29th October 2014
Child and family health experts from Eastern Europe and Central Asia were in England from 20- 24 October 2014 to learn about the vital role that health visitors play in the health and wellbeing outcomes of children and their families in England. The week-long study tour was hosted by the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) and held in partnership with UNICEF.
The iHV and the UNICEF Regional Office Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS) are partners within a Regional Technical Advisory Group to promote the concept of home visiting for Maternal and Child Health and Wellbeing. Within the framework of this collaboration, a group of child health and development experts from the region who are contributing to this agenda and are interested in introducing a home visiting programme or strengthening an existing one, visited the UK to learn about the model and the experience of home visiting.
Dr Cheryll Adams, Director of the Institute of Health Visiting, said: “UNICEF is turning to England as a source of best practice on the central role that the health visitor plays in the lives of families due to our history and the level of experience and sophistication in our systems. The Institute of Health Visiting and some of its Associate members have been working very closely with them to help on this very important agenda.”
The study tour participants were in England to get first-hand knowledge of all aspects of home visiting, from how it is financed through to how it is delivered – with the aim of implementing a similar high quality health or home visiting system within their own countries.
During the week, the participants heard presentations on policy, education, research, practice, frameworks and tools. Fellows of the Institute shared their knowledge and direct experience with the study tour participants, illustrating their presentations with interesting case studies. The participants were also invited to Parliament to meet Tim Loughton MP and experts who are driving the 1001 Critical Days Manifesto in the UK Parliament and support the commitments made to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Another highlight of the week was the day the participants spent in practice with health visitors as they visited families during their usual day-to-day activities.
Dr Adams added: “We’re very proud here at the Institute of Health Visiting to be working with the UNICEF Regional Office and the study tour participants to help them to improve the health and development outcomes of young children and their families in their own countries.”
Study Tour participants’ feedback:
Lela Tsotsoria, Chief Specialist Health Care Department, Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, said: “The whole study tour has been organised in a very inspirational spirit – every presenter is passionate about their work. The study tour is very motivational about what can be done.”
Gul Garryyeva, Chief Paediatrician, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, Turkmenistan, commented: “We like the way that this complex topic has been presented this week – the presenters have shared information in a clear manner for all to understand. We were particularly impressed to go out on a visit in practice – it is clearer to see and understand.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact: Julie Cooper, Communications and Marketing Manager at the Institute of Health Visiting on 07508 344716 or [email protected]
Notes to editors
About the Institute of Health Visiting
- The Institute of Health Visiting is A UK Centre of Excellence supporting the development of universally high-quality health visiting practice. It was launched on 28th November 2012 to promote excellence in health visiting practice to benefit all children, families and communities.
- The aim for the iHV is to raise standards in health visiting practice, so improving public health outcomes for all children, families and communities.
- For more information go to ihv.org.uk
- Follow the Institute of Health Visiting on Twitter @iHealthVisiting and Facebook
Institute of Health Visiting hosting the UNICEF CEE/CIS study tour participants at Parliament
