Israel Decides to Revoke the Sweetened Beverage Tax: A Grievous Blow to Public Health

In a letter published in the Lancet, members of the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion and Policy Working Groups and other leading scholars of nutrition policy, health sciences, and economics convey extreme concern over the Israeli Finance Minister’s decision to revoke the sweetened beverage tax.

According to this letter, the decision will undoubtedly harm lives and increase the direct and indirect economic costs to Israel’s health system and economy. This letter calls on the Government of Israel to reconsider and retract this decision and let the revenue from the soda tax be used to improve the health and welfare of all Israeli citizens.

Public Mental Health – An Opportunity for Collaboration between WFPHA & WPA

The scission between mental and physical health is an artificial one. In a lot of places worldwide, both sides of health are separated. Mental health is also an issue for public health worldwide.

On February 15, 2023, at 12:00 (CET), the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) will start a discussion about the possible interactions and support that both public health and mental health can create to further global health.

Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. Save your spot by clicking on the link below.

#WorldinTurmoil: Global Health Leaders Urged to Learn from Recent History in Afghanistan and to Work for Peace, for Health

Conflicts are ravaging the world and not enough is being done.

Dr Wahid Majrooh, Former Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan, shares his firsthand experience on how the conflict in Afghanistan has affected the health system.

Through his article, Dr Majrooh shares his hope that what happened in Afghanistan will serve both as a warning and a calling to the global community to put an end to conflict and to work towards building peace and health for all.

By clicking on the link below, you can read the article on the Croakey Health Media website.

This article is published as part of the #WorldinTurmoil series.

Protecting Health Workforce: Recommendations to Develop & Implement Dedicated Vaccination Programs in LIC & LMIC

Protecting health workers through appropriate vaccination is critical to protect them and our communities, and also, to avoid overburdening the health system.

Vaccine delivery relies on existing immunization infrastructure. However, worldwide nearly 40% of countries lack adult immunization infrastructure, and nearly 60% of the world’s population lives in countries without routine adult immunization programs. This is also true for health workers.

COVID-19 vaccines are administered in many Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LICs and LMICs) that lack infrastructure for routine adult immunization. This also means lack of mobilization and awareness, poor capacity for vaccine storage, handling, delivery and waste management for this category. To administer COVID-19 vaccines to adult populations, the necessary infrastructure and related activities are being developed. We should take advantage of this momentum to support sustainable development of infrastructure and measures to ensure vaccination across the lifespan, going beyond the COVID-19 vaccine, starting with the healthcare workforce.

On February 28, 2023, at 09:30 (CET), key recommendations on how to develop, implement, and strengthen the vaccination program for health workers in LICs and LMICs will be presented and discussed by experts from different countries.

Participation is free, but registration is mandatory. Save your spot by clicking on the link below.