UKZN Discipline of Nursing again designated as WHO Collaborating Centre
THE University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Discipline of Nursing has once again been designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for nursing and midwifery in the African region.
“It is one of four such centres in Africa recognised by WHO,” said Academic Leader Nursing Discipline and Director UKZN WHOCC for Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Ntombi Mtshali.
The designation, which is for four years, will expire in December 2024. The discipline was first designated as a WHOCC in 1998 and has been re-designated several times, with the last re-designation in December 2018.
The discipline is designated by WHO to form part of an international collaborative network carrying out activities in support of WHO programmes at national, regional and global levels.
“As a WHOCC, we are expected to implement the agreed work plan in a timely manner and to the highest possible standards of quality,” Mtshali said. “The work plan covers three areas:
conducting research, documenting best practices and disseminating evidence on nursing and midwifery education and practice in the African region;
developing the capacity of nursing and midwifery education institutions in the African region;
strengthening the capacities of communities and health workers to address priority health problems in mental health, maternal and child health, as well as health emergencies and emerging diseases such as Covid-19.”