external expertise that could assist in the goal of Health for All at the local, country and international levels.The World Health Organization Collaborating Centres were developed in response to that need.

Figure 1
Figure 1 demonstrates an organizational chart showing the relationship between the Collaborating Centres, the WHO regions, and WHO.

Figure 1 -
Figure 1 -Relationship between the Collaborating Centres, WHO Regions and WHO

Figure 2 -
Figure 2 -Relationship of the Colaborating Centres to WHO and PAHO

Table 1 -
Distribuition of the WHO Coll Centers in WHO Regions The 36 WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Development are described: The full list of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Development is as follows: WHO Region for Africa (AFRO) Botswana -WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Development towards HFA/PFC Department of Nursing Education, University of

Table 2 -
Global Network Policy Activities