Debbie O’Donoghue has been made a Distinguished Fellow of the Council for International Neonatal Nurses (COINN).

 She was presented with the award at the non-profit organisation’s international conference in Alborg, Denmark for her services to COINN and neonatal nursing. Only three of these awards (including Debbie’s) have ever been given out.

 Debbie, who is the Neonatal Nurse Manager of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Christchurch Women’s Hospital and was presenting at the conference, says the honour came as a complete surprise.

 “I had no idea and am very humbled to receive this award. Neonatal nursing is my passion. I have been a neonatal nurse since 1987, starting in the UK. Working with COINN to improve neonatal nursing as a specialty and a practice has opened my eyes to what is happening around the world and where we can make a difference.”

 Nursing Director, Women’s and Children’s Nikki Scott says the award is significant recognition for Debbie and all the mahi she has put in locally and internationally.

 “It is lovely to see this level of excellence and achievement recognised.”

 Debbie has been a Board of Director at COINN and represented New Zealand Aotearoa for over 15 years. She is also the Treasurer of the organisation. She got involved after being on the Committee of the Neonatal Nurses College Aotearoa and a lot of her work is focused around obtaining grants and sponsorship to support the work of COINN, including working with the Gates Foundation.

 COINN is a recognised global leader in neonatal nursing care, representing over 100 countries. Its mission is to advance neonatal nursing and improve health outcomes for newborns and their families.

 Through engagement/ participation in global policy development, COINN’s vision is that every small and sick newborn and their family receive nursing care by trained neonatal nurses.

 Their work includes:

Facilitating education programmes, developing competency frameworks and the development of on-line education resources and new resources that can be accessed worldwide in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

 The latest successful launch has been the Community of Neonatal Practice Partnership and Education platform in Africa with the support of a number of world-leading foundations, Debbie says.

 “The focus is on Africa because neonatal mortality and morbidity is of great concern there, with sub- Saharan Africa accounting for the highest mortality rate in the world, at 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is coupled with high mortality of small and sick newborns, and the risk of longterm health outcomes (WHO 2022).”