GPHW2024: Discussing the mission, functions and benefits of The Public Health Association of Trinidad and Tobago

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

Date and Time: 12th April 2024 | 10:30-11:30 am GMT-4

Event Description: This interview aims to raise awareness about the Public Health Association of Trinidad and Tobago which has been dormant for several years. There is a plan to revive it soon and the purpose of this interview with a past member is to inform prospective members about the mission and objectives of the Association how they may be achieved what role members may play to help achieve the goals and what benefits they may derive from membership.

Event Type: Mass Media Interview

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Public Health Association of Trinidad and Tobago

How to Attend Virtually: Contact Dr Shalini Pooransingh at spooransingh@yahoo.com

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Community Engagement as a Toolkit to Equitable Health and a means of fostering peace in South Africa

Theme: Global Public Health Week

Date and Time: 8 -12th April 2024 | everyday-10:00-12:00 pm GMT+2

Event Description: In alignment with The Global Public Health Week, the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) initiated virtual dialogues to discuss community-led health promotion, aligned with national strategies. From April 8-12, sessions on public health paradigms, global health governance, mental wellbeing, sustainable living, and developing healthcare competencies will be held. These dialogues will feature keynotes, panel discussions with stakeholders across sectors, aiming to inform and enhance South African public health policies. The sessions will run daily from 10:00 to 12:00 (GMT + 2).

Monday 8 April: Rethinking Public Health Paradigms in South Africa

Community participation, behaviour analysis, and ecology, crucial for past public health challenges, emphasized interdisciplinary approaches and direct engagement with populations. This prompts the question: which paradigms will effectively tackle future health issues both nationally and globally?

Session link

Tuesday 9, April:Enhancing and Democratizing Governance in Global Health from the South African Perspective

Addressing health inequities globally and within nations surpasses health sector capabilities and national actions, necessitating political solutions on a global scale. Transnational norms and policies act as political determinants maintaining these disparities. How do we enhance and democratize governance in South Africa to reduce inequalities and foster peace?

Session link

Wednesday, 10 April: Putting Mental Wellbeing on the Health Agenda in South Africa

With mental disorders among the top global disease burdens—970 million affected in 2019, mainly by anxiety and depression—impacting all life aspects and leading to challenges in education and employment, it’s crucial for governments and the global health community to implement effective prevention and treatment. Where are we as a country in this endeavour?

Session link

Thursday, 11th April: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities in South Africa

Sustainable development, harmonizing economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, ensures future generations aren’t compromised. It relies on communities, where collaboration on resources, knowledge, and innovation addresses challenges for a sustainable future. The question remains, “How do we foster these community collaborations to promote sustainable life for thriving communities?”

Session link

Friday, 12 April: Fostering the Development of the Right Competencies within Tomorrow’s Health Workforce in South Africa

Health professions education develops essential competencies in healthcare professionals, including patient-centred care, interdisciplinary teamwork, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics use. These areas aim to enhance patient care, integrate research, improve safety and quality, and leverage technology in healthcare. The critical questions are: Where do our healthcare training programs stand in nurturing these competencies? Which competencies are pivotal for our health system? How can we cultivate these skills in our future health workforce?

Session link

Event Type: Social Media Campaign

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA)

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom links are available above

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Pursuing Public Health in the Preindustrial World

Theme: Rethinking Public Health Paradigms

Date and Time: 8 April 2024 | all-day GMT+10

Event Description: Pursuing Public Health in the Preindustrial World, 1100-1800, explores public health strategies of mobile, non-urban communities in Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and South Asia. It draws from the understanding of Galenic health paradigms and their transmission across regions; and that preindustrial communities recognized, and reacted, to health threats in innovative and population-oriented ways. Our social media campaign highlights the work and profiles of our team members, their papers, and their talks, which span the public health practices of miners, pilgrims, and courts.

For any requests, please contact sarahmay.comley@monash.edu

Event Type: Social Media Campaign

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Monash University

How to Attend Virtually: Website|Twitter|

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Addressing Malaria: Present Challenges and Future Strategies

Theme:Putting Mental Wellbeing on the Health Agenda

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

Event Description: In this insightful discussion, former WFPHA President Prof Michael Moore engages in a dialogue with Prof Bruce Anderson, a key international figure in Rotarians Against Malaria, to explore the pressing issues surrounding malaria.

Highlighting WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s alarming statistics on malaria-related deaths, the conversation emphasizes the urgent need for action. Specifically, it focuses on the development, distribution, and efficacy of malaria vaccines, alongside current effective interventions. Drawing on his role as a Past District Governor of Rotary and as an International Board Member of Rotarians Against Malaria, Prof. Anderson provides valuable insights into global efforts to mitigate malaria’s impact. As Chair of the WFPHA International Taskforce on Immunization Policy, Prof. Moore offers perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented by malaria vaccines in the coming years.

Event Type: Seminar /Webinar

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)

How to Attend Virtually: Youtube

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: Interview with Dr. Andrea Parisi about how epidemiologists and public health physicians work during cholera outbreaks in Africa

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11th April 2024 | 17:00-17:45 (CEST)

Event Description: This is an interview with Dr Andrea Parisi who is a public health physician and an epidemiologist, with a PhD from the Australian National University. She has been working in the Asia Pacific, but more recently in Africa, where she’s dealt with cholera outbreaks on behalf of Medecins sans Frontieres, and also on behalf of the World Health Organization. In this interview with Andrea Parisi we get some really interesting insights into how epidemiologists and public health physicians operate under those circumstances, and the sort of thinking that goes into dealing with things like the cholera outbreak.

Event Type: Online Interview

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)

How to Attend Virtually: Youtube

Registration: N/A

WFPHA’s Key Role in Shaping Vaccination Policy for Long-term Care: Insights from the IFA Meeting

On March 25, the World Federation of Public Health Associations actively participated in the “Mobilizing Vaccination Policy in Long-term Care Settings” meeting. This pivotal event, organized by the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), featured WFPHA’s Executive Manager, Dr. Marta Lomazzi, as its representative. The meeting was a gathering of thought leaders in public health, alongside experts in immunization, long-term care, and health policy, where the IFA’s study, “Improving Adult Vaccination Policy in Long-Term Care Settings,” was presented and thoroughly explored.

The discussions aimed to influence the World Health Organization’s technical guidelines by fostering communication between the vaccine, ageing, and health technical units. This effort aligns with the broader objectives of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and the Immunization Agenda 2030. Key goals included driving policy reform through partnerships with long-term care provider associations at the national level, influencing national ageing policy agendas by collaborating with organizations advocating for the rights of older people in long-term care, elevating the political importance of immunization within these settings to guarantee its inclusion and integration in national immunization plans and aged care strategies, and ultimately enhancing adult vaccination uptake rates in long-term care environments.

The WFPHA’s engagement in these significant discussions and initiatives underscores its deep-rooted commitment to public health. By prioritizing immunization as a strategy to prevent disease and safeguard community health, the WFPHA continues to make meaningful contributions to global health endeavors. It aspires to a future where communities, irrespective of age, enjoy comprehensive access to the protective benefits of immunization. This ongoing work highlights the WFPHA’s dedication to addressing contemporary public health challenges and its role in shaping policies that foster healthier, more resilient communities worldwide.