School of Public Health ENGLISHshort 01 07

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The School of Public Health (SPH) and Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences at the University of Haifa received designation in 2023 as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center, with a specialization in Occupational Health. Under this designation, the SPH joins the broader international consortium of Collaborating Centers in becoming a partner of the WHO in executing its programs and objectives.

What is a World Health Organization Collaborating Center?

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), a collaborating center is an institution that is appointed by the Director-General of WHO to be recognized internationally in carrying out specific tasks aligned with the Organization’s global agenda. The roles of WHO collaborating centers can include research training, development and application of technology, promotion of research, and coordination of activities for a subject in which more than one WHO collaborating center is involved. WHO collaborating centers include research institutes and academic universities, often working in conjunction with other collaborating centers in enabling the dissemination and exchange of information to strengthen the validity of their work on a global health level.

Being recognized as a WHO collaborating center also provides more visibility and attention for public health issues occurring within the host country, and the opportunity to create and improve national health resources for the host population. Today, there are over 800 WHO collaborating centers who work together with WHO on projects related to occupational health, nutrition, technology, and nursing.

More information about WHO collaborating centers can be found below:

https://www.who.int/about/collaboration/collaborating-centres 

University of Haifa SPH’s Collaborating Center

The focus of the University of Haifa WHO CC is to support the WHO’s global public health agenda by:

1. Assisting the WHO in its activities related to coordinating the technical work of the global network of WHO collaborating centers for occupational health.

2. Contributing to WHO’s work in promoting healthier, safer and more resilient workplaces for all.

3. Supporting WHO in its activities related to advancing health promoting workplaces globally.

Our Collaborating Center brings together nine experts in Public Health from the University of Haifa accomplish six distinct activities in support of the WHO’s global agenda:

Creating an international Collaborative Network for Occupational Health Collaborating Centers

Why WHO is asking for this activity?: WHO maintains a global network of collaborating centres for occupational health and stimulates individual institutions to work together in implementing activities under their workplans in synergy to achieve common objectives set by the WHO. Improving accessibility and visibility of each centers’ work is essential for promoting cooperation and collaboration in shared Occupational Health goals.

What concrete actions will be taken? As requested by WHO and under its guidance, the School of Public Health’s Collaborating Center will perform the following activities:

Develop and manage a virtual platform for the global network of WHO collaborating centres for occupational health to share news, experiences and stimulate collaborative activitiesDevelop a survey to asses the work carried out by global network of WHO collaborating centres for occupational health in relation to COVID-19. The institution will draft a report on the outcomes of the survey and submit it for WHO’s review.Develop and organize an online training workshop on networking for results and ways of working of the global network of WHO collaborating centres for occupational health.Update publications and create annual newsletters to raise awareness about the activities of the global network of WHO collaborating centres for occupational health

Staff Members:  

Dr. Yonah Amster

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Prof. Manfred Green

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Prof.. Shira Zelber-Sagi

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For more information about the University of Haifa WHO collaborating centre, please contact the Centre director Dr. Yonah Amster (This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)