GPHW2024: Training in mental health: facing the challenges of our societies in Colombia and Latin America

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

Date and Time: 12th April 2024 | 08:00-11:00 (GMT-5)

Event Description: Mental health is an integral component of general health that significantly impacts people’s quality of life and well-being. Both the rates of mental disorders and the years lost to disability (YLDs) they generate have been increasing exponentially in recent years. Historically, anxious and depressive symptomatology is the most prevalent in the world. The World Health Organization’s report on mental health in 2023 ratifies this behavior and identifies that the Americas region has the highest prevalence of anxiety problems and the second highest rate of depressive disorders of all World Health Organization regions. Additionally, between 2000 and 2019, it was the only region that increased its age-adjusted suicide rate by 17% (PAHO, 2023). Overall, mental disorders are the leading cause of APD, accounting for one in six cases worldwide. In Colombia, about 70% of cases are not diagnosed or treated promptly (MinSalud, 2015).

Objective of the event: To provide a space for reflection and dialogue between representatives of the global society, the governmental, academic, and community sectors on the needs and challenges of mental health training in Colombia and Latin America, to influence the formulation of public policies.

Panel: Guiding question: What are the needs for mental health training in the face of the challenges of our societies in Colombia and Latin America?

Pan American Health Organization: Luz María Salazar. National Mental Health Consultant, Health Systems and Services Area.
Ministry of Health and Social Protection: Bibian Yiseth Moreno. Integrated Management Group for Mental Health.

National School of Public Health: Dora María Hernández, Senior professor, National School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia

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For any requests, please contact Erica Montoya at erika.montoya@udea.edu.co

Event Type: Panel discussion & round table

Event Format: Hybrid

Language(s): Spanish

Organiser(s): Universidad de Antioquia

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom Link, Facebook Live, Youtube Live

How to Attend In Person: Calle 62 # 52-59, Medellín, Colombia, South America

Registration: Link

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: Fueling Change: Unveiling the Health Impacts of Fossil Fuels and the Imperative for a Just Transition

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11 April 2024 | 15:30-16:45 CET

Event Description: The Just Transition movement has gained significant traction in recent years as communities around the world recognize the need to address the social and environmental inequalities exacerbated by our current systems. As we strive to shift towards a sustainable future, we must prioritize the well-being of individuals, workers, and communities affected by this transition.

Event Type: Seminar / Webinar

Event Format: online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): World Federation of Public Health Associations, Health Care Without Harm

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

Registration: Link

GPHW2024: Opening Ceremony

Global public health leaders will officially open the third edition of Global Public Health Week (GPHW) on April 8, 2024, during a dedicated online event to be held at 13:00 CEST.

Agenda:

13:00 – 14:30 CEST (90 minutes)

Opening Ceremony

Opening Global Public Health Week: Luis Eugenio de Sousa, president of WFPHA (10 min)

Introducing the panel: Bettina Borisch, WFPHA Executive Director (5 min)

Opening keynote by Abdullah Al Harthy, Oman (15 min)

The ceremony will be followed by the one-hour panel discussion “Peace as a Prerequisite for Equitable Health”, organized by the World Federation of Public Health Associations,

Panel discussion with:

• Unni Karunakara, Global Health Justice Partnership, Yale Law School (10 min)
• Duha Shellah MD, Young WFPHA, Palestine (10 min)
• Fernando Sacoto, Executive Director, Alliance of the PH Associations of the Americas (AASPA), Ecuador(10 min)
• Molosiwa Selepeng, Botswana (10 min)

Discussion with the participants (20 min)

Panel chair: Bettina Borisch, WFPHA Executive Director

Join us to advance the importance of public health in everyone’s lives!

GPHW2024: Sustainability Sparks: Igniting Global Change from the Grassroots Up

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11th April 2024 | 10:00-12:00 (GMT+3)

Event Description: Our initiative seeks to spotlight grassroots projects that are revolutionizing sustainability within public health, catalyzing tangible change worldwide. By showcasing these projects through interactive showcases, inspiring talks, and collaborative workshops, we aim to empower participants to leverage grassroots action for sustainable, thriving communities. Through fostering connections and sharing best practices, we anticipate sparking a global movement for positive change.

Relevance: In an era marked by escalating environmental crises and widening health disparities, grassroots initiatives offer a beacon of hope. According to the United Nations, grassroots movements have historically played a pivotal role in driving social change, often achieving remarkable outcomes despite limited resources. For instance, a study published in Nature Sustainability found that community-based initiatives are key drivers of sustainability efforts, leading to significant reductions in carbon emissions and improvements in environmental quality. Moreover, the World Health Organization highlights the critical role of community engagement in addressing public health challenges, citing examples such as community health worker programs that have successfully improved health outcomes in underserved areas.

Our proposal aligns seamlessly with the theme of “Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities,” offering concrete strategies for building resilient, equitable societies. By spotlighting grassroots projects, we demonstrate their potential to drive transformative change at the local level and beyond. Furthermore, our initiative underscores the importance of community-led approaches in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Other Comments or Suggestions: We are confident that our proposal will deliver a compelling and impactful experience for participants, inspiring them to become agents of change in their own communities. By harnessing the power of grassroots action, we have the potential to create a more sustainable, equitable future for all. Thank you for considering our proposal.

Event Type: Panel discussion & round table

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Hararghe Health Research Partnership (HHR)

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom Link

Registration: N/A

GPHW2024: The role of AI and communities in national defense: Protecting lives, public health, and healthcare services against crippling attacks in the era of artificial intelligence

Theme: Promoting a Sustainable Life for Thriving Communities

Date and Time: 11th April 2024 | 10:00-11:00 (GMT-7)

Event Description: It is estimated that most major cities have enough energy and water reserves to meet the necessities of their inhabitants for up to a week following a major power outage, either due to a malicious act or a natural disaster. Although there is a surprising dearth of studies with reliable data, the outlook is similar for cities to withstand a complete failure of their digital infrastructure, and even worse to deal with a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack. The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is dramatically increasing the risk, efficacy, and magnitude of the catastrophic effects of these threats, all of which can devastate population health and cripple the healthcare system, resulting in hastened societal collapse. This reality demands a radical reimagining of national defense, one that places communities at the forefront of a resilient and adaptive strategy.

The panelists will focus on novel ways to harness the power of communities to secure population health and to ensure the uninterrupted operation and provision of essential healthcare services in the face of an AI-induced complete failure of the digital infrastructure, or a prolonged power outage, or a CBRN attack. They will also illustrate the critical role of analog technologies, social networks, community engagement, and computational management in the creation of a national defense system to protect lives, ensure the continuity of healthcare services, and protect the population and public health in an increasingly uncertain global security environment.

Moderator: Alex Jadad, Member, Public Health Leadership Coalition, WFPHA

Panelists: Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, Howard Hu and Thomas Valente, Professors, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck Medical School, University of Southern California (USC)

Tamen Jadad Garcia, Partner, Vivenxia Healthcare Consulting, Los Angeles, USA 

Event Type: Panel discussion & round table

Event Format: Online

Language(s): English

Organiser(s): Keck School of Medicine of USC

How to Attend Virtually: Zoom Link

Registration: N/A