Physicians under bombardment: In solidarity with frontline health heroes and heroines  

By: Dr. Duha Shellah, Medical & Health Sciences Division, Palestine Academy for Science & Technology

As a physician, Palestinian and voice of physicians in Palestine and the eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). I am sending out this call for solidarity, to raise the voices of the health workforce in Gaza. The Health Workforce is under an unimaginable workload because of the dire situation wrought by the war in the Gaza Strip. The war has entered its fourth week of continuous horrific attacks which led to extensive destruction of all forms of life in Gaza, civil and health infrastructure were widely destroyed which is alarming for a collapse of the health system in Gaza. The number of casualties received in hospitals is huge. Some of my colleagues have not gotten any rest been home or even seen their families since the beginning of the war. Moreover, some were surprised to see their family members among the casualties and martyrs.  With the tragic loss of 73 health personnel who have been killed, 11 were killed on duty, and more than 100 have been injured, and 26 ambulances are out of service, the health system is taking its last breath, and the result will be havoc. 

Contacting friend physicians,  nurses, midwives, and social workers is different now. It takes days for them to respond. where in two or three minutes of rest, they text us “We are fine”. Most International humanitarian agencies announced the difficulty in contacting their staff on the ground in Gaza. With no electricity or fuel stocks, the situation is devastating. The lack of beds in wards and emergency rooms with a shortage of medical supplies is indeed overwhelming, to the system and staff.  No form of health services is available except life-saving services.

With the collapse of 25 hospitals and most of the primary healthcare facilities in Gaza, the health situation is catastrophic. The vulnerable groups are with no access to essential health services. The shutdown of backup generators in hospitals would place the lives of thousands of patients at risk.  civilians in Gaza are at risk of infectious diseases due to lack of personal hygiene and clean water, besides, overcrowding in shelters. Many children have stopped regular immunization, and their right to grow in a safe and clean environment and to develop physically and mentally has been retracted from them. 

The 16-year blockade on Gaza has fragilized the health system, with physician and specialty shortages and a lack of medical equipment and medications. Those years of socioeconomic decline political instability and conflict have weakened the public health infrastructure, leaving the strip with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. The ongoing war on Gaza has amplified what the Palestinians and the health system have been facing. The deprivation of clean water, food, fuel, and electricity is causing a humanitarian catastrophe. Keep in mind the environmental hazards of the continuous heavy bombardment and extensive destruction of the sewage system. 

I call for solidarity with physicians, public health specialists, health workers, and humanitarian workers, all those working on the frontlines trying to save lives, and most importantly save the Palestinian identity in the Gaza Strip. International Humanitarian law must be abided, indiscriminate violence and collective punishment should end and an immediate ceasefire is a must. All lives matter, all lives.  Physicians and health workers have to stand for each other in times of war and conflict, it is a moral duty to stand out for those on the frontlines of danger, who are working under bombardment, and who have been oppressed for years. 

Call for Fellows: WFPHA Fellowship Program 2024

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) is pleased to announce the WFPHA Fellowship Program 2024, hosted by the Norwegian Public Health Association (NOPHA). This fellowship program aims to strengthen less developed public health associations and foster global partnerships by facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge among public health professionals from various countries. This unique opportunity is designed for talented, highly motivated mid-level professionals dedicated to a career in public health and seeking opportunities that can significantly contribute to their personal and professional growth. For 2024, two candidates will be selected to participate.

Objectives:

1. Connecting emerging public health associations with an established and proven public health association to promote public health growth and understanding.
2. Facilitating and improving communication and strengthening networks among the professionals of public health associations around the world.
3. Developing partnerships and practices that will positively affect and improve public health.
4. Documenting success or challenges that could serve as a learning tool for all public health associations.
5. Aligning equity in public health globally.
6. Presenting and publishing findings and outcomes at the end of the project.

Duration:

The fellowship program will run from October 10 to November 10, 2024, and will take place in Norway, mainly in Oslo. During the fellowship period, the accommodation will be organized by the Norwegian Public Health Association. It could be private homes, student accommodations, or tourist accommodations.

Eligibility:

The call for applications is open to all members of public health associations affiliated with the WFPHA who are in good standing. Applicants should hold a long-term mid-level position within their public health associations and play a central role in the public health associations secretariat. Proficiency in English is mandatory. Gender and geographic balance will be considered in the selection process.

Funding:

Travel, accommodation, visas, and main meals for selected fellows will be covered by WFPHA. The fellows’ public health associations are required to cover travel/health insurance costs and anything not specified. There are no per-diem allowances. Fellows are responsible for getting a visa if requested, as well as any authorization needed, which must be obtained no later than two months before the start of the fellowship. NOPHA can assist with an invitation letter.

Evaluation:

All parties involved will participate in the evaluation of the program. Fellows are expected to provide a report at the General Assembly after completing fellowship and provide an update on the impact of the program, i.e., the development and progress of fellows’ public health associations, 18 months after its conclusion.

Application Process:

Applicants should send their C.V., a motivation letter highlighting what they would like to learn during the scholarship period, and a letter of support from the national public health associations, signed by its president or general secretary. Applications should be sent to Maria.Mata@wfpha.org by December 15, 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview in January 2024.

Next Steps:

The selected fellows will be contacted in spring 2024. They will start their fellowship preparation through a series of online meetings with WFPHA and NOPHA from April 2024 on. They will take part in the development of the fellowship program and attend the NOPHA conference during their stay. During the fellowship program, the fellows shall actively participate in proposed activities, including, but not limited to, webinars, meetings with key organizations, stakeholders, the NOPHA board, etc. Join us in shaping the future of global public health. Let’s work together to promote equity, foster collaboration, and make a difference in public health communities worldwide.

For further inquiries, please contact Maria Mata.

Leaving No One Behind: Integrating Oral Health into Primary Healthcare for Refugee Populations

In a world that has been marred by conflict and turmoil, the devastating impact of wars and conflicts on daily life and health cannot be ignored. This year, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has taken a significant step towards addressing a critical yet often overlooked aspect of primary healthcare for refugee populations: oral health.

The WFPHA, in collaboration with several international organizations, including the World Dental Federation, Framework Convention on Global Health Alliance (FCGH Alliance), and Sustainable Health Equity Movement (SHEM), has spearheaded an initiative to emphasize the importance of oral health in the lives of refugees. Led by the dedicated efforts of the Oral Health Workgroup within the WFPHA, a policy brief has been developed. This policy brief calls for the integration of oral health into the primary health packages provided to refugee populations around the world.

The WFPHA, in collaboration with its Oral Health Workgroup and Public Health in Emergencies and Disasters Workgroup, is dedicated to identifying strategic partners and opportunities to integrate oral health into primary healthcare packages for refugees. The goal is to ensure that refugees receive comprehensive healthcare that addresses their oral health needs, contributing to their overall well-being and dignity.

Translating the Essential Public Health Functions into Public Health Curricula

On October 26, 2023, at 13:00 (CEST), the WFPHA held a webinar that provided an overview of the work the WFPHA’s Public Health Professionals’ Education and Training Working Group has been undertaking in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other key partners on the Public Health and Emergency Workforce Roadmap.

During this webinar, esteemed global speakers outlined how the WHO Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) have been unified and unpacked as part of the Roadmap project, how the revised EPHF have been used to inform a competency and outcomes framework towards the delivery of the EPHFs, and mechanisms intended to support incorporating the EPHF into curricula to train the future public health and emergency workforce.

This webinar is available to view by clicking on the link below.

Urgent Appeal for Humanitarian Action in Gaza – Join the Call for Peace

The most lethal attack ever registered against a hospital happened on Oct 17, 2023 in the Gaza Strip (or Gaza), with hundreds of people dead and injured. The World Health Organization issued a strong protest.

This week, The Lancet featured an open letter written by Luis Eugenio Portela Fernandes de Souza, President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. The letter is addressed to influential leaders, including the Presidents of the United Nations Security Council, United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, high-ranking political and health authorities of Israel and Palestine, and His Excellency Pope Francis.