International Program

PANMCC Report

by Evelyn Acheson, PhD, RN., Director, International Programs
University of Oklahoma | College of Nursing | 2005-2006

During the summer of 2005 former Dean Carole Kenner initiated a more active role for the College of Nursing in the International arena by applying for Collaborating Center status with the World Health Organization (WHO). In July we were notified of our Affiliate status under the guidance of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. We remain an Affiliate for three years at which time we will apply to be a Collaborating Center in our own right. The University of Alabama at Birmingham wrote the terms of reference for the current four-year program. We have chosen to concentrate our efforts on building research capacity in one of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) countries. Dr. Evelyn Acheson was named Director and has since directed energy to gaining Collaborating Center status for OU College of Nursing within 3 years.

Part of the job has included coordinating efforts to assist international visiting scholars to visit and work with us. So far, scholars from Russia, Thailand and Taiwan have visited the College of Nursing.

Several faculty members have participated in furthering the work of the Council of International Neonatal Nursing (COINN) organization by presenting papers at International meetings in Brazil, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Singapore, and South Africa. This organization has over 40 countries involved in regional networks-these represent all regions of the world including PAHO countries. Since some of the members of COINN are also involved in OU College of Nursing WHO affiliate center some joint projects are being planned. One proposal is to use the Centering Pregnancy Model to train Community Health Workers in South Africa. This project includes two neonatal groups and a Joanna Briggs Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Center in South Africa, and OU WHO Affiliate Center..

Six Students and five faculty members traveled to Guyana, South America to initiate relations with the University of Guyana and Guyana Nurses Association during a study tour in May '06. We explored collaboration efforts during this visit, especially looking for ways to build research capacity among nurses in Guyana. There is tremendous interest from the 20+ graduates of the BSc program in our on-line master's program. Work is underway to facilitate that process and find sponsors. There are currently 5 of the 700 nurses in Guyana with a masters' degree. We have been in contact with PAHO country representative to assist in this plan.

An initial visit to Santa Cruz, Bolivia with the OU College of Medicine, Family Medicine faculty and residents provided contact with an American Physician, Dr. Toni Mercado who is working with the Ayore Indians of Eastern Bolivia under the umbrella of a faith based organization from Florida called South American Mission (SAM). This physician, requested nurses and nursing students to provide health care/education to the villages they serve. Funding was found from a private foundation out of Arizona, the AMB Foundation for seed money to begin training village health workers among 9 Ayore Villages. Dr. Acheson and Whitney Price made an assessment fact-gathering trip in August '06 to initiate work on this project. It is anticipated that a team of 10-12 educators and students will implement this project in these 9 villages in March '07. This project could definitely be long term with additional funding. We initially plan to prepare village health workers to recognize and treat common diseases that cause deaths to children under 5 and their families. The next phase would include health to pregnant women, and later to the elders with chronic illnesses.

Many other possibilities for International involvement are in preliminary stages. In addition, Dr. Marianne Matzo has participated in continuing education programs in Palliative Care in Russia and Japan.

This year the College of Nursing is much more visible in the world arena and in fact, we are positioned to make a difference in the lives of our colleagues in several countries. We are all richer for our international experiences. We have great things planned for the coming year including additional study/travel trips to Guyana and Bolivia, Spanish language study in Mexico, visiting international scholars working on collaborative projects, and others. We look forward to continuing to develop our international presence.