COPENHAGEN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) on Thursday designated Denmark's Center for Health and Infectious Disease Research (CHIP) as a new WHO collaborating center to support regional responses to HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The center, based at Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen, will work with WHO/Europe and its member states to translate evidence into practice, strengthen public health responses, and accelerate progress toward regional health targets.
The designation focuses on HIV, HIV/TB co-infection, and viral hepatitis, while also supporting work on STIs. Over a four-year period, the center will help build health workforce capacity, expand access to testing for HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs, strengthen implementation and operational research, and optimize national biomedical prevention programs.
"WHO collaborating centers contribute to regional health security by extending the World Health Organization's technical capacity, providing specialized expertise, and strengthening institutional capabilities in countries and across regions," said Ihor Perehinets, health security and regional emergency director at WHO/Europe. ■