Health: A Political Choice – Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Global Health

The Global Governance Project, in collaboration with WHO, WFPHA, and the World Health Summit, presents the publication ‘Health: A Political Choice – Advancing Indigenous peoples’ rights and well-being‘.

Co-edited by Co-Council Chair Ilona Kickbusch, this special edition features insights from global health leaders like Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WFPHA President-Elect Emma Rawson-Te Patu on amplifying Indigenous voices in global health. Download your copy now to delve into this crucial topic. Plus, stay tuned for the print edition launch at the WHS Regional Meeting in Australia from April 22-24, 2024.

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: Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony of Global Public Health Week 2024 (GPHW) focuses on “Strengthening Preparedness for the Next Pandemic: Are We Ready?” On April 12, starting at 9 AM CET, this 1h30 session will bring together global health leaders for a series of talks and discussions.

Emma Rawson, Vice-President of WFPHA, will offer opening and closing remarks, framing the conversation. Prof Bettina Borisch will highlight the way to the negotiations for a pandemic treaty, followed by the keynote of Dr. Jaouad Mahjour on “the INB process for a pandemic treaty and the IHR amendments of 2024. A panel discussion featuring Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Prof. Wu Fan, and Dr. Jaouad Mahjour will explore the best approaches to strengthen preparedness for the next pandemic in their respective country and region.

Speakers:

Prof. Bettina Borisch, WFPHA Executive Director

Dr. Jaouad Mahjour, Head of WHO Secretariat to INB and IHR Amendments

Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting deputy director-general of the Africa CDC

Prof. Wu Fan, the president of Shanghai Preventive Medicine Association and Deputy Dean of the Shanghai Medical College of the Fudan University

Chair:

Emma Rawson, WFPHA President-Elect

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

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: Overcoming Intellectual Property Barriers to Equitable Medicines Access for Pandemics

Theme: Enhancing and Democratizing Governance in Global Health

Date and Time: 9 April 2024 | 19:00-20:00 AEST

Event Description: The World Health Organization said that the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic represented a “catastrophic failure of the international community in showing solidarity and equity.” Why did we see such a failure in global cooperation, and what needs to be done to prevent the same mistakes from happening again?

COVID-19 has demonstrated the limitations of the global governance system and the intellectual property regime that shaped the global response to the pandemic. Pharmaceutical companies, supported by high-income countries seeking to be first in the vaccine queue, fought to protect intellectual property rules. This prevented greater production of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests, leading to millions of preventable deaths, particularly in the Global South.

Now, negotiations for a Pandemic Agreement and an extension of a temporary waiver of intellectual property rules are underway. But progress has been slow and there has been growing uncertainty about whether countries will reach a consensus.

Join us for a discussion with Yuan Qiong Hu (Senior Legal & Policy Advisor at Médecins Sans Frontières and intellectual property) co-hosted by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Trade Network (AFTINET). The discussion will be led by Associate Professor Deborah Gleeson (Department of Public Health, La Trobe University) with concluding remarks from Dr Patricia Ranald (AFTINET Convenor and Honorary Research Associate at the University of Sydney).

Event Type: Seminar / Webinar

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA)

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom link (will be sent after registration)

Registration: Link