WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF NURSING & WEST
AFRICAN HEALTH COMMUNITY
BY
GROUP 7
OBJECTIVES
 History of West African Health Community & West African College of Nursing
 The aims of the WAHC & WACN
 Faculties of the WACN
 Motto & Pledge of the college
 Members
HISTORY OF THE WEST AFRICAN HEALTH COMMUNITY
 It was established in may 1972 by the government of Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
 This was done in cooperation with common wealth secretariat, London.
 It was initially called the Commonwealth West African Regional Health Secretariat.
 Liberia joined the community in 1974.
 The word common wealth was then dropped.
 The policy making organ of the organization signed a treaty on 25th October, 1979 to change the name of the
organization and thereby establishing the West African Health Community.
 The merger of WAHC and OCCGE to form the West African Health Organisation was lunched by the Mali head
if state in November 2000 in the Malian capital, Bamako.
AIM OF THE ORGANISATION
 It was established to undertake such activities as would contribute
toward the attainment of the highest possible standards and protection
of health for people of the sub-region.
WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WEST AFRICAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
 The West African College Of Nursing is one of the specialized agencies of the former West African Health
Community.
 The West African College of Nursing Council was inaugurated on 5th April, 1979.
 The constitution of the WACN was ratified by October 1980 by the assembly of health ministers in Accra-Ghana.
 The college was inaugurated in Banjul, The Gambia on Tuesday 14th April, 1981 by His Excellency, Honourable Mr.
Assan Camara who was the vice president of The Gambia.
 268 foundation fellows and 5 honorary fellows were admitted at the inauguration.
 In October 1989, the WACN fellowship programme started with 9 students at the department of nursing,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
 The headquarters is in Lagos-Nigeria and is located within the secretariat of the West African Health Community.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COLLEGE
 Promote excellence in nursing education-basic and post basic level and maintain the standard of nursing within
the sub-region.
 Formulate and support nursing education programs.
 Contribute to the improvement of health care within the West African sub-region.
 Plan and implement continuing education programs for nursing personnel.
 Promote and encourage research in the field of nursing.
FACULTIES OF THE COLLEGE
 Medical surgical nursing( with 3 sub areas ):
 Critical nursing (accident and emergency, intensive care, peri-operative nursing, special care babies nursing)
 Palliative nursing (terminally ill-HIV/AIDS, cancers etc., rehabilitation)
 Adult nursing (non-communicable diseases)
 Reproductive health nursing.
 Mental health/ psychiatric nursing.
 Community health nursing. Faculty of administration, management and education.
ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE
 Members of the college are designated fellows.
 They are members of the nursing profession with at least first degree in nursing in
any of the member states.
 Must have to pass examination prescribed by the college through its fellowship
programme.
MOTTO
 Unity, knowledge and service.
PLEDGE
 I solemnly declare that I will obey all the laws of the West
African College of Nursing and uphold and defend its
constitution . I will work diligently and contribute to the
advancement of Nursing knowledge, the achievement of the
ideals, goals and objectives of the West African College of
Nursing and the maintenance of the highest possible standard
of Nursing Education and Practice in the interest of our people.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WACN CREST
 The following ideas are reflected in the college’s crest:
a. circle – continuity of life
b. A woven cord – interrelatedness of life and the total environment
c. Nightingale lamp illuminating a book – search for knowledge
d. Colours representing the constituent faculties
WHAT THE COLOURS OF THE FACULTIES SYMBOLYZES
COLOUR
FACULTY
MEANING
Red
Medical and surgical nursing
Health promotion, restoration and
healing
White
Maternal and child health nursing
Relief of pain and suffering
Blue
Mental health/psychiatric nursing
Maintenance of emotional balance
Green
Community health nursing
For the environment and the wide
scope of nursing
Gold
Administration, management and
education
Research and advancement of
knowledge
Gown – black with college crest at the yoke of gown facings with constituent faculty colours
Hat – bonnet style, black with coloured cord and tassel
REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
The West African Health Organisation. (n.d). May 12, 2014, from www.wahooas.org/spip.php.
The West African Health Community. (n.d). May 13, 2014, from www.wahifp.org/.
The West African College of Nursing. (n.d). May13, 2014, from wacn.awardspace.com.