Home  ICN/MSD Mobile Library

Background information Press release [HIFA2015] Press release: Lack of healthcare information threatens patient safety, say leading health agencies Nursing Mobile Library in Pictures Contents of the Library [PDF file, 258 KB] The Nursing Library for Refugee Health How to download pdf files	Providing quick access to critical information
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	Information Backgrounder Mobile books for nursing and health Nurses deliver more than 80% of health care in developing countries.  These nurses are often working in remote clinics, with poor or no access to current health care information. Yet everyday these nurses are called upon to care for people with new diseases, such as HIV/Aids and to treat those suffering from reemerging ones, including TB and malaria.  They must also respond to the full span of a population's normal health care needs - immunization, health promotion, childbirth, care of the injured, the elderly and the dying.

But too often the sources for information these nurses have are dangerously out of date.  The reference materials may not address the new health problems nor have the most recent, best practice information on prevention and treatment.  Even nurse educators may be working from old textbooks, recommending practices that research has now proved to be ineffective and in some cases harmful.

Or, the right information may simply be inaccessible - preciously stored in libraries and other institutions, which often do not have the resources to make it available to nurses working 'in the field'.  Too frequently up-to-date health reference works may be so treasured that they are stored away under lock and key.

The ICN/MSD Mobile Library, housed in a transportable trunk resilient to moisture, insects and hard knocks is dedicated to closing the gap between the desperate need for nursing information and its availability.  This unique initiative will deliver knowledge to the field, providing a key resource and tool for the main health workers in developing countries.

It Takes a Team
An extraordinary team of industry and nursing partners has mobilized to achieve the International Council of Nurses (ICN) vision of a Mobile Library.  While ICN has been coordinating the entire project, including sourcing material, funds and designing the support programme, others team members have made key contributions.

Merck was first on board, delivering funding for the distribution of 20 Mobile Libraries in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana and donating multiple copies of the renowned Merck Manual for the libraries.

Elsevier Science joined in with the offer to handle the packing and shipping of the libraries, ensuring their safe arrival at ICN member nursing associations in targeted countries.

Nursing organisations*, including schools of nursing, national nursing associations and foundations, have also taken up the project in support of their colleagues and profession, by committing the $2500 required to stock, ship and manage each Mobile Library unit.

Nurses on the ground in the receiving countries have taken on the task of distribution, maintenance and training for support of the library in the field.

Ministries of health and health related NGOs in receiving countries will assist in moving the libraries units out from the capital to designated sites in the field.

On behalf of nursing and improved health worldwide, ICN would like to thank and congratulate this team for its visionary commitment and invite others in industry and all aspects of civil society to donate support for Mobile Books for Nursing and Health. 

*The national nurses associations of Australia, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, the UK, and Taiwan, the Edwina Mountbatten Trust, the Health Academy, Groinigen Hospital, the International Committee of Red Cross, the Sigma Theta Tau International, the Nursing College of Wayne State University, the Malawi Association for Christian Support, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, the Nursing Standard UK, the Health Volunteers Overseas, the Kellogg Foundation, the Canada Fund, Canadian Embassy, the Lubwe Hospital Development Fund and the Florence Nightingale International Foundation have each committed to sponsor the cost of sending one or more unit(s) to a location in need.

Judith Oulton (Chief Executive of ICN), Gary Zelko, (Director of Merck Publishing), Mrs. Nancy Kirui, (High Commissionerof Kenya to the UK), and Fadwa Affara, (ICN Consultant), at the official launch of the ICN/Merck Mobile Library in London, December 4, 2001

 

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of 133 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.

For further information contact Tel : (+41 22) 908 0100; fax : (+41 22) 908 0101; Web site http://www.icn.ch

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