Urgent Global Health Appeal to COP28: Accelerate Fossil Fuel Phase-Out for Public Well-being

On the occasion of the first ever health day at COP, an open letter from health professionals around the world urges the COP28 presidency and world leadership for a commitment to an expedited phase-out of fossil fuels and an investment in a renewable energy transition to ensure the health of all.

#FossilFree4Health #COP28HealthLetter

The letter, supported by organizations representing 46.3 million health professionals, emphasizes the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels, invest in clean energy technology, and reduce air pollution to protect public health.

The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue; it’s a public health crisis that threatens the fundamentals of human life. The World Health Organization recognizes climate change as the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century, emphasizing the inseparable connection between a safe and stable climate and achieving health and well-being for all. Communities, health workers, and health systems worldwide are already experiencing the severe impacts of climate change, with extreme weather events, food and water insecurity, and displacement becoming more frequent and devastating.

One of the major drivers of climate change and air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuel combustion, particularly diesel and coal, is responsible for millions of deaths annually due to air pollution. Despite its well-documented consequences, 99% of the world’s population lives in areas where air quality breaches the World Health Organization’s guidelines, and air pollution’s economic costs are staggering, totaling over $8.1 trillion in 2019.

Beyond air pollution, toxic discharges from downstream fossil fuel industries like petrochemicals, plastics, and pesticides also pose severe health and environmental risks. Communities near these facilities suffer from adverse health impacts, including cancer, endocrine disorders, and birth defects. 

The key highlights of the letter include the call to end our dependence on fossil fuels to safeguard future generations and save lives, the importance of a rapid transition to clean energy for clean air, water, and a healthy environment, and the rejection of unreliable solutions like Carbon Capture and Storage in favor of renewable energy. It also underscores the need for a just energy transition that prioritizes health and community well-being, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and preventing the fossil fuel industry from influencing climate negotiations. It categorically states that without ambitious climate action, healthcare systems and workers will bear insurmountable burdens, undermining prospects for a safe, fair, and just future in the face of climate change.

Physicians under bombardment: In solidarity with frontline health heroes and heroines  

By: Dr. Duha Shellah, Medical & Health Sciences Division, Palestine Academy for Science & Technology

As a physician, Palestinian and voice of physicians in Palestine and the eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). I am sending out this call for solidarity, to raise the voices of the health workforce in Gaza. The Health Workforce is under an unimaginable workload because of the dire situation wrought by the war in the Gaza Strip. The war has entered its fourth week of continuous horrific attacks which led to extensive destruction of all forms of life in Gaza, civil and health infrastructure were widely destroyed which is alarming for a collapse of the health system in Gaza. The number of casualties received in hospitals is huge. Some of my colleagues have not gotten any rest been home or even seen their families since the beginning of the war. Moreover, some were surprised to see their family members among the casualties and martyrs.  With the tragic loss of 73 health personnel who have been killed, 11 were killed on duty, and more than 100 have been injured, and 26 ambulances are out of service, the health system is taking its last breath, and the result will be havoc. 

Contacting friend physicians,  nurses, midwives, and social workers is different now. It takes days for them to respond. where in two or three minutes of rest, they text us “We are fine”. Most International humanitarian agencies announced the difficulty in contacting their staff on the ground in Gaza. With no electricity or fuel stocks, the situation is devastating. The lack of beds in wards and emergency rooms with a shortage of medical supplies is indeed overwhelming, to the system and staff.  No form of health services is available except life-saving services.

With the collapse of 25 hospitals and most of the primary healthcare facilities in Gaza, the health situation is catastrophic. The vulnerable groups are with no access to essential health services. The shutdown of backup generators in hospitals would place the lives of thousands of patients at risk.  civilians in Gaza are at risk of infectious diseases due to lack of personal hygiene and clean water, besides, overcrowding in shelters. Many children have stopped regular immunization, and their right to grow in a safe and clean environment and to develop physically and mentally has been retracted from them. 

The 16-year blockade on Gaza has fragilized the health system, with physician and specialty shortages and a lack of medical equipment and medications. Those years of socioeconomic decline political instability and conflict have weakened the public health infrastructure, leaving the strip with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. The ongoing war on Gaza has amplified what the Palestinians and the health system have been facing. The deprivation of clean water, food, fuel, and electricity is causing a humanitarian catastrophe. Keep in mind the environmental hazards of the continuous heavy bombardment and extensive destruction of the sewage system. 

I call for solidarity with physicians, public health specialists, health workers, and humanitarian workers, all those working on the frontlines trying to save lives, and most importantly save the Palestinian identity in the Gaza Strip. International Humanitarian law must be abided, indiscriminate violence and collective punishment should end and an immediate ceasefire is a must. All lives matter, all lives.  Physicians and health workers have to stand for each other in times of war and conflict, it is a moral duty to stand out for those on the frontlines of danger, who are working under bombardment, and who have been oppressed for years. 

Urgent Appeal for Humanitarian Action in Gaza – Join the Call for Peace

The most lethal attack ever registered against a hospital happened on Oct 17, 2023 in the Gaza Strip (or Gaza), with hundreds of people dead and injured. The World Health Organization issued a strong protest.

This week, The Lancet featured an open letter written by Luis Eugenio Portela Fernandes de Souza, President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. The letter is addressed to influential leaders, including the Presidents of the United Nations Security Council, United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, high-ranking political and health authorities of Israel and Palestine, and His Excellency Pope Francis.

Call for Fellows: WFPHA Fellowship Program 2024

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) is pleased to announce the WFPHA Fellowship Program 2024, hosted by the Norwegian Public Health Association (NOPHA). This fellowship program aims to strengthen less developed public health associations and foster global partnerships by facilitating the exchange of expertise and knowledge among public health professionals from various countries. This unique opportunity is designed for talented, highly motivated mid-level professionals dedicated to a career in public health and seeking opportunities that can significantly contribute to their personal and professional growth. For 2024, two candidates will be selected to participate.

Objectives:

1. Connecting emerging public health associations with an established and proven public health association to promote public health growth and understanding.
2. Facilitating and improving communication and strengthening networks among the professionals of public health associations around the world.
3. Developing partnerships and practices that will positively affect and improve public health.
4. Documenting success or challenges that could serve as a learning tool for all public health associations.
5. Aligning equity in public health globally.
6. Presenting and publishing findings and outcomes at the end of the project.

Duration:

The fellowship program will run from October 10 to November 10, 2024, and will take place in Norway, mainly in Oslo. During the fellowship period, the accommodation will be organized by the Norwegian Public Health Association. It could be private homes, student accommodations, or tourist accommodations.

Eligibility:

The call for applications is open to all members of public health associations affiliated with the WFPHA who are in good standing. Applicants should hold a long-term mid-level position within their public health associations and play a central role in the public health associations secretariat. Proficiency in English is mandatory. Gender and geographic balance will be considered in the selection process.

Funding:

Travel, accommodation, visas, and main meals for selected fellows will be covered by WFPHA. The fellows’ public health associations are required to cover travel/health insurance costs and anything not specified. There are no per-diem allowances. Fellows are responsible for getting a visa if requested, as well as any authorization needed, which must be obtained no later than two months before the start of the fellowship. NOPHA can assist with an invitation letter.

Evaluation:

All parties involved will participate in the evaluation of the program. Fellows are expected to provide a report at the General Assembly after completing fellowship and provide an update on the impact of the program, i.e., the development and progress of fellows’ public health associations, 18 months after its conclusion.

Application Process:

Applicants should send their C.V., a motivation letter highlighting what they would like to learn during the scholarship period, and a letter of support from the national public health associations, signed by its president or general secretary. Applications should be sent to Maria.Mata@wfpha.org by December 15, 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview in January 2024.

Next Steps:

The selected fellows will be contacted in spring 2024. They will start their fellowship preparation through a series of online meetings with WFPHA and NOPHA from April 2024 on. They will take part in the development of the fellowship program and attend the NOPHA conference during their stay. During the fellowship program, the fellows shall actively participate in proposed activities, including, but not limited to, webinars, meetings with key organizations, stakeholders, the NOPHA board, etc. Join us in shaping the future of global public health. Let’s work together to promote equity, foster collaboration, and make a difference in public health communities worldwide.

For further inquiries, please contact Maria Mata.

Plea for Peace: A Call to Protect Innocent Lives

The ongoing war between Hamas and the State of Israel has taken a devastating toll on the lives of innocent civilians in the region. The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has taken a bold and responsible step by sending a letter to key global leaders and authorities, including the President of the Security Council, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Authorities of Israel and Palestine, Pope Francis, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, to plead for the health and lives of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians, elderly persons, women, men, children, and babies caught up in the fight between Hamas and the State of Israel.

The WFPHA urges the key global leaders and authorities to use all their power, influence, and voice to stop this insane manifestation of pure evil. “We all know that the eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth paradigm will only lead to further loss and suffering. This has to stop. Use your power for this to happen.”

The WFPHA invites member associations, institutions, communities, and individuals to join this call by signing the letter. Together, we stand for peace!

WFPHA Condemns Attacks on Civilian Populations Everywhere

Following the strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel perpetrated by Hamas, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) also strongly condemns the Israeli forces’ attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip.

As alerted by the United Nations Secretary-General (UN-SG), António Guterres, while Israel’s security concerns are legitimate, military operations must be carried out strictly with international humanitarian law, and “civilians must be respected and protected at all times, and civilian infrastructure must never be a target”. Similarly, the European Union Foreign Policy Chief (EUFP-Chief), Josep Borrell, said clearly: “A collective punishment against all Palestinians will be unfair and unproductive. It will be (…) against the interest of peace. Not all the Palestinian people are terrorists.”

As a global public health organization, the WFPHA stresses that besides deaths and immediate threats to life, war and recurrent violence profoundly impact the mental health of people living in regions of armed conflict. Moreover, in conflict-affected areas, access to health services is limited due to the destruction of infrastructure and lack of resources.

Civilians in the Gaza Strip must have access to humanitarian aid, food, clean water, and healthcare services. The immediate release of hostages and the safe removal of children, women, and older people must be carried out urgently.

The WFPHA joins the UN-SG and the EUFP-Chief’s calls for respect for the lives of civilians in the Gaza Strip, remembering that Palestinians and non-Palestinians, including UN staff have been victims in this war.