WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition
In September 2008, Warwick Medical School was designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Nutrition. The Centre has been re-designated for a further 4 years (2018-2022). The terms of reference of the WHO Collaborating Centre are presented as bullet points and briefly describe the scope of the activities that the institution performs as a WHO Collaborating Centre:
Operational support:
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To compile and keep up-to-date national guidelines on salt reduction at population level in European countries.
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To extend the search and cataloguing in countries worldwide.
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To continue systematic reviews to inform policy makers and to monitor international progress.
Research:
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To increase the research output in the following areas that are of interest to the WHO general framework:(a) quantitative monitoring of urinary sodium output;(b) analysis of trends in urinary output;(c) producing evidence of the effectiveness of implementation programmes.
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To monitor the development of new policies for the reduction of salt intake.
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To study how the development of new policies is influenced by research findings.
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To explore issues of distribution and access to food items reduced in salt and socio-economic barriers to their use.
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The Centre studies the potential impact of social and health inequalities on the implementation of nutritional policies for a reduction in salt intake and nutritional interventions targeted at low socio-economic groups.
Monitoring within the European Network:
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To act as an integral partner in the development, implementation and monitoring of national programmes aiming at a reduction in salt intake.
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To support monitoring and surveillance by providing centralized laboratory measurements of urinary sodium, potassium and creatinine obtained from random samples of participating populations.
Education, Training and Capacity Building:
- To organize workshops and seminars aimed at the dissemination of information regarding methods, nutritional skills, policy issues and implementation tools for European participation.
Salt Wars: The Battle Over the Biggest Killer in the American Diet
by Michael F. Jacobson
Michael Jacobson explains how the American food industry and a small group of scientists have successfully fought government efforts to reduce dangerous levels of sodium in our food.
Salt: it's more dangerous than you think. We eat far too much of it - and it's taking a toll on our health. Jennie Agg asks the experts how we can cut back The Times (19/05/2020)
The World Health Organization emphasizes its commitment to population salt reduction supporting the scientific statement of the European Salt Action Network (January 2019)
The salt debate: does consuming less really save lives? Read in The Conversation.
Is the sodium debate a legitimate scientific disagreement or a “controversy” manufactured by industry? WATCH THESE VIDEOS
Salt: are you eating too much? Channel 4 Disptaches (2015)
Index
WHO CC Country support by Region
Albania / Andorra / Armenia / Austria / Azerbaijan / Belarus / Belgium / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Cyprus / Czech Republic / Denmark / Estonia / Finland / France / Georgia / Germany/ Greece / Hungary / Iceland / Ireland / Israel / Italy / Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan / (Kosovo) / Latvia / Lithuania / Luxembourg/ Malta / Moldova / Monaco/ Montenegro / Netherlands / North Macedonia / Norway / Poland / Portugal / Romania / Russian Federation / San Marino / Serbia / Slovakia / Slovenia / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Turkey / Turkmenistan / Ukraine / United Kingdom / Uzbekistan
Egypt / Iran / Jordan / Lebanon / Morocco/ Oman / Tunisia / UAE