WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Child Health (WHO CC)
Project overview
In October 2025, the Friede Springer Endowed Professorship for Global Child Health was designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre. As the first WHO Collaborating Centre in Germany dedicated exclusively to child and adolescent health, it will address issues related to (primary) healthcare of children and adolescents in Europe and beyond.
Announcement by WHO: New WHO collaborating centre in Germany to strengthen child and adolescent health
WHO Collaborating Centres are designated by the Director-General of the WHO on the basis of their high scientific and technical competence and international recognition. They support key programs of the World Health Organization through targeted research, training, and technical cooperation.
Over the four-year project period, the WHO Collaborating Centre will address various aspects of child and adolescent health in the WHO European Region, including:
- Implementation of the WHO's Pocket Book of Primary Healthcare for Children and Adolescents as a course for medical personnel
- Research projects on mortality and vaccination status of children and adolescents
- Translation and adaptation of the People's Voice Survey (PVS) for the German context and to involve young people aged 15-19 in the survey
Further information
- Duration: 10/2025 - 09/2029
- Funding by:Friede Springer Stiftung
- Responsible: Friede Springer Endowed Professorship for Global Child Health
- Project partner:WHO Regional Office for Europe
Impressions from the project
Training of Trainers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to support the delivery of the online induction training on the Pocket Book of Primary Health Care for Children and Adolescents. (2026)
WHO Collaborating Centre team meeting with WHO colleagues at the WHO Country Office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. (2026)
The team in Lisbon at the meeting of the WHO Collaborating Centres for Child and Adolescent Health (2026)
Group photo taken at the meeting of the WHO Collaborating Centres for Child and Adolescent Health in Lisbon (2026)
The team at the WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Witten/Herdecke at the start of the project (2026)
Contact us
Prof. Dr. med.
Ralf Weigel
Working Group Leader
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Friede Springer Endowed Professorship of Global Child Health
- +49 2302 926-770
Orcid ID: 0000-0001-9034-2634
Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50
58455 WittenRoom number: 2.310 / 2.311
Dr.
Paula Rauschendorf
Research Associate
Faculty of Health (School of Medicine) | Friede Springer Endowed Professorship of Global Child Health
Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50
58455 WittenRoom number: 2.283d