WHO Collaborating Centre
The Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota is the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for cross sectoral approaches to health and development. Collaborating centres contribute significantly to the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) objectives and strategies. The status of a Collaborating Centre is an important recognition for our work in the field of building capacities for intersectoral investment in health and development of the Pomurje region, the country of Slovenia and the environment in the last 10 years.
We first acquired this status in 2009 for the period of 4 years, and a second time on October 8, 2014, for the same period. On one side this is a great recognition, but on the other side it brings great responsibility to realize the set goals and tasks; still it is an excellent motivation to further develop innovative intersectoral approaches and solutions to improve health for everyone and to reduce health inequalities.
Working together for health equity
Peter Beznec was invited to the International Conference on health inequalities as the representative of the Centre for Health and development Murska Sobota. The conference was held on November 27th 2014 in Vilnius, Lithuania and was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, who was the operator of the programme “Public Health Initiatives” included in the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014. Mr. Beznec was there to present experiences of tackling health inequalities in Slovenia with special emphasis on experience in cross-sectoral cooperation for public health and health equity, positioning health equity and the social determinants of health on the development agenda in Slovenia and activities at regional level as well as take part in related discussions as a panel speaker. The Conference was organized in collaboration with WHO EURO.
The aim of the Conference (which took place in the Office of the Government of Lithuania) was to present the scope of social inequalities in health, analyse available experience in the field and strengthen intersectoral cooperation as well as engagement of other social partners in actions for reducing health inequalities. The participants were from all government sectors and speakers from countries with good experience in reducing health inequalities as well as WHO EURO Office.
More information:
http://www.eeagrants.lt/en/programmes/news/program/0/id/238/international_conference_
working_together_for_health_equity_video_photos_presentations_included_
WHO Collaborating Centre for cross-sectoral approaches for health and development
Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota has been in 2006 designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building in Cross- sectoral Investment for Health on the basis of experiences and significant achievements in placing health on the regional development agenda.
The WHO collaborating centres are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the Director-General to carry out activities in support of the Organization's programmes. Currently there are over 800 WHO collaborating centres in over 80 Member States working with WHO on areas such as nursing, occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases, social determinants and health inequalities, and health technologies.
Key objectives of WHO Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building in Cross-Sectoral Investment for Health for the period 2009 – 2013 are:
1. Strengthening know- how development and exchange for integrating health into development priorities and investment plans at the Sub-National Level.
2. Capacity building to increase practical application of options and approaches for addressing SDH & Health Inequities in broader regional development policies and plans.
3. Profile the learning from the Investment for health approach of the Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota and the WHO Venice Office within the WHO Strengthening Health Systems Framework.
4. Support MOH SVN to import appropriate learning from across the WHO European region, and global initiatives such as the CSDH, to further strengthening stewardship of health and health equity across government.
WHO European Office
The Office's goal, which opened in 2003, is based on evidence to implement a systematic and responsible approach to integrating / combining social and economic determinants of health into the development strategies of countries in the European Region.
WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice (http://www.euro.who.int/ihd).
The Rio Conference
SDH and UHC Member States adopted the Rio Political Declaration at the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health in October 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, calling upon them to act in five areas:
- Adopt improved governance for health and development
- Promote participation in policy-making and implementation
- Further reorient the health sector towards promoting health and reducing health inequities
- Strengthen global governance and collaboration
- Monitor progress and increase accountability
The Rio Political Declaration was endorsed by WHO Member States at the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2012.
Leonardo da Vinci - Lifelong learning programme 2007-2013
The Centre for Health and Development Murska Sobota became the World Health Organization's (WHO) Collaborating Centre for the development of capacity for cross-sectoral investment for health. This means that in our work we also meet experts from the EU Member States and offer them practical training and opportunities for developing new innovative approaches in implementing the concept of investment for health and development, based on the starting points for sustainable development.
The training under the Leonardo da Vinci Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013, was carried out with the emphasis on acquiring skills upgrading knowledge in the field of investment for health, social determinants of health and inequalities in health. The participants learned how to set strategic goals in the formulation of programmes and implementation plans in the field of health and quality of life. At the same time, they met with evaluation as a process of effective monitoring of health indicators and the effective use of new macroeconomic tools to measure the effects of the concept of investment for health. Participants of the training will thus be able to successfully implement the acquired knowledge in their local environment.
With the implementation of trainings we have raised the quality of work of employees at the CHD Murska Sobota, we have provided greater affinity for intercultural dialogue and greater capacity to work with the Member States of the WHO European Region in the field of development of investment capacity for health and development.