Health Within and Beyond Welsh Borders April 2018
Wales - world leading on investment for health and well-being More on Page 4
Welcome
Welcome to the February issue of the IHCC European and international e-bulletin. This month’s issue will provide you with information on the the Policy, Research and International Directorate’s designation as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre and Welsh activity within and beyond Welsh borders, in addition to opportunities. Follow the IHCC on Twitter for regular updates #IHCCWales and on the IHCC website.
Contents In Focus - Beyond Wales 4 In Focus - Within Wales 8 Opportunities 13
The IHCC has a new website!
Our E-bulletin is making space for this new resource, the best place to stay updated on a range of topics related to work within and beyond borders, such as:
Resources
News
Funding
Events
Working Internationally If you would like to find out more about Welsh, UK, European, or International organisations involved or supporting international work, please visit the Services section. Would you like to promote your international work? Go to Get Involved and find out how to submit a project, an event or a news item to the
IHCC website.
Continue reading to find out what’s ‘In Focus Beyond and Within Wales’
In Focus Beyond Wales
Nursing Now! Nurses are critical to improving health in Wales and around the world, and they’re a driving force behind improving gender equality and strengthening economies. Changes in disease patterns, with increased non-communicable diseases and long-term illnesses, also require more holistic and person-centred care in the future, which means that nurses are positioned to play an ever greater role. Nursing Now is a three-year global campaign run in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization. The vision is to improve health globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide and this requires influencing policy makers and supporting nurses to lead, learn and build a global movement for change. The five main programs of the campaign are: • Universal Health Coverage – ensuring quality health care for everyone • Evidence of impact – building up evidence of the contributions of the nursing profession • Leadership and development – supporting nurses as leaders in policy and practice • Sustainable Development Goals – ensuring health, gender equality, and economic growth • Sharing effective practice – disseminating and improving access to collections of effective practice.
Nursing Now will also showcase supporter-led events, case studies, trainings, funding opportunities and much more. Share your plans to champion nursing in Wales and beyond, and they will be added to the campaign’s global activity map.
To find out more and pledge your support, please visit the Nursing Now website. You can also spread the word on social media, making sure to use the hashtag #NursingNow. Keywords: gender, health services, international/ global, training and skills, workforce
World Health Day 2018 On 7th of April 2018, World Health Day celebrates its 70th anniversary. This year’s theme is “Health for All”, with a focus on universal health coverage (UHC). UHC aims to ensure that people have access to the health care they need, without suffering financial hardship. This is critically important as currently at least half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services and almost 100 million people are living in extreme poverty caused by out of pocket health expenditure. In recognition of this, UHC was made one of the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These have been adopted by all countries, with the aim to “end poverty in all its forms” by 2030. For more information, please visit the World Health Organization website and help us spread the word about #WorldHealthDay and #HealthForAll. Keywords: global/international, health services, poverty, Sustainable Development, World Health Organization
Health for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people on the agenda in Brussels Adam Jones, Public Health Practitioner – Policy at Public Health Wales, and Chair of the organisation’s LGBT Staff Network ‘Enfys’, attended the EuroHealthNet and ILGA-Europe final conference of the Health4LGBTI pilot project. The project was launched in 2016 to increase understanding of how best to reduce health inequalities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) people, especially those in vulnerable situations. The two half-day conference brought together the findings, discussions, and outputs of the project, including the development of a training course for health professionals on how to reduce health inequalities. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on the issues and identify ways forward at EU and national levels. Discussions were structured around the following themes: • Placing the Health4LGBTI pilot project in its context: What does research at EU level show about prevalent health inequalities for LGBTI people? What are the challenges faced by both LGBTI people and health professionals? What steps are needed to address these challenges? Are there examples of good practice at national level? • Engaging health professionals and stakeholders to address health inequalities for LGBTI people in Europe: How was the training package developed and how can it help health professionals overcome barriers? What are the lessons learnt from the piloting? • Next steps for policy change: What is the most effective way to address the health needs of LGBTI people and to involve health professionals? How can policy makers help? Are there initiatives that could serve as examples? Two products, a State-of-the-Art Synthesis Report (SSR) and overview report on the outcomes of the focus groups, have been released, with a training package from professionals due for release in coming months. For more information about the Health4LGBTI project, visit the project’s European Commission webpage. Keywords:
Lesbian,
Gay
and
Bisexual
(LGB),
international/
global,
research
British Journal of Nursing: influenza campaign in New Zealand Nicola Meredith has published a paper in the British Journal of Nursing on her experiences and observations of the influenza campaign in New Zealand. Nicola, Lead Nurse (influenza) at Public Health Wales, was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship to travel to New Zealand and learn about the flu vaccination programme for healthcare staff, as flu vaccine uptake is considerably higher there than in Wales. The paper details Nicola’s experiences and recommendations. During her four weeks in New Zealand in 2016, Nicola met clinicians, managers, and directors of nursing and public health. She found examples of innovative practice and strong leadership as well as controversial vaccination policies. To read the full paper, please visit Public Health Wales’ website. Keyword: immunisation, international/ global, professional development, work
In Focus Within Wales
This section highlights recent examples of Welsh activity within our borders. This could take the form of collaborations, events and other work related to improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities in Wales.
Wales - world leading on investment for health and well-being The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Public Health Wales’ Policy, Research and International Development Directorate as a WHO Collaborating Centre on ‘Investment for Health and Well-being’. The designation recognises Public Health Wales as a world leading authority on supporting investment in people’s health and well-being, driving sustainable development and promoting prosperity for all. This is the first WHO Collaborating Centre in this area of expertise in the world. The new Collaborating Centre will develop, collect and share new information on how best to invest in better health, reduce inequalities and build stronger communities in Wales, Europe and worldwide. As part of this collaborative development, Public Health Wales and the WHO have agreed a four-year programme of work. This will inform and promote more sustainable policies, embrace the principles of human rights, equity and evidence based interventions and help address the health and well-being needs of current and future generations. Vaughan Gething, AM, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, said:
“This is a huge milestone and recognition for the whole of Wales. Whilst we are a small country, we are outward looking and show global responsibility. It demonstrates that we are fully committed to a healthy and sustainable Wales through our internationally unique Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. “As a founding member of the WHO Regions for Health Network, we are pleased to be able to share our experience and expertise with other nations and work towards a more equal, healthy and sustainable world. “We hope that Public Health Wales, and its first WHO Collaborating Centre, will work together with the Welsh Government to implement our national strategy, Prosperity for All. “Together we can show how investment in public health help deliver a fairer economy. This also supports our forward looking vision for the Health Service where people themselves have a greater say in their own health care, and we continue to deliver high quality service in every community.” The WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being in Public Health Wales will join a network of over 700 collaborating centres covering different health topics and based in 80 countries worldwide. It will support Wales to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and its world-leading national equivalent, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. A formal launch of the new collaborating centre is expected to take place in June. Dr Christoph Hamelmann, Head of the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development and the WHO Responsible Officer for the new WHO Collaborating Centre, said: “We are delighted to welcome Public Health Wales’ Policy, Research and International Development directorate as the first WHO Collaborating Centre in this field. “The expertise and high quality work from our colleagues in Wales has been a valuable asset to the WHO over the past years. Our recent joint work collating global knowledge on ‘Investment for Health and Well-being’ is a good example of our fruitful collaboration. “We are looking forward to continuing our joint work together, supporting countries across the European Region and the world to drive investment for health, well-being and equity and to achieve sustainable economies, societies and planetary health.” The WHO Collaborating Centre status is a result of a long-term partnership between Public Health Wales and the WHO, gaining a leading role in the global health and sustainable development agenda.
Professor Mark A Bellis, Director of the new WHO Collaborating Centre at Public Health Wales said: “Becoming a WHO Collaborating Centre will allow us to build upon the years of successful work we have already undertaken with the Word Health Organization. “Many countries in the world face similar problems ensuring that successive generations can expect healthy, fair and prosperous lives. “Working with world leading experts in the WHO, and throughout their international networks, will help us understand which public health policies and interventions work best for the people of Wales and for those in other nations around the world “Wales is already a global leader in public health policy. We are looking forward to sharing what we have learned and to learning from others about how to make Wales an even better place to live, work and raise a family.” Dr Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive of Public Heath Wales, said: “I am delighted we have been invited to join this global network of expertise. Our Policy, Research and International Development directorate has made valuable contributions to the field of sustainable development and investment in public health in recent years, so it is wonderful that their hard work is being recognised. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with colleagues and experts worldwide, to maximise the benefits of international learning and innovation for the people of Wales, as well as enhancing our role and impact on the global health agenda.” WHO collaborating centres are recognised as world-leading centres of excellence in their field. Jan Williams, Chair of Public Health Wales, added: “Public Health Wales Board members join with me congratulating Mark Bellis and his team on this outstanding achievement. “It is well-deserved recognition for their ground breaking work across the public health policy agenda, and places Wales at the heart of the global public health movement. “Public Health Wales has a longstanding relationship with the WHO and this award helps us build on that, in the interests of improving the health and well-being of the people of Wales. “Our Board members look forward to continuing to work closely with WHO colleagues and to making the most of this award for Wales.” CONTACT: For media enquiries please contact Victoria Lewis at the Public Health Wales Communications team on 02920 348755 (24 hours)
More information can be found at: WHO Collaborating Centres general information Public Health Wales WHO CC on Investment for Health and Well-being WHO - Public Health Wales publication on ‘Investment for Health and Well-being’ (2017) Welsh report on ‘Making a Difference: Investing in Sustainable Health and Well-being for the People of Wales’ (2016) United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act Welsh Government strategy Prosperity for All Keywords: evidence, international/ global, good practice, World Health Organization, WHO European Region
Opportunities For general information on European funding, read the IHCC European Funding Catalogue Part 1 on Horizon 2020 and the Third Health Programme, and Part 2 or visit the IHCC Website for more information on funding opportunities.
Funding Second Call European Regional Development Fund European Union Keywords: sustainable development, wellbeing, policy, natural environment Opening: 15th March 2018 Deadline: 01st June 2018 For more information, please visit the Interreg Atlantic Area website.
Open Call for Research Grants Economic and Social Research Council Keywords: evidence, good practice, international development, research Deadline: no fixed closing dates, application possible at any time For further information, please visit the Economic and Social Research Council website.
Jo Cox Memorial Network Grants Jo Cox Memorial Network Keywords: evidence, good practice, international development, research Deadline: 13th June 2018 Please visit the UK aid website for more information.
Call on renewable energy European Union Keywords: evidence, good practice, energy, research Deadline: 31st July 2018 Please visit the Interreg North-West Europe website for more information.
Contact Us Email International.health@wales.nhs.uk Telephone 02920 104 459 Post International Health Coordination Centre c/o Public Health Wales Capital Quarter 2 Tyndall Way Cardiff CF10 4BZ Website www.internationalhealth.nhs.uk Twitter @IHCCWales