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

GPHW2024: Health Challenges in Rural Angola: A Closer Look

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11th April 2024 |16:00-17:00 (CET)

Event Description: This webinar delves into the multifaceted public health challenges faced by rural communities in Angola in the aftermath of historical conflict. This webinar will explore the nexus between the legacy of war, prevalent diseases such as tuberculosis, the critical importance of vaccination, the emerging impact of climate change, and the persistent issue of malnutrition.

Speakers:

Joan Martínez-Campreciós. Médico especialista en Medicina Interna. Departamento de Infecciosas, Unidad de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional Vall Hebron-Drassanes, Barcelona, España.

Antonio Bento: Médico especialista en Medicina General. Clínica do Porto do Lobito, Benguela, Angola. Ex Director Provincial de Saúde de Benguela, Angola.

Cristina Lombeia. Médica especialista en Medicina General, Clínica de Especialidades Dra Cristina, Luanda, Angola.

Arlete Eugênio. Técnica superior de laboratorio. Responsable de laboratorio, Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Benguela, Angola.

Milagros Moreno Nicasio. Médica General. Residencia DomusVi La Salut, Barcelona, España. Ex Directora del Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Benguela, Angola.

Raquel Iglesias Sigüenza. Médica especialista en Medicina de Familia. World Federation of Public Health Associations, Ginebra, Suiza (organizadora del evento)

Event Type: Seminar / Webinar

Event Format: online

Language(s): English, Portuguese

Organiser(s): Dra Raquel Iglesias Sigüenza

How to Attend Virtually: Youtube

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Video presentation of the doctoral thesis titled “An Analysis of a Public Health Campaign in Switzerland”

Theme: Fostering the Development of the Right Competencies within Tomorrow’s Health Workforce

Date and Time: 12th April 2024 | 08:30-08:37 (CET)

Event Description: In the context of the theme “Fostering the Development of the Right Competencies within Tomorrow’s Health Workforce” we propose to pre-record a video presentation of doctoral research from Plymouth University (UK) regarding success factors for media public health campaigns using the case study of Swiss LOVE LIFE media campaign. 

Event Type: Pre-recorded video of Doctoral Thesis Presentation

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Saskia Faulk

How to Attend Virtually: Contact Saskia Faulk

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: African RAfrican Regional Aggregation Event at Global Public Health Week Regional Aggregation

Theme: Enhancing and Democratizing Governance in Global Health

Date and Time: 9th April 2024 | 11:30-13:00 (GMT)

Event Description: A Panel Discussion with an interlude of Networking session during break-out sessions. The first two speakers will each be given a maximum of 10 minutes to share their opinion about the theme. The participants will then be given 20 minutes for networking and share their views on what the first two speakers have highlighted.

The last two speakers would then be also given 10 minutes each to share their views about the theme. This will be followed by a question and answer session that will last for at most 20 minutes

Event Type: Seminar / Webinar

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): 

How to Attend Virtually: Contact nuhafofana8@gmail.com

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Fomentar la paz como requisito previo para una salud equitativa en Colombia / Fostering Peace as a prerequisite for Equitable Health in Colombia

Tema: Fomentar la paz como requisito previo para una salud equitativa

Fecha y Hora: 8-12th April 2024 | 08:00-19:30 (GMT-5)

Descripción del Evento: La Asociación Colombiana de Salud Pública – ACSP, es una ONG, que propicia el debate público, el intercambio de experiencias, moviliza e incide de forma efectiva en los grandes temas de la salud pública nacional y su relación con los diálogos regionales y mundiales, para contribuir al mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida y bienestar de colombianos, latinoamericanos y habitantes del mundo.

En el marco de la tercera edición de la Semana Mundial de la Salud Pública ( GPHW), que se llevará a cabo del 8 al 12 de abril de 2024 con el tema “Fomentar la paz como requisito previo para una salud equitativa” y que surge como una gran iniciativa de la Federación Mundial de Asociaciones de Salud Pública (WFPHA) de reunir a instituciones, comunidades y actores de la salud pública de todo el mundo para reconocer las contribuciones de la salud pública y su fuerza laboral; la Asociación Colombiana de Salud Pública – ACSP se adhiere a esta iniciativa y confirma su participación a través de la realización de cinco (5) Seminarios-Webinar en modalidad virtual sobre las temáticas planteadas en la estrategia, con la participación de expertos en varios campos de la salud pública, representantes de los Entes Gubernamentales desde la multidisciplinariedad e intersectorialidad y liderados por la junta directiva de la ACSP; además de campañas de divulgación y socialización en redes sociales sobre dichas temáticas y otros eventos como talleres y actividades en redes sociales en formatos hibrido, con el liderazgo y participación de asociados, académicos, estudiantes, comunidades y demás actores a lo largo del territorio nacional.

Agenda:

• Lunes 8 abril 11:00 am: Repensar los paradigmas de Salud Pública
• Martes 9 de abril 6:00 pm: Incluir el bienestar mental en la agenda de salud
• Jueves 11 de abril: 5:00 pm: Promoción de una vida sostenible para comunidades prósperas
• Viernes 12 de abril 10:00 am: Fomentar el desarrollo de las competencias adecuadas dentro del personal sanitario del mañana
• Viernes 12 de abril 5:00 pm: Mejora y democratización de la gobernanza en la salud mundial

Contactar a secgeneral@saludpublicacolombia.org

Tipo de Evento: Seminar / Webinar

Formato del Evento: En Línea

Idioma(s): Español

Organizador: Asociación Colombiana de Salud Pública

Como participar en Línea: Youtube Live, Facebook Live

Registro: onsite