A Week of Collaboration and Exploration: A Glimpse into WFPHA President’s Journey in China

In a week packed with meaningful engagements and collaborations, the President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), Prof Luis Eugenio De Souza, embarked on a journey to strengthen ties and exchange insights with key players in the public health arena. Here’s a brief recap of the notable events that unfolded during this enriching week.

Tuesday, November 14th: Renewal of MoU with CPMA

Kicking off the week with a significant milestone, the President of WFPHA, Prof Luis Eugenio De Souza, signed the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between WFPHA and the China Preventive Medicine Association (CPMA). This reaffirmed our commitment to collaboration and shared goals in advancing public health initiatives on a global scale.

Wednesday, November 15th: Exploring Collaborations with CDC China

A pivotal moment in the week was the visit to the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC China). The discussions and interactions during this visit aimed to foster collaboration and mutual understanding, laying the groundwork for future joint efforts in addressing public health challenges.

Wednesday Continued: Visiting the Pekin School of Population Medicine and Public Health

Professor Luis Eugenio had a valuable meeting with Feng Luzhao, the Vice Director of the Pekin School of Population Medicine and Public Health.

Friday, November 17th: Building Connections with Shanghai Preventive Medicine Association

Continuing the momentum, Prof Luis Eugenio De Souza met with the President of the Shanghai Preventive Medicine Association, who also serves as the Dean of the Shanghai Medical College at Fudan University. This meeting provided a platform to discuss shared objectives, potential collaborations, and innovative approaches in the field of preventive medicine.

Saturday, November 18th: Sharing Insights at the 3rd Belt and Road Training Course

The week reached another high point with the participation in the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Training Course. Prof Luis Eugenio De Souza not only shared valuable insights on Tropical Diseases in Brazil but also seized the opportunity to connect with a diverse audience passionate about global health issues.

“Belt and Road” Training Course on Prevention and Control Technology of Tropical Diseases in Lancang Mekong Region took place on 18-22 November 2023 in Shanghai, China.

Saturday Continued: Exploring the Shanghai School of Global Health

Wrapping up the week, Prof Luis Eugenio De Souza, had the privilege of meeting Dr. Xiaonong Zhou, who introduced them to the Shanghai School of Global Health. This introduction opened doors to potential collaborations and knowledge exchange in the realm of global health research and education.

This week in China was not just a series of meetings; it was a journey of building bridges, fostering partnerships, and contributing to the global discourse on public health. As WFPHA continues its mission, these collaborations serve as stepping stones towards a healthier and more interconnected world.

World Federation of Public Health Associations Endorses SESPAS Statement

The Spanish Society for Public Health and Health Administration (SESPAS) has strongly denounced the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the devastating impact on public health. The endorsement of the European Union’s communiqué on the Israel-Hamas conflict is acknowledged, but SESPAS calls for concrete and immediate measures to prevent a public health catastrophe.

SESPAS urges the European Union to ensure the protection of civilians by maintaining the supply of essential services. Water, energy, and basic supplies must not be used as weapons of war. SESPAS calls on Spanish and European authorities to influence international bodies, emphasizing the need for a cessation of hostilities and respect for international humanitarian law.

Facing Leadership that Kills receives the Best Paper Award at APHA 2023

Join us in congratulating Dr. Alex Jadad, a member of our Public Health Leadership Coalition, for ‘Facing Leadership that Kills’, which received the Best Paper Award sponsored by the Journal of Public Health Policy, during the 2023 American Public Health Association Meeting, and was published in The World Federation of Public Health Associations’ Pages.

5th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury

Edited from the Earth Negotiations Bulletin

The Minamata Convention on Mercury, which is an international treaty, was adopted on October 10, 2013 and entered into force on August 16, 2017, and governments committed themselves to protecting human health and the environment from mercury and mercury compounds.

Mercury, as a naturally occurring element, can be released into the air and water through the weathering of rock containing mercury ore or through human activities such as industrial processes, mining, deforestation, waste incineration, and burning fossil fuels. Mercury-containing products such as dental amalgam, electrical applications, laboratory and medical instruments, batteries, antiseptic and antibacterial creams, and skin-lightening creams can also release mercury.

Effects on fetal neurological development, lowered fertility, brain and nerve damage, and heart disease have been linked to exposure to mercury. The Minamata Convention bans new mercury mines and calls for the phase-out of existing ones. It also contains control measures on emissions and products containing mercury and the regulation of mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury, and health issues.

This year, when parties to the Minamata Convention convened for the 5th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-5), while commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Convention, they discussed further actions that will help make the promise of this treaty a reality. COP-5 took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 30 to November 3, 2023. Over 846 delegates participated in person, and for the first time, the meeting was broadcast via livestream to 900 viewers, with the recordings available following each plenary session. The Convention currently has 147 parties.

Parties agreed to update Annexes A and B of the Convention to list phaseout dates for certain types of batteries, switches and relays, fluorescent lamps, and cosmetics, and mandate the phaseout of mercury as a catalyst in polyurethane production by 2025. They also agreed on language declaring mercury-free processes for production of sodium or potassium methylate or ethylate to be technically and economically feasible. However, efforts by the African Group and other parties to agree on a phaseout of dental amalgam, which is still widely used for dental fillings, did not achieve consensus. The final decision only requires parties that have not yet phased out dental amalgam to report on how they plan to do so.

A decision on mercury waste thresholds means that countries have a fixed standard now for measuring whether imports and exports contaminated with mercury contain more than the allowed total concentration value of 15 mg/kg. This is important for countries who fear becoming global dumping grounds for mercury-contaminated wastes, as it gives an international standard for deciding whether a shipment should be blocked. It also means that producer nations now have a benchmark for blocking exports of mercury-contaminated waste.

COP-5 applauded the 95% rate of national reporting on what parties have done to meet their obligations under the Convention. Parties welcomed the second review of the Convention’s financial mechanism, which provides new guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and notes that the GEF increased its funding for the Minamata Convention by more than 30% in its latest replenishment. COP-5 adopted the budget and program of work for the 2024–25 biennium, approving a core budget of USD 8.4 million and estimating needs of USD 4.83 million for its Special Trust Fund. COP-5 also saw some emerging themes that are likely to shape the work of the Convention in years to come.

COP-5 accomplished a lot. However, several issues for COP-6 in November 2025 are to be resolved, including phasing out dental amalgam and all mercury-added cosmetics and establishing the feasibility of mercury-free vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production. COP-6 will also examine the draft guidance on trade, a report on national emission inventories and plans.

Global Public Health Week 2024

The 3rd edition of Global Public Health Week (GPHW) commences on April 8, 2024, with the theme “Fostering Peace as a Prerequisite for Equitable Health”. It will be a hybrid event, combining face to face and digital gatherings worldwide.

During GPHW, the WFPHA brings together institutions, communities, and public health actors from around the world to recognize the contributions of public health and its workforce. This annual event engenders discussion on the best practices and missing gaps fundamental to disease prevention and the promotion of health and wellbeing.

In addition to the week’s theme, each day will focus on a specific theme:

• Monday, April 8: Rethinking Public Health Paradigms
• Tuesday, April 9: Enhancing and Democratizing Governance in Global Health
• Wednesday, April 10: Putting Mental Wellbeing on the Health Agenda
• Thursday, April 11: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities
• Friday, April 12: Fostering the Development of the Right Competencies within Tomorrow’s Health Workforce

Get Involved

• Hosting Event

Whether you are a public health association, a health organization, an institution, a health professional, a student, or an ordinary citizen interested in one of this year’s five GPHW themes, you are invited to:

1. Choose one or more of the themes above.
2. Mobilize your team to organize your own event(s) such as workshops, conferences, webinars, interviews, social media activities, contests, exhibitions, and many more in different formats such as in-person, online, or hybrid. Events can be big or small, local or global. Events can be organized in any language.
3. Submit your event by March 1, 2024 using this link: https://forms.gle/XFzGJzreCbgdZYWY6
4. The WFPHA will dedicate all its platforms, such as its website and social media, to give visibility to your events.

• Participating

If you are unable to organize your own event, joining GPHW events and activities contributes to the success of events. Several events will be planned for each day of the week. Pick your favorite(s) and join us there.

Keep up to date with all the activities and news relating to GPHW by following #GPHW & #GPHW2024 on social media.

For more information, please send an email to: secretariat@wfpha.org