09
June
2015
|
17:30
Europe/London

World Health Organization recognition for public health centre

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14671_large-2.jpg

A University of Manchester research centre has been awarded World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre status for its work on improving the health of people across Europe and in the Greater Manchester area.

Following a launch event yesterday (8 June), The Manchester Urban Collaboration on Health (MUCH) will now be working with the WHO to shape the co-ordination of health information across Europe, building on long-standing ties.

Dr Arpana Verma who leads the Centre said: “Essentially what we do is provide guidance, based on research, which lets countries use the best methods possible for improving health in their populations.

“The most vulnerable often have the worst health and well-being outcomes. By using information better, we can understand how to reduce the inequalities that have been steadily growing across Europe.

“This includes understanding the patterns to work out why we see the differences in health and well-being across our communities, improve the uptake of vaccinations, help improve people’s knowledge of why early diagnosis and cancer screening is important, and promoting healthy lifestyles to combat obesity. 

“WHO Collaborating Centre status places us in a much stronger position to carry out this work, so we’re delighted to have received it.”

MUCH is an important element for the implementation of the WHO’s Health 2020 strategy to significantly improve the health and well-being of populations, reduce health inequalities, and strengthen public health in Europe. 

Dr Verma is part of the steering group for the European Health Information Initiative project, and the WHO Collaborating Centre will be able to work more closely with the WHO on what will make a difference to the health information that is all around us being used to help the most vulnerable.

As well as working at the European level, MUCH also works with NHS and local authority figures in Greater Manchester on health initiatives such as reducing blood-borne diseases and creating better links between health workers across the region. 

One result of this work has been the International Festival of Public Health, held in Manchester for the last three years and next taking place on 2 July.

The Festival attracts hundreds of delegates and leading NHS and government figures to debate everything from the smoking ban to obesity and this year features addresses by Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party and Baron O'Neill of Gatley, retiring Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

The launch event was attended by the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Professor Martin Tickle, Director of the Institute of Population Health and leading figures from the WHO.

One of these, Dr Claudia Stein, Director of the Division of Information, Evidence, Research and Innovation, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Urban Collaboration on Health on board as the newest of our collaborating centres.

“This is a significant step towards realising the objectives of the European Health Information Initiative, through which we want to improve the information that underpins health policy and ultimately improve the health of the people of the European Region.

“The Manchester Urban Collaboration on Health is a power house of expertise and talent and we very much look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder to take health in Europe into a new era.”

MUCH has become the second WHO Collaborating Centre at the University after the Centre for Global Women's Health was also given the status last year.

Notes for editors

Media enquiries to:
Jamie Brown
Media Relations Officer
The University of Manchester
Tel: 0161 2758383
Email: jamie.brown@manchester.ac.uk