WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Child Health
Friede Springer endowed professorship for Global Child Health
About the Centre
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Child Health at the Friede Springer Endowed Professorship for Global Child Health was designated in October 2025. It is the first WHO Collaborating Centre in Germany dedicated exclusively to child and adolescent health. In close collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Centre supports the World Health Organization through research, education, and technical cooperation to advance child and adolescent health in Europe and beyond.
Areas of Activity
The WHO Collaborating Centre focuses on strengthening primary healthcare for children and adolescents through:
- supporting the implementation of the WHO Pocket Book of Primary Healthcare for Children and Adolescents through training programmes for healthcare professionals,
- conducting research on child and adolescent mortality and vaccination status,
- translating and adapting the WHO People’s Voice Survey for the German context, including the involvement of young people aged 15–19 years.
Mission and Objectives
The Centre aims to generate evidence, strengthen healthcare systems, and promote equitable access to high-quality healthcare for children and adolescents. Through research, capacity building, and international collaboration, it contributes to improving health outcomes and supporting the implementation of WHO priorities in the European Region.
Website Under Development
This website is currently being developed. In the future, it will provide information on the Centre’s projects, research activities, publications, educational programmes, collaborations, and opportunities for engagement.
Bookmark this website to stay informed about our activities in the future!
WHO CC Team at UW/H
Prof. Ralf Weigel, MD, MSc., PhD
- Professor at the Friede Springer Endowed Professorship for Global Child Health at the Faculty of Health, Witten/ Herdecke University, Germany
Dr. Paula Rauschendorf
- Research Associate at Friede Springer Endowed Professorship for Global Child Health, Faculty of Health/School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany
Muhammad Waseem Yousaf
- Research Assistant at Friede Springer Endowed Professorship for Global Child Health, Faculty of Health/School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany