Volume 45 Number 2

WCET^® Editor Dr Jenny Prentice - recipient of the Western Australian Nursing and Midwifery Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Honour is an induction onto an honour role for nurses and midwives who have enjoyed highly impactful careers, have made long standing and extraordinary contributions to their position, the profession and the community; and who have changed the nursing and midwifery landscape in Western Australia, nationally and internationally.

Recipients are nominated anonymously by colleagues and peers and chosen with robust protocols and assessment by an independent panel.

The award was presented to Dr Prentice by Jennnifer Grieve, a previous inductee, who quoted Florence Nightingale: “Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” And, “Let whoever is in charge keep this simple question in mind; not how can I always do the right thing myself but how can I always provide for this right thing to always be done?”

Exerpts from Ms Grieve’s induction speech follow.

“Both are perfect reflections of tonight’s inductee. Miss Nightingale would have said, “Bravo Jenny, you have always ensured the right thing was done!”

Our colleague is a highly respected and passionate Nurse Consultant who has made an extraordinary contribution to nursing locally, nationally and internationally for the past 50 years.

She is described as a ‘standout’, a masterful proactive clinician, an inspiring, motivating and empowering nurse educator and a collaborative and transformational leader. Indeed, a true exemplar for her tireless and extensive contribution to nursing practice in all areas; from clinical, research, education, leadership and management and across multiple specialities: tertiary, community, palliative residential aged care and academia.

She is a particularly good nurse. Her residents/ patients/ clients - dependant on the health care setting - have always remained her prime focus, ensuring they are afforded the best care that she delivers by example and with her ever-present can-do attitude. No challenge too great, no mountain too high to climb. And all with a lovely sense of humour just when its needed.

Her continuous search for better practice was evidenced in her PhD studies in 2007. Her research methodology for determining pressure injury prevalence changed and improved clinical practice. This remains widely used and cited, allowing comparable analysis of pressure injury prevalence and risk factors across health sectors.

She has established, led, chaired and presided over many professional associations and committees specialising in wound care; and has written, co-authored and edited books and countless peer-reviewed journal articles on the same topic. She has proven to be a strong advocate in her chosen field of endeavour and, since 1986, has built a very respected and acknowledged clinical research profile, either leading or participating in 22 research projects and attracting more than $6 million of funding for these undertakings.

A colleague said of Jenny: “In the world of clinical care, trust is the essential unit of currency. I have never worked with anyone – of any professional group – I have trusted more, than I learned to trust this wonderful colleague and human being.”

She is hard working, an exemplar in and for nursing”.

The WCET^® Executive Board believes that the last sentence from Ms Grieve’s speech sums up Dr Prentice perfectly. On behalf of all WCET^® members, a very well-deserved congratulations to our editor, Jenny Prentice.

Resolution on skin diseases

World Health Assembly Member States Adopt Landmark Resolution on Skin Diseases

In a historic move to elevate skin health on the global public health agenda, Member States at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) adopted the resolution titled “Skin Diseases as a Global Public Health Priority.” Led by Côte d’Ivoire and co-sponsored by Colombia, China, Egypt, Micronesia, Nigeria and Togo, the resolution marks a transformative step toward addressing the needs of over 2 billion people affected by skin conditions worldwide.

Skin diseases and wounds are among the most common health conditions globally, yet they remain disproportionately neglected in national and international health strategies. The resolution acknowledges the wide-ranging impact of skin conditions including infectious, autoimmune, genetic and climate-sensitive diseases and calls for a comprehensive, integrated response.

The resolution mandates the development of a Global Action Plan that will focus on prevention, early detection, effective treatment and long-term care, while promoting equitable access to affordable, high-quality services and integrating skin health into broader health systems.

“This resolution marks a turning point,” said Jennifer Austin, CEO of the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organisations (GlobalSkin). “For the first time, the voices of people living with skin diseases have been truly heard by Ministers of Health all around the world. Now, we must work together to turn this commitment into meaningful and lasting action.”

“This is a major milestone for global dermatology,” said Prof Henry W. Lim, President of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS). “It reflects decades of advocacy and scientific progress. The next step is to ensure that implementation is inclusive, well-resourced and sustainable.”

The resolution urges Member States to:

• Strengthen primary healthcare systems and workforce training.
• Expand access to affordable diagnostics and treatments.
• Integrate skin health into disability, rehabilitation and mental health policies.
• Promote research, surveillance and innovation, including digital tools and tele-dermatology.

It also calls on the international community including NGOs, academic institutions and the private sector to collaborate in supporting implementation, reducing stigma and advancing access to care.

The success of this resolution will depend on the collaboration of all stakeholders – governments, civil society, healthcare providers, researchers and patient organisations – to ensure that the forthcoming Global Plan of Action on skin diseases is inclusive, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of those most affected.

This resolution is not just a policy achievement, it is a global commitment to improving the lives of those affected by skin diseases, striving to achieve universal health coverage and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Additional quotes:

“The resolution recognises the intersection of skin health with mental health, stigma and social well-being,” said a Dr Claire Fuller, Chair of the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD). “It’s a holistic approach that will benefit millions.”

“We were glad to have engaged with Member States throughout the process leading to this resolution,” said Katherine Urbáez, Founder and Executive Director of the Health Diplomacy Alliance. “We are committed to continuing our support for the development, consultation and implementation of the Global Plan of Action on skin diseases, among all groups and collective efforts of leading organisations.”

“We believe this resolution will constitute a true landmark for the global fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases.” said the Iñigo Lasa, CEO of Anesvad Foundation. “Many of them, like leprosy or lymphatic filariasis cause very serious skin manifestations. A global mandate that focuses on skin diseases must help the world focus on the dimension of these diseases.”

“Less resourced regions bear a huge part of world’s wounds of mixed origins. Diagnosis and treatments are far from being optimal. We hope that this resolution will help to develop both diagnosis, affordable treatments and teaching,” said World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care general secretary.

“As a hospital system, we see firsthand the burden of untreated skin diseases and wounds,” said a representative from Geneva University Hospitals. “This resolution will help bring care to those who need it most.”

“This resolution will serve as a powerful tool for us to communicate at all levels about skin NTDs and more broadly about skin diseases—which have long been neglected,” said Dr Rie Yotsu, Chair of the Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network Skin Cross-Cutting Group. “It reinforces our commitment to working together toward achieving skin health for all.”

“The success of this resolution depends on the collaboration of all stakeholders,” said Marc Yale, Chair of the World Skin Health Coalition. “From governments to grassroots organisations, we must work together to ensure its promises become a reality.”