15 March 2022 – Dr. Mira Dasic, Director of SEEHN Secretariat had a meeting today in Skopje with Mr. Roberto Antonione, CEI Secretary General and Ms. Nina Kodelja, CEI Deputy Secretary General. The aim of the meeting was to facilitate new collaborations and decide on the next steps in the areas of common interest.
nnnn
Means for strengthening the dialogue, revision of joint activities and developing practical ideas for closer cooperation were in the focus. At the end, both parties agreed that facing the new challenges affecting the whole world, more than ever are emphasizing the importance of partnerships and the need for coordinated actions in public health, starting at the regional levels, by following a comprehensive approach that integrates health in all policies.
On February 25, a Regional Webinar “What is currently known about countering misinformation and resilience against misinformation” was held in a virtual format.
nnnn
Information literacy proves to be a critical resource and the role of nurses in combating COVID-19 related misinformation is now important more than ever.
nnnn
The webinar aimed at providing valuable insights on tools to guide the communities through a minefield of misinformation during these challenging times.
nnnn
Three panellists: Ms. Tina D Purnat, Technical Officer, Digital Health Technologies, WHO Supporting WHO COVID-19 Infodemic response pillar discussed on “Infodemic management as a function of health emergency preparedness and community resilience”; Mr. Radoje Cerović, Psychologist and Communication Expert, Digital Transformation strategist presented “Crisis and Risk Communication: Montenegro case study” ; and Ms Einav Shimron, SEEHN National Health Coordinator Deputy Director General for Media and International Relations, Ministry of Health, Israel shared the “Israeli experience on the topic”.
nnnn
They explored in-depth the barriers and the enablers to countering mis- and disinformation and examined best practices for tackling the phenomena by stressing the importance of trustworthiness of information and also discussed how to make societies more resilient to the aggressive infodemia.
nnnn
In her opening remarks, the Director of the SEEHN Secretariat Dr Mira Dasic stressed once again the crucial role played by the primary health care nurses stating that: “The primary health care Nurses are at the forefront of COVID-19 response, especially at this stage with their double contribution: they provide care and play a critical role in emergency risk reduction, preparedness and response and, at the same time, nurses are expected to ensure the COVID-19 vaccination system”.
nnnn
Mr Gian Matteo Apuzzo, Senior expert and project manager, on behalf of Central European Initiative (CEI) Executive Secretariat, stressed the tremendous importance of communication during a pandemic. He also praised SEEHN to be one successful implementer of the health emergency response projects that CEI commissioned last year to help countries with in their COVID-19 response.
nnnn
Ms Purnat, highlighted the key drivers that shall shape the approaches in social listening. “Three aspects should be considered by authorities in managing infodemia: (1) accountability to communities we work with, (2) our commitment to evaluation, and (3) supporting community resilience”.
nnnn
Mr Cerovic through the Montenegrin case study presented the developed communication strategy and approaches on how to counter misinformation.
nnnn
Ms Shimron reflected on the benefits of the community specificities-based approach in tackling the impact of fake news and the importance of using trust frameworks and opinion leaders in messaging and tailoring the message in the native language of the communities.
nnnn
This event was also the final activity of the project “Strengthening capacities of nurses – front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 response – Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world” funded by CEI and implemented by the SEEHN Secretariat.
The South Eastern Europe Health Network is hosting the third round of the Online Emergency Training of Trainers on COVID-19 for Primary Health Care nurses to be held from 18 to 22 January 2021.
nnnn
As we continue to navigate through the pandemic, the South Eastern Health Network remains focused on supporting Member States in their efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, while enabling their national representatives to incorporate evidence-based expertise and insights about COVID-19 case management.
nnnn
These training sessions aim at improving the clinical performance of frontline nurses by providing tools to assist nurses from the eligible Member States to be better equipped for future pandemics and emergencies.
nnnn
In these SARS-CoV-2 times, the health care workers face serious psychological pressure. The specific session will explore perceptions of the most significant sources of stress in the first and second stages of the coronavirus pandemic and will make recommendations to adopt the supportive, encouragement & motivational, protective, and training & educational interventions, especially through information and communication platform.
nnnn
Training participants are primary health care nurses from Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (two entities: Federation and Republic of Srpska), Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Serbia.
nnnn
The training is part of the project “Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world”, Ref. no. 305.998-20, funded by Central European Initiative and implemented by the SEEHN Secretariat.
The Emergency Training of Trainers on COVID-19 for Primary Health Care Nurses Programme launched on December 14, 2020, its second round in a virtual gathering with an outstanding line-up of expert speakers on COVID emergency response topics.
nnnn
38 participants from 5 SEEHN Member States eligible to the program joined the first day of the training that will run for the next four days, until the 18th of December, 2020.
nnnn
Considering the extraordinary circumstances, we face, the South Eastern Health Network puts all the forces thus the training programme is an insightful and interactive webinar during which expert speakers will share their knowledge on some of the key elements related to Covid-19 response as a powerful means for improving the clinical performance of frontline nurses.
nnnn
The Training of Trainers modules will cover the following: the concept of triage of COVID-19 patients, use of PPE to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure, importance of clinical signs of COVID-19 infection in patients as well as the importance of adequate of stress and mental health management during pandemics.
nnnn
Taking the floor in the opening session, the Director of the SEEHN Secretariat, Dr. Mira Dasic stressed the importance of the role of nurses as core pillars of the health systems. Nurses are at the forefront of COVID-19 response, providing care and play a critical role in emergency risk reduction, preparedness and response. Primary health care nurses are often the first ones to get in direct contact with potential COVID -19 positive patients. They also provide the essential care for the patients, coordinating efforts with other health response team during emergencies. We all know that without well-prepared and protected healthcare staff, there is no response.
nnnn
The Emergency Training of Trainers on COVID-19 for Primary Health Care Nurses Programme is a capacity-building programme on emergency preparedness and response, designed for frontline Primary Health Care nurses. The programme enables its participants to incorporate evidence-based expertise and insights about COVID-19 case management.
nnnn
The regional Training-of-trainers’ course is part of the project “Strengthening capacities of nurses – front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 response – Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world”.
nnnn
The project is funded by Central European Initiative and implemented by the SEEHN Secretariat in SEEHN selected Member States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Serbia.
The Emergency Training of Trainers on COVID-19 for Primary Health Care Nurses started yesterday, November 30, in virtual format, gathering more than 40 participants.
nnnn
Welcoming remarks were delivered by the Director of SEEHN Secretariat, Dr. Mira Jovanovski-Dasic, Mr. Gian Matteo Apuzzo, Senior CEI expert, as well as by the two project experts Dr. Luca Rosi and Dr. Nicola Petrosillo.
nnnn
Dr Dasic emphasized in her speech the critical role nurses play at the forefront of COVID-19 preparedness and response and the need for concrete actions to empower nurses and support them in their daily work to improve case management.
nnnn
She highlighted that quality health care worker education is not a one-time engagement. Global health trends shift, technology advances, and new practices are developed, therefore continuous health worker training helps the workforce to adapt and deliver higher quality care. The Director of the SEEHN Secretariat also commanded the expert team for their excellent experience and expertise in the field.
nnnn
This regional Training-of-trainers’ course is part of the project “Strengthening capacities of nurses – front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 response – Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world”.
nnnn
The project is funded by the Central European Initiative and implemented by the SEEHN Secretariat in selected Member States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Republic of Serbia and Republic of Moldova.
nnnn
The training programme is been driven by the recognition of the challenges faced by nurses in the South-Eastern European region and aims at strengthening the capacities of the primary health care nurses in SEEHN Member States through online trainings on COVID-19 emergency response.
nnnn
In the next sessions, the participants will also virtually interact and share their experiences. By the end of the training, participants will have a thorough grounding on COVID-19 prevention, promotion and advocacy, to ease their work and to equip them with additional skills on COVID-19 case management.
SEEHN Secretariat organized the First Regional Webinar “Primary Healthcare as main gatekeeper and crucial systemic element in the COVID-19 containment”, on 26 October 2020.
nnnn
This regional event is part of the project “Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world” that is mainly funded by CEI and implemented by the SEEHN Secretariat in very close collaboration with SEEHN six Member States.
nnnn
Around 35 participants from BiH, MDA, MKD, MNE, SRB, CEI representatives and experts from the National Institute of Public Health from Italy’ and Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases’ and from the Istituto Superiore di Sanita’ joined online.
nnnn
Nurses are one of the core pillars of the health systems and are at the forefront of the COVID-19 response – providing care and playing a critical role in emergency risk reduction, preparedness and response. Primary health care nurses are often the first ones to get in direct contact with potential COVID-19 positive patients providing guidance and collecting samples for the diagnostic. They also provide the essential care for the patients, they coordinate efforts with other health professionals and other members of the response team during emergencies. Without well-prepared and protected healthcare staff, there is no effective response to health threats.
nnnn
Participants contributed to discussions on the primary health care crucial role as gatekeeper and first line contact with potential COVID-19 patients.
nnnn
Discussions focused on the ways to bridge the gap between nurses, patients and GPs and or hospitals in order to enhance community containment and to improve COVID-19 case-management. One of the highlighted nurses’ roles was on how to strengthen the prevention, promotion and advocacy work of the nurses.
nnnn
The COVID-19 pandemic is still not entirely known, evidence is gathered on the way and it is essential to have a regional platform to share experience. Every piece of information counts, any new way of doing things matters to improve efforts against COVID19.
Today, the 18th of September, the SEEHN Secretariat organized the kick-off meeting of the focal points of the newly launched project “Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world “, funded underthe CEI COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals. Due to the extraordinary circumstances, the meeting was organized in virtual format.
nnnn
In the opening, the Secretariat presented an overview of the aim of the meeting and a timeline of the deliverables and milestones of the project, the state of the art and challenges, to provide the participants with a common understanding of tasks, defined roles, responsibilities, and concrete next steps.
nnnn
The survey is considered a crucial milestone for the outcomes of the project and the Secretariat urged the participants to consider sending a timely national feedback.
nnnn
Another item on the agenda included the stakeholder involvement, and the participants convened on the opportunity to organize a dedicated meeting with the Associations of nurses from the beneficiary Member States.
nnnn
Before concluding, the representatives of the Secretariat briefed the participants on the project visibility requirements and on the dissemination activities the beneficiary Member States have to comply with.
Deadline for submission of documents under the open call for consultants to support the delivery of Project: Strengthening capacities of nurses – front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 response: “Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world” financed by CEI is extended. Interseted candidates are invivted to submit documents by 28 August 2020, by 17:00 CET via e-mail: seehn.secretariat@seehn.org
The SEEHN Secretariat is looking for consultants to support the delivery of Project: Strengthening capacities of nurses – front line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 response: “Strong nurses for strong health systems and a healthier world” financed by CEI under the know-how exchange programme within the COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals, Ref. No. 305.998-20
