MANILA, 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 - Since the First Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres in the Western Pacific Region, WHO and the Singapore Health Promotion Board (SHPB) continue to work together to support countries to build healthy public policies, create supportive environments and strengthen community action and personal skills.
WHO has been able to draw on the experience and expertise of SHPB in building leadership for health promotion. In recent years, SHPB has worked with Pacific island countries to provide a short course in community health promotion. The course engaged participants from 14 Pacific island countries, introducing participants to the theory behind community health promotion and principles of programme management.
The partnership between WHO and the SHPB has also proven valuable in extending WHO’s reach and supporting ministries of health and education in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. In 2012, participants from ministries of health and education in the three countries visited schools in Singapore to observe school health plans in action. Moving forward, this experience will be built on through a multi-country workshop. Participants will brainstorm following field visits, to bring back ideas to enhance health promotion in their specific contexts.
The SHPB also recognizes that sharing their experience and expertise with other counties acts as a stimulus to continuous improvement and learning for the SHPB itself.
In reflecting on the success of WHO’s partnership with SHPB, Dr Hai-Rim Shin, Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Coordinator at WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific pointed to the importance of both sides investing in the relationship. In addition to interactions at meetings and workshops, visits by WHO staff members to WHO collaborating centres have enhanced understanding of each centre’s work in order to leverage respective strengths. Well-developed terms of reference are also important. Terms of reference should be highly relevant to WHO’ priorities and programme of work, clearly articulated and focused on activity outcomes.
Learn more:
- Singapore Health Promotion Board website: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/HOPPortal/