From Launch to Action: Public Introduction of Poltekkes WHO Collaborating Center Garner Partner Commitments

In a major strategic initiative designed to confront pressing global health challenges, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a powerful new entity: the Poltekkes WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) on Nursing and Midwifery Education and Development. This centre’s establishment is more than a designation it is a tangible commitment to transforming and elevating the quality of health workforce education, particularly for nurses and midwives, to a regional standard.

As a world class strategic program, the Poltekkes WHO Collaborating Centre solidifies Indonesia’s position as a key player in global health workforce development for nursing and midwife. To realize this ambitious vision, a strong collaborative network is essential. Therefore, on Wednesday, 20 August 2024, the Poltekkes WHO CC was formally introduced to the public and key stakeholders at the “Public Introduction Poltekkes WHO Collaborating Centre and Poltekkes Partners Meeting” held at the Auditorium of the Directorate General of Health Human Resources. This event marked a historic moment to unify vision, build strategic alliances, and design concrete actions to maximize the impact of this collaborating centre.

The launch of the WHO Collaborating Center (WHO CC) and the accompanying Nursing and Midwifery Partners Meeting served as a foundational step to expand collaborative networks with a diverse range of stakeholders, including government bodies, educational institutions, and professional organizations.

This event was not only provided for introducing the role and strategic landscape of the WHO but also for identifying concrete opportunities for cooperation. A key segment featured presentations from both the Poltekkes WHO CC and its partners. Each entity outlined their core focus areas and specific opportunities for collaboration, creating a clear roadmap for future joint initiatives.

The discussions revealed a strong interest and commitment from all partners to engage with the Poltekkes WHO Collaborating Center across three key pillars: fostering strategic collaboration, strengthening research capacity, and sharing best practices. This collective enthusiasm underscores a shared vision to translate this new partnership into tangible actions that will advance nursing and midwifery education and practice across the region.

"We hope that with the establishment of this WHO Collaborating Center and through partnerships with other institutions that share our mission, we can align the competencies of our health workforce with global standards," said Dr. Yuli Farianti, M.Epid, Director General of Health Human Resources.

An early testament to the success of this initiative is the Midwifery Leadership Program (MLP). Graduates from MLP Batch 1 have actively contributed as co-facilitators for Batch 2, and a team is even scheduled to travel to Nepal in September to serve as instructors for midwifery training. This not only demonstrates a significant increase in local capacity but also marks growing international recognition of the expertise of Indonesian health educators.

“with WHO as the head of excellence, we are confidence that we can achieve the better health outcome, not only for our nation but also for our community” said Dr. Ariyanti Anaya, MKM, Chair of the Indonesian Health Council.

Investing in the quality of nursing and midwifery education has a direct and in deep impact on the overall standard of healthcare services delivered to communities. By cultivating a generation of highly competent, globally aligned health professionals, communities gain access to safer, more effective, and higher quality care ultimately leading to better health outcomes and greater public trust in the health system.

Through this strengthened collaboration, we are shaping a more resilient, responsive, and internationally benchmarked health education system.  This initiative not only improves the standard of professional training in Indonesia, but also accelerates the strengthening of the Sustainable Health Workforce (SDGs).

(WHO CC/Written by Az Zahra Nur Ainiyyah)