Integrating Oral Health in School Systems: A Path to Better Well-being

The World Federation of Public Health Associations Oral Health Workgroup published recently the article Oral Health for all Schools: A Call to Integrate Oral Health in School Systems

As we strive for global health equity, addressing oral health disparities among school-aged children is paramount. With over 3.5 billion people affected by oral diseases worldwide, including half a billion children with untreated dental caries, the need for action is clear. Recognizing the significant impact of oral health on children’s overall well-being and academic performance, it’s imperative to integrate comprehensive oral health education and preventive measures into school systems.

By embedding oral health education into school curriculums and promoting healthy habits from a young age, we can instill lifelong behaviors that promote overall wellness. Initiatives such as daily supervised toothbrushing programs in schools and establishing sugar-free environments can help reduce the prevalence of dental caries and empower children to take charge of their oral health.

Moreover, schools serve as strategic platforms for reaching large populations, making them ideal settings for promoting health education and preventive services. Through partnerships with organizations like the Seoul National University Global Maternal and Child Oral Health Center, we can collaborate to develop evidence-based oral health programs tailored to the needs of students worldwide.

By prioritizing oral health in schools, we not only improve children’s immediate health outcomes but also lay the foundation for healthier generations to come. Let’s work together to ensure that every child has access to the knowledge and resources they need to maintain a healthy smile and thrive academically.

GPHW2024:Lecture on Translating the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) into Public Health Curricula

Theme: Putting Mental Wellbeing on the Health Agenda

Date and Time: 10th April 2024 |09:00-09:25 (CET)

Event Description: This lecture is presented by Siobhan Fitzpatrick, World Health Organization technical officer.  Siobhan Fitzpatrick discusses how we can strengthen the education of the workforce to enable them to deliver on these EPHFs. The WHO and partners have developed a competency framework defining the practice activities for the public health and emergency workforce to deliver the 12 EPHFs. She specifies that the workforce encompasses those with roles entirely around public health, those that contribute towards surveillance and management, and a final group of personnel from allied occupations. The approach used, competency-based education, emphasises outcomes-oriented learning, progressive sequencing, tailored teaching and assessment, and programmatic assessment.

Listen the full webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFJI5PJ-GvM

Event Type: Online Interview

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): World Federation of Public Health Associations

How to Attend Virtually: Youtube

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Lecture on Allocating Sustainable Funding for Resilient Health Systems

Theme:Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11th April 2024 |10:00-10:25 (CET)

Event Description: This lecture is presented by Prof Vivian Lin, Executive Associate Dean and Professor of Public Health Practice at LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.
She discusses the critical importance of sustainable funding for our health systems, evaluating why prevention is better and how it should be funded.

Listen the full webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkDCf9s6ZRI

This webinar is part of the International Immunization Policy Task Force activities lead by the WFPHA.

Please follow the link for information on the Task Force: https://www.wfpha.org/immunization-taskforce/

Event Type: Online Interview

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): World Federation of Public Health Associations

How to Attend Virtually: Youtube

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Foreign Affairs and Health Governance: The Rising of Health Diplomacy

Theme: Enhancing and Democratizing Governance in Global Health

Date and Time: 9th April 2024 |15:00-17:00 (CET)

Event Description: This event aims to explore the intersection of foreign affairs and health governance, focusing on the growing importance of health diplomacy. It will delve into the intricate dynamics between foreign affairs and health governance and the emergent significance of health diplomacy as a catalyst for health resolutions and policy implementation. Rather than merely seeking to enhance existing frameworks, it aims to critically evaluate current affairs and explore avenues for improvement and innovation.

Event Type: Article

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Health Diplomacy Alliance

How to Attend Virtually: Online

Registration: N/A

Promoting Peace and Preparedness: Looking Ahead to the 3rd Global Public Health Week

Promoting Peace and Preparedness: Looking Ahead to the 3rd Global Public Health Week

The Global Public Health Week (GPHW), orchestrated by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), signifies a pivotal moment for the global public health community. Emerging from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of public health has never been more apparent. This year, under the theme ‘Fostering Peace as a Prerequisite for Equitable Health,’ GPHW not only celebrates the resilient spirit of the public health workforce but also casts a spotlight on the critical intersections of peace, health equity, and pandemic preparedness.

Background: Public health has long served as our collective safeguard, quietly averting crises and nurturing the well-being of communities worldwide. However, the recent pandemic has thrust this area into the spotlight, underlining the essential role of public health in our lives. Yet, as the immediate threat of COVID-19 recedes, we face the danger of complacency. The journey ahead requires us to capitalize on the current momentum to strengthen our preparedness against future health emergencies. Visibility, understanding, and global collaboration in public health are essential to prepare us for the challenges ahead.

GPHW 2024: The third iteration of GPHW, scheduled to commence on April 8, 2024, embodies a commitment to these principles. Combining face-to-face and digital forums, the week offers a range of opportunities to share ideas, strategies, and innovations. Each day is dedicated to a specific sub-theme, ranging from reimagining public health paradigms to integrating mental well-being into health agendas, from promoting sustainable living to preparing the next generation of health professionals. This diverse agenda reflects a holistic approach to health and well-being, emphasizing the interconnectedness of our global community.

Highlight Events: The opening and closing ceremonies of GPHW 2024 encapsulate the week’s core messages. The opening ceremony, led by Luis Eugenio De Souza, WFPHA President, and Bettina Borisch, WFPHA Executive Director, will delve into the crucial role of peace in achieving health equity. Featuring eminent speakers from diverse health sector backgrounds, the panel discussion is uniquely positioned to provide in-depth information on how public health can play a central role in promoting peace.

The closing ceremony, themed ‘Strengthening Preparedness for the Next Pandemic: Are We Ready?,’ brings into focus the urgent need for robust pandemic preparedness. The session, chaired by Emma Rawson, WFPHA president-elect, features a keynote on the negotiations for a pandemic treaty by Jaouad Mahjour, Head of WHO Secretariat to INB and IHR Amendments. A panel discussion will follow the keynote address, setting out a strategic vision focused on building resilience and preparing global health for the future.

Conclusion: As we look toward GPHW 2024, the call to action is clear – ‘We must foster peace, enhance global health governance, prioritize mental well-being, advocate for sustainable communities, and nurture competent health professionals’. Only through a united front can we face the uncertainties of the future with confidence. Let us remain committed to the vision of a healthier, more equitable world, fortified against the threats of tomorrow. Join us as we embark on this transformative journey towards a brighter future.

Stay tuned for more updates on GPHW 2024!

GPHW2024: PHASA Climate, Energy and Health SIG : Centering health in the Just Transition, is the health sector on board?

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11 April 2024 | 15:00-16:30 GMT+2

Event Description: The session will characterize the Just Transition and Health in South Africa. South Africa’s history of dependence on coal-fired power has had severe impacts on climate, environmental health, and public health, demands for a planned just transition to clean renewable energy have been made locally and globally. The session will engage the health sector to advocate for healthy energy policy, prevent climate and air pollution-related diseases. In keeping with the principle of restorative justice the session will highlight the need for greater climate ambition and required health system changes for a Just Transition

1. The state of the Just Transition and Health in South Africa. (Mr. James Irlam)
2. Voices from the Mpumalanga Highveld with respect to their health, their livelihoods, and their homes. (Ms. Promise Mabilo)
3. The steps towards developing a community health plan for Mpumalanga using the Just Transition Lens (Dr. Sean Patrick)
4. Lessons from Health Care Without Harm and India on the Just Transition (Ms. Shweta Narayan)

The Panel will discuss the Just Transition in South Africa and advocate for a health plan for communities impacted by air pollution and climate change in the Mpumalanga area and many parts of the country.

Objectives:

1. To explore strategies of how the health sector can advocate for healthy energy policy, prevention of climate and air pollution-related diseases
2. To determine progress on local implementation of the Just Transition framework after community consultations
3. To describe how the just energy transition to renewable energy will benefit public health in South Africa and mitigate climate change
4. To explore Feasibility studies on how the Life After Coal Open Agenda translates into localized Just Transition centers in the Komati area

Event Type: Seminar / Webinar

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Sean Patrick

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom link

Registration: N/A