Our 2024-2025 Annual Report is now available for viewing. This report showcases WFPHA’s key initiatives and activities aimed at protecting people, preventing diseases, and promoting global health and well-being.
Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, is a growing public health crisis. With the rise of e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and flavored products targeting children, urgent action is needed. Dr. David Chalom, a senior consultant in orthopedic surgery, argues that nicotine must be reviewed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and placed under strict international control by the UN to protect future generations.
1. Tobacco: A leading cause of preventable death
Tobacco is the leading cause of non-communicable diseases worldwide. Two-thirds of long-term smokers die from smoking-related illnesses. Unfortunately, tobacco use persists because of nicotine addiction.
2. Nicotine: A potent neurotoxin and highly addictive drug
Originally used as an insecticide, nicotine is toxic to humans. It’s also more addictive than cocaine and amphetamines, leading to lifelong dependency. Other issues with nicotine include:
– Impairing brain development in youth (up to age 25), increasing risks of:
– Mental health disorders
– Addiction to other drugs (alcohol, narcotics)
– Poor cognitive function
– Damaging blood vessels, reducing oxygen supply to organs, leading to
– Increased risk of stroke and heart disease
– Poor healing and tissue degeneration
– Harming fertility, pregnancy, and infants, increasing risks of:
– Miscarriage
– Low birth weight
– Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
The tobacco industry exploits regulatory loopholes by introducing flavored nicotine products designed to attract children:
– E-cigarettes (vapes)
– Nicotine pouches (“white snus”)
– Nicotine candies (jelly beans, gummies, lollipops)
– Lip balms, mints, and Tic-Tacs laced with nicotine
Alarming Trends in Sweden (2012-2024 Data)
The Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (C.A.N.) did a nationwide school investigation between 2012 and 2024 on 9th graders and 2nd-year high schoolers. It found that 9th graders and high school students are increasingly using:
– E-cigarettes
– Nicotine pouches
– Snus
All of this is problematic. While these youths are considered “non-smoking,” they become addicted to nicotine, later transitioning to cigarettes.
No evidence supports claims that nicotine products help smokers quit. Most e-cigarette users continue smoking traditional cigarettes. Thus, nicotine remains harmful and addictive.
Governments must work to:
– Eliminate tobacco and nicotine use
– Protect children from addiction
– Reduce secondhand smoke exposure
Consider two UN Conventions: the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961/1972) and the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971). These treaties allow scheduling substances that pose serious public health risks.
Nicotine meets all criteria for strict international control:
– Highly addictive
– Widely abused, especially by youth
– Minimal therapeutic value
– Serious public health threat
Nicotine isn’t just an addiction; it’s a public health emergency. With flavored products targeting children and the rising outh addiction rates, immediate action is needed. The WHO must review nicotine, and the UN must impose strict controls to protect future generations.
Yet, from the individual to the state level, everyone has a role to play:
– Governments: Notify the UN Secretary-General to review nicotine.
– NGOs & Health Organizations: Petition the WHO to assess nicotine’s risks.
– Public Awareness: Get educated on nicotine’s dangers, especially for youth.
Together, we can all work towards a nicotine-free generation by 2023.
Do you have questions for David? Then don’t hesitate to write him at david.chalom.a@gmail.com
Reimagining global health strategies requires confronting persistent inequities that shape health outcomes, particularly in dentistry and gender equity. Gender equity is not only a fundamental human right but also a strategic imperative for improving population health, strengthening health systems, and achieving sustainable development. Yet, in fields such as dentistry, gender equity remains overshadowed by longstanding structural and cultural norms.
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, gender equity in healthcare refers to treating individuals according to their unique needs and contexts, considering how power and privilege affect opportunity. This principle is tied to the core value of fairness and is critical to building inclusive, ethical, and sustainable systems that reflect the diversity of health providers and their communities. Harmful gender stereotypes, alongside racism, ageism, and socioeconomic inequities, compound existing barriers to oral healthcare access and professional advancement for women and gender-diverse individuals.
Neglecting gender equity in dentistry perpetuates significant inequities across research, clinical practice, and leadership. Despite progress in gender diversity in dental schools, systemic transformation remains elusive. Structural barriers and cultural norms continue to shape career trajectories, specialization choices, and professional development.
Global challenges such as population aging, COVID-19, and climate change demand that dental health strategies be reimaged through a gender-equity lens, promoting sustainable and inclusive oral healthcare systems.
Addressing gender equity challenges in dentistry requires coordinated systemic efforts to restructure the profession. A gender-equitable future fosters better care, innovation, and responsive systems.
1. Structural Change & Policy Reform
2. Mentorship & Leadership Development
3. Inclusive Education & Clinical Training
4. Gender-Inclusive Innovation & Sustainability
Gender equity in dentistry is more than a matter of fairness. It is necessary for building a healthier, more inclusive, and resilient profession. Aligning efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can advance social justice. Achieving equity requires collective action from institutions, policymakers, educators, and providers. By dismantling structural discrimination and fostering inclusivity, we can close the gender gap and ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender or background, thrive in dental education, practice, and leadership.
Dr. Pascaline Kengne Talla wrote this article on behalf of the WFPHA’s Oral Health Working Group
![Key Strategies for Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers [Report]](https://www.wfpha.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/vaccine-hesitancy-among-healthcare-workers-report.png)
Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, saving millions of lives annually. Yet, despite their critical role in administering vaccines and promoting public health, healthcare workers (HCWs) are not immune to vaccine hesitancy.
This article explores key strategies to increase vaccination uptake among healthcare providers worldwide, based on a comprehensive report by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).
Healthcare workers are essential in shaping public perception and trust in vaccines. Their vaccination status significantly influences whether they recommend immunization to their patients.
Despite this, global trends show an alarming decline in vaccine uptake among HCWs, driven by concerns about vaccine safety, efficacy, and personal susceptibility to disease.
This hesitancy seriously affects the healthcare providers and the vulnerable populations they serve.
The WFPHA report draws real-world examples from six WHO regions to highlight successful vaccination campaigns for HCWs. These case studies reveal how tailored strategies can overcome barriers to vaccination:
Several factors are crucial in improving vaccination rates among HCWs:
A critical finding in the report is the need for comprehensive data on healthcare worker vaccinations, particularly in low-income countries (LICs).
Designing effective vaccination strategies or allocating resources appropriately is difficult without accurate data.
Moreover, HCWs often need to be more represented in policy-making processes, leading to strategies that fail to address their unique challenges and needs.
The WFPHA offers a range of recommendations to increase vaccination rates among healthcare workers, categorized into three levels of implementation:
In many LICs, occupational safety laws do not adequately protect healthcare workers through vaccination. The report stresses the need for governments to update these laws to ensure HCWs are protected against preventable diseases, ensuring both safety and sustainability for global health systems.
The WFPHA report highlights the importance of collaboration between healthcare providers, policymakers, and public health organizations in creating effective vaccination programs. By addressing individual hesitations and systemic barriers, these strategies aim to protect healthcare workers and their communities, ultimately enhancing global health security.
The Working Group of Women, Children, and Youth Health is integral to the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). The group is dedicated to advancing public health efforts that support the well-being of women, children, and young people globally. They focus on advocacy, research, and policy development, emphasizing vulnerable populations.
We had the pleasure of speaking with the Working Group’s co-chairs, Dr. Fiona Robards and Deborah Walker, to learn more about their motivations, current activities, and vision for the future.
Please introduce yourselves.
Fiona Robards: I’m Dr. Fiona Robards, co-chair of the World Federation of Public Health Associations Women, Children, and Youth Health Working Group, and I’m an academic at the University of Sydney in Australia.
Deborah Walker: I’m Deborah Klein Walker, co-chair of the World Federation Women, Children, and Youth Health Working Group. I’m an adjunct professor at Tufts University and the Boston School of Public Health in Boston. I’m also the designated liaison between the American Public Health Association and the World Federation.
What motivated you to pursue a career in the public health sector?
Fiona Robards: I’ve always been interested in the big picture. I started as a psychologist, managed health services for homeless young people, and then moved into policy and academia. I’m interested in preventing health issues and achieving health equity, especially for women, children, and youth. We know that women, children, and young people continue to die at high rates from preventable causes, and child well-being and survival are directly related to the health of mothers. Young people are another neglected population, most living in lower- and middle-income countries.
Deborah Walker: It’s interesting because my reasons for joining public health are similar to Fiona’s. I was trained as a psychologist and discovered public health, which I define as the practice of social justice, improving the health of populations every day. Our working group advocates for interventions to improve the health of women, children, and young people. Universal health care, equity, and health as basic human rights are critical issues for these groups. I have worked in the public health field with a focus on maternal and child health for over 40 years, in academia, public health practice at local, state, and federal levels in the United States, and as a researcher and vice president at a global consulting firm.
Tell me how long you’ve been associated with the World Federation of Public Health Associations.
Fiona Robards: I joined the Women, Children, and Youth Working Group in 2022 and became its co-chair last year, in 2023.
Deborah Walker: I’ve been associated with the World Federation of Public Health since I was the President of the American Public Health Association. I joined actively in 2010. I was a member of the Governing Council at one point, the Advisory Committee, and the Policy Committee since I joined in 2010. I became the chair of the Women, Children, and Youth Working Group in July 2020.
Could you elaborate on your working group’s current activities and share your vision and plans for the future?
Fiona Robards: Our working group has four goals: to advocate for equity in global policies to improve the health of women, children, and youth; to advance public health practice, education, training, and research related to these groups; to expand and strengthen partnerships; and to promote and support the advancement of women, children, and youth health in strong member associations. We’re currently focusing on policy development. We recently developed a new policy on children and young people’s health and rights, and we’re working on a range of new policies, including one on youth mental health, a call to action on climate action for maternal, newborn, and child health populations, breastfeeding, preconception and fertility, and youth health.
Deborah Walker: We, for example, have difficulty finding a time for our meetings that will incorporate all the time zones of the world, especially since Fiona and I are in two opposite extremes of the globe, Australia and the United States. We’ve settled on a time that seems to work for us and all the other time zones. Another challenge is finding resources so we can meet in person. We are especially looking for funds to send a core group of us to the next World Congress in South Africa.
How do the working group’s activities align with and support implementing the WFPHA strategic plan?
Deborah Walker: The mission of the World Federation of Public Health Associations is to protect people and the planet, prevent diseases, and promote peace, health, and well-being. The Women, Children, and Youth Working Group focuses on addressing health inequity for these populations, emphasizing the most vulnerable groups and providing a forum for developing resolutions for actions for the World Federation and its member public health associations. The World Federation’s goals that we align with and support include advocating for peace, sustainable health equity, and global policies; contributing to systems change; strengthening and democratizing global health governance; advancing public health knowledge, education, practice, and research; growing new and maintaining existing partnerships; supporting and enhancing member organizations; and building an effective, efficient, responsive, and sustainable World Federation of Public Health Associations.
Please tell me in what ways being part of the WFPHA and its network has enhanced the activities of your working group.
Fiona Robards: We collaborate with two working groups, the Tobacco Working Group and the Oral Health Working Group, on research projects. One project explores young people’s views of the tobacco endgame, and another explores international and national frameworks, guidelines, recommendations, and strategies for maternal tobacco prevention and cessation. We’re also developing a youth mental health policy and will seek feedback from the Mental Health Working Group.
How does being part of the WFPHA strengthen your group’s advocacy for the health issues of women, children, and youth?
Deborah Walker: The World Federation of Public Health Associations provides a global platform for advocacy to promote the health of women, children, and youth. We have used this platform to reach out to public and regional public health associations to build our membership. Recently, 32 new members joined from a wide range of countries on all continents. The new members have expressed interest in working on our various policies under development, which is fabulous to see.
What strategies does the group use to form effective partnerships for advancing health outcomes for women, children, and youth?
Fiona Robards: If we’re to end preventable maternal, child, and youth deaths and improve the quality of life for all the world’s people, then, of course, the voices from these population groups must be heard and engaged. We learn from our colleagues around the globe about culturally appropriate and effective interventions.
What benefits has your group gained from WFPHA’s global partnerships and collaborative opportunities?
Deborah Walker: The World Federation of Public Health Associations’ collaborative opportunities have enabled us to develop research partnerships and policies and grow our membership. Frankly, we are beginning to see the impact of the World Federation’s partnerships on our work.
Do you have any accomplishments right now that you’re proud of?
Deborah Walker: We were fortunate to have an intern from the World Federation who developed a study on all maternal and child health policies from the different member associations. Fiona took the lead on the article to be published in the Journal of Public Health Policy. We found very few policies on women, children, and youth in those public health associations. That is why we are focused on developing policies for the World Federation that member public health associations can adopt. When this population is almost half of the world, and if women and children do well, we all do.
Conclusion
The WFPHA Working Group on Women, Children, and Youth Health is dedicated to improving global health outcomes for these vulnerable populations through advocacy, policy development, and partnerships. Under the leadership of co-chairs Fiona Robards and Deborah Walker, the group continues to drive forward initiatives that emphasize equity, health rights, and culturally relevant interventions. Their work is essential in shaping a healthier future for women, children, and youth worldwide, ensuring their voices are heard and needs addressed globally.
Working Group members:
Adebayo Amao, Professor and Consultant Community Physician Adesola Olumide, University of Ibadan Nigeria
Alix Woldring, Centre for Population Health, NSW Ministry of Health, PHA of Australia
Dr. Amie Steel, University of Technology Sydney, PHA of Australia
Anastesia Araba Tawiah, WFPHA Intern, PHA of Australia
Ayokunle Kajero, Society for Adolescents and Young People’s Health in Nigeria (SAYPHIN), Nigeria
Dr. Claire Copperstone, Malta Association of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta
Danielle Schoenaker, UK
Deborah Klein Walker, EdD, Boston University, American PHA, USA
Professor Debra Jackson, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
Evelyn Cherow, MA, MPA, American PHA, USA
Professor Fatema Ashraf, Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh
Dr. Fiona Robards, University of Sydney, PHA of Australia
Dr. Funmilayo Morebise, Society for Adolescent and Youth Health in Nigeria (SAYPHIN, Nigeria
Haley Myers, MPH, American PHA, USA
Dr. Hyewon Lee, Korea
Jasmine Lykissas, Communications at the PHA of Australia
Justine Salisbury, Centre for Population Health, NSW Ministry of Health, PHA of Australia
Professor Mitike Molla Sisay, Ethiopian PHA, Ethiopia
Nabankema Victoria, MPH, Uganda National Association of Community Occupational Health, Uganda
Narila Mutia, Assistant Professor, Indonesia Public Health Association/ IAKMI, Indonesia
Olaniyan Halimat, Society for Adolescent and Youth Health in Nigeria (SAYPHIN), Nigeria
Dr. Oliver-Williams, Clare, Global Violence Prevention SIG Co-Chair, UK
Dr. Olujide Arije, Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
Onyinye Gloria, Society for Adolescent and Youth Health in Nigeria (SAYPHIN), Nigeria
Owolabi Tomiwa, PhD candidate, Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Rachel Barbabela, MPH, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Portugal
Dr. Tope.O. Durojaiye, Society for Public Health Professionals in Nigeria (SPHPN), Society for Adolescent and Young People’s Health in Nigeria (SAYPHIN), Nigeria
Vina Hulamm, USA
Yemisrach Shiferaw, Ethiopian PHA, Ethiopia
Governments primarily safeguard children’s rights, well-being, and safety. This includes supporting families and communities to address the social determinants of health—factors like poverty, education, and access to healthcare that significantly impact a child’s life trajectory. Despite this, a startling study by Robards, Myers, and Klein Walker (2024) revealed that only eight out of 130 Public Health Associations (PHAs) globally and one Regional PHA have policies specifically addressing women, children, and youth. This gap highlights the urgent need for advocacy and policy development to ensure equitable access to healthcare and integrated support systems.
Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child underscores every child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health. However, the World Health Organization reports that injuries, interpersonal violence, self-harm, and maternal conditions remain the leading causes of death among youth. These statistics underscore the critical need for targeted interventions and policies to protect and promote children’s and young people’s health.
The WFPHA’s Children and Young People’s Health and Rights Policy was developed by a dedicated working group comprising over 50 representatives from Public Health Associations worldwide. This policy emphasizes the importance of integrated care and comprehensive support from birth to 18 years, ensuring optimal health and well-being.
Key recommendations include:
Public Health Associations (PHAs) play a pivotal role in advancing the health of women, children, and youth. However, the research by Robards et al. (2024) found that only 10 out of 130 PHAs globally have dedicated workgroups focusing on these groups. This lack of focus undermines efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health equity and gender equality.
The WFPHA’s policy serves as a valuable tool for advocacy, urging governments and PHAs to prioritize children’s health and rights. By adopting and implementing this policy, countries can reduce inequalities and create a healthier, more equitable future for all.
The health and rights of children and young people are not just a moral imperative but a foundation for sustainable development. The WFPHA’s Children and Young People’s Health and Rights Policy provides a comprehensive framework for action, but its success depends on collective efforts. Governments, PHAs, and communities must work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.
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