WFPHA Newsletter December 2016
thIf you can't see this e-mail properly, view it online
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
In this Newsletter:
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
**Engage with us by tagging WFPHA in your tweets, posts, and photos! #WFPHA #wcph2017 #globalcharter**
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
1.- Hot Topics in Public Health: WFPHA Speaks UpPlaying With The Trump Card: Health Has Champions To Stay The GameIn the wake of a surprising election result in favor of Donald Trump, David Stuckler, Martin McKee, Richard Horton, Michael Moore and various public health leaders from all around the world, discussed the potential impact of the election on health at the 9th European Public Health Conference.
Letter to Dr. Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of ColombiaOn 11th November 2016, the World Federation of Public Health Associations, along with the 'Asociación Colombiana de Salud Pública', wrote a letter to Dr. Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia, congratulating him for being awarding the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Dr. Santos has demonstrated to the world that a process of peace-making can be embarked upon even when the situation seems to be blocked from all sides. His actions have provided a signal of hope to all the regions of the world where the majority of people look so desperately for an end to war. In war and civil unrest people cannot live fulfilled happy lives, and even the basic human right to health cannot be achieved. It was for this reason that the WFPHA, in the name of over 100 member organizations representing a wide range of public health professions, chose to take the opportunity to recognize Dr. Santos' achievements.
The Office of the High Commission for Peace of Colombia has subsequently sent a letter to Michael Moore, WFPHA President, thanking the WFPHA for its gesture of support and solidarity. In the letter, it was recognized that the international community is essential to end the conflict and help unite Colombians. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco ControlThe seventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was held in Delhi on 7-12 November 2016.
The Conference delivered several significant decisions that will shape the international treaty for the next two years and beyond, including decisions which enhance implementation of areas linked to development, human rights as well as public health. The decisions will address the consequences of the on-going tobacco epidemic, which is expected to kill 1 billion people in the 21st Century unless measures are taken. The Parties to the Convention voiced their concerns over the tobacco industry's continued attempts to infiltrate and manipulate the workings of the Convention and decision-making. The Head of the Convention Secretariat, Dr. Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, told delegates: “The long hours of debate and planning has produced a strong roadmap for global tobacco control for the next two years, when COP meets again. Despite all the hard work by the Parties it is sad to see tobacco industry interests, yet again, being promoted. It is determined to undermine and distract us from our goal – to fight against the tobacco epidemic that not only damages health and kills people, but also impoverishes those living in low- to middle- income countries.”
The WFPHA was represented by Valeska Carvalho Figueiredo and Silvana Rubana Turci, from the Tobacco and Health Studies Center of the National School of Public Health of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (CETAB). At COP7, Valeska and Silvana had the opportunity to present during the side events two important public health actions that CETAB develops, in collaboration with the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. During the side event, 'Healthier and Environment-friendly Alternatives to Tobacco Cultivation', they presented a proposal for the development of a comprehensive health care protocol for farmers who grow tobacco. This protocol will be useful for monitoring workers' health and the environmental consequences of tobacco. In addition, during the side event 'Preventing Tobacco Industry Interference: What's new? And What's Next?', they presented the Brazilian Observatory on Tobacco Industry Strategies, to contribute to the Secretariat's project of development an observatory in each of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
|
2.- The Shanghai DeclarationThe Outcome of the Ninth Global Conference on Health Promotion, which was jointly organized by the Government of China and the World Health Organization, is a concise Shanghai Declaration on Health Promotion.
The Conference provided an unprecedented opportunity to reassert the significance of global public health, whilst celebrating the 30 years anniversary of the Ottawa Charter.
For more information see the WHO introductory video. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
3.- A Global Charter for the Public's HealthCurrent Implementation
At the international level, the World Health Organisation has invited the WFPHA to consider how to make health systems and security systems work together through the use of the Charter. In addition, the Charter has been added to the agenda of the WHO African advisory council for research and development, which is developing a diagnostic tool to influence government based on the Charter.
At the regional level, the European Public Health Association has adopted the Vienna Declaration, which reiterates EUPHA's commitment to the Ottawa Charter, and takes into account new and emerging threats to public health, building on the SDGs and the Charter.
At the national level, the Public Health Association of Australia reshaped its strategic plan around the Charter in 2016; utilised the core elements of the Charter (Prevention, Promotion and Protection) as central themes for the numerous national and international conferences hosted by the organisation; and has used the Charter to influence political parties at the recent Australian election. In addition, the Global Charter was mentioned on the first page of Volume 5, Issue 4 of the ACT Population Health Bulletin, in a message from the Chief Health Officer of the Australian Capital Territory. The Brazilian Public Health Association has requested WFPHA make a position statement on the Brazilian Government's decision to cut health funding, based on the Charter principles. The Panamanian Public Health Society has launched an initiative “Generation Healthy Panama 2030”, in line with WFPHA’s Charter for the Public’s Health, AASPA’s Declaration of Panama, and the SDGs. The purpose of this initiative is to promote and systematically measure universal access to a set of specific social determinants of health throughout the life cycle, using the “Marmot Six” concept as a guide for establishing and monitoring indicators during each life cycle component. Finally, the Norwegian Public Health Association has published the Charter on its website and has distributed it to the Norwegian Network for Research and Education in Health Promotion Research and to several individuals in the Ministry of Health and Care. They will also distribute the Charter to all political parties, detailing what they need to put in their program in order to improve health, taking into consideration the Charter and the SDGs.
The teleconferences will all regions and key stakeholders to present and debate the Charter and discuss if and how it may be implemented in different settings are still ongoing. If needed at the end of this process, a second version of the Charter may be produced.
A big debate on the Charter will happen during the 15th World Congress on Public Health. Translation and ToolkitMuch progress has been made in the translation of 'A Global Charter for the Public's Health' into many different languages. In addition to its original language English, the Charter is now available in Mandarin, Portuguese, and will soon be available in French and Spanish. The Editorial on the Global Charter for Public Health has also been translated into Finnish. Diplomat of the Charter
**BECOME A DIPLOMAT OF THE CHARTER NOW**
The WFPHA is currently in the process of selecting new Diplomats of the Global Charter for 2017. Individuals wishing to spread the Charter within their country and network, and sustain this global public health revolution within their working and living context are invited to apply. Each Diplomat will be listed on the WFPHA website, a 100-word bionote will be published on the Facebook page, the selected individuals will be able to use the title 'Diplomat of the Global Charter' after his/her signature for the year selected, and they will receive a 5% reduction on the entrance fees for the World Congress on Public Health for year after.
For more information, click here or contact Marta Lomazzi Invest With Us in Global Public HealthYou are invited to support the implementation of the Global Charter for the Public's Health.
This is an ideal way to demonstrate your organization's commitment to promoting global health and to publicize this support to many leaders and professionals in the field. Your contribution will ensure visibility at the 15th World Congress on Public Health, to be held in Melbourne in April 2017, which is expected to receive more than 2000 guests. The Charter in BriefThe WFPHA have been working hard to prepare some easy material on what the Charter is about. This has started with a booklet (The Charter in Brief) showing what the key terms of the Charter mean to the WFPHA, and it will soon be followed by a video on the Charter implementation and the Diplomat of the Charter.
To see the 'Charter in Brief' click here. |
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
4.- The 15th World Congress on Public HealthLatest news |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
5.- News from our MembersPublic Health Foundation of BangladeshI Ghana Public Health Association
The key flagship activity of the Association currently is the organization of Scientific Workshops on topical issues of public health importance. After each scientific session, conclusions and recommendations are made and circulated to relevant government ministries and the media to influence policy. Follow-up interviews are then held with various media organizations which are often broadcast live over national and regional media networks. Topical issues discussed by the association have included: 'Menace of the Use of Aphrodisiacs in Ghana'; 'Killing Us Slowly: Destruction and Pollution of Water Bodies in Ghana'; and 'Ebola Virus Disease and Health Implications: The Way Forward for Ghana'. Key challenges faced by the Association include inadequate funding and lack of commitment of members due to competing priorities. Panamanian Public Health Society
The Panamanian Public Health Society (SPSP) over the last few years has made a firm commitment to be an independent and autonomous voice in favor of the Universal Right to Health, including access to all social determinants of health as well as unlimited access to health services. In order to achieve this goal, SPSP, in 2016, organized the First International Public Health Conference of Panama, addressing the ‘Social Determinants of Health and Intersector Coordination’, having as keynote speaker, Sir Michael Marmot, president of the World Medical Association, and former president of the WHO Committee on Social Determinants of Health. This activity took place in Panama City, R.P. on July 28 to 30, with well over 400 participants, from all provinces of Panama and participants from 20 countries coming from the Region of the Americas and Europe. In addition to the Conference itself, SPSP arranged for Dr. Marmot to address the plenary of the National Assembly, meet with the Minister of the Panama Canal, with the Vice-minister of Social Development, the Minister of Health and the Counselor Minister of Panama. SPSP presented a motion for the University of Panama to bestow the title of “Doctor Honoris Causa” for Dr. Marmot, which took place during a formal ceremony in the context of the Conference. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
6.- Members' Newsletters
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
7.- WFPHA Members CommunicationCall for New Members - Public Health in Emergencies and Disasters Working GroupThe WFPHA Public Health in Emergencies and Disasters Working Group invites new Members, representatives of national public health associations and individual public health professionals to join the working group. Meetings will take place by phone/webcast.
For more information, please contact Dr. Chadia Wannous and Dr. Adhmed Javed Rahmanzai. WFPHA General AssemblyThe next General Assembly of the WFPHA is due to take place during the 15th World Congress. The date, time and location will be communicated soon. Social MediaThe World Federation of Public Health Associations can be found on: - Facebook @ngowfpha - Twitter @WFPHA_FMASP - LinkedIn @company/7593018 - Instagram @wfpha_fmasp New Intern @ WFPHA Firouzeh Mitchell recently joined the WFPHA in October 2016. Firouzeh is currently studying a MAS on Transitional Justice at the Geneva Academy. Originally from Scotland, she completed an LLB in Scots Law at the University of Geneva and spent a year of her degree at Stockholm University. She is interested in all aspects of public international law, including International Criminal Law, Human Rights, and Immigration Law. She joined the WFPHA in order to gain an insight into the inner workings of an international organization, and to further explore the link between health, human rights, and conflict. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
8.- WFPHA Working GroupsGlobal Health EquityJames Chauvin and Laetitia Rispel acted as guest editors for a special issue of the Journal of Public Health Policy on 'The Use and Impact of Digital Technology on Population Health and Health Equity Gains'. It brings together seven scholarly articles that explore the theme of use and impact of digital technology on human health and health equity within different contexts.
To read the JPHP e-supplement click here. Oral HealthThe World Federation of Public Health Associations has accredited Global Child Dental Fund's new Online Advanced Dental Leadership Programme. This exciting program develops medical nurses and allied health professionals into first class leaders and advocated for oral health. It will impart the essential leadership skills and oral health knowledge necessary to improve effectiveness of health professionals, develop understanding of key oral health components, and successfully integrate the two areas into daily practice. The WFPHA has recognized the importance of the program in increasing leadership capacity in oral and public health.
For more information please contact: Aneta Stanev. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
9.- What's onA Gender Reality Check in Global Health
The main theme was gender equality as a crucial tool for the success of health systems and as a key focus point for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The panel formed by the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Missions of Norway, Afghanistan and Chile, the Director of the Department of Public Health at WHO and the Director of the Global Health Centre, explored the challenges of women’s leadership in global health and discussed new opportunities and strategies to outline a way forward.
The speakers highlighted how, although in many countries women represent over 75% of the health workforce, there is still a huge gap between the public and private sector, where the participation of women in the latter is still low. Tradition and culture can be perceived as a barrier to women empowerment in global health. The event was a useful platform to put commitments into practice to effect change. Mental Health Gap Action Programme
Health Security Committee Information Meeting on Migrant Health Action
Click here to read more. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
10.- Meetings and Committees reportsAmerican Public Health Association Conference 2016The central themes explored by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) at the 2016 annual conference and exhibition of the American Public Health Association in Denver, Colorado (‘the mile-high city’, due to its altitude and not to that state’s recent legalization of cannabis) were: Health Equity, Digital Technology, Advocacy, Leadership and the Role of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. The annual meeting took place between October 31 and November 3, 2016. WFPHA delegates included representatives from several foreign national public health associations (Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Cuba, Finland, Italy, Panama, South Africa, Tunisia and the UK) and sub-national PHAs (Puerto Rico and Québec).
The first WFPHA session focused on the role of public health associations to achieve health equity and health as a human right, moderated by the WFPHA’s Vice-President/President-Elect, Professor Laetitia Rispel of South Africa. James Chauvin (WFPHA Past-President) made a presentation about the activities and achievements associated with the WFPHA initiative on the use of digital technology within public health and its impact on population health and health equity gains. Dr. Thomas Piggott from Canada, who sits on the WFPHA’s Governing Council as the representative for young public health professionals, talked about the priorities young professionals see within the context of health equity and the right to health. He also discussed the threats and opportunities of new technologies to public health education and careers. Dr. Fiona Sim, President of the Royal Society of Public Health (UK) talked about the link between the Federation’s recently launched Global Charter for the Public’s Health and the capacity of the public health community and PHAs to communicate effectively their message of health as a human right and health equity. Dr. John Lowe of the Public Health Association of Australia completed the panel. His presentation focused on the upcoming 15th World Congress on Public Health (Melbourne (Australia): April 2017). The session’s discussant, Lucie Granger, Executive Director of the Association pour la santé publique du Québec, reflected on each presentation. She concluded with a question to PHAs and members of the public health community to become more effective communicators – why are we unable to galvanize the public to protest in the streets when governments cut public health, and especially prevention budgets? The second WFPHA session, organized by Dr. Miguel Marrero, President of the Public Health Association of Puerto Rico, featured the new Alliance of Public Health Associations in the Americas (APHAA). Dr. Alcides Ochoa, President of the Sociedad cubana de salud pùblica and APHAA secretary, provided an overview of the regional association’s history, the expansion of its membership and its activities since its inauguration in April 2015. He was followed by Dr. Claude Betts of the Panamanian Public Health Association, who presented the outputs from last July’s 2nd APHAA meeting in Panama City, which included the development of the alliance’s multi-year strategic plan and the aim for the Alliance to create the healthiest nations in the Americas. The panel also included a presentation by Dr. Cristina Rabadán-Diehl about public health priorities in the Americas region as seen from the perspective of the USA Department of Health and Social Service’s Global Affairs Office.
The WFPHA also hosted its Global Health Leaders’ Reception, which brought together over 120 conference delegates and PHA representatives. This included Dr. Russell Morgan, a past WFPHA Executive Secretary (1974-1979). Professor Rispel, the session’s co-moderator with Jim Chauvin, made an impassioned plea for more attention to and action on health equity within public health. Mr. Zach Langway, Senior Vice President of Fenton (a US-based social change communications agency) talked about the important role of story-telling as a means for transformational social change. He was followed by Dr. Carmen Barroso, co-chair of the Independent Accountability Panel for Every Woman, Every Child and former regional director for the Americas at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Her presentation focused on gender and access to women-oriented health care services as key determinants of health for women and children. 9th European Public Health Conference - All for Health, Health for All
Good health for all is a crucial tool to improve workforce productivity, strengthen family communities and contribute to poverty reduction and social inclusion; this strict relation between health, economic and well-being has been propelled up during the conference to the political agenda of all countries.
Global Health Forum Taiwan 2016
A wide range of topics were covered during the Congress by a range of public health professionals from all over the world. The WFPHA Executive Director Professor Bettina Borisch, in a plenary session, applied a gender lens to the challenges of improving health while others presented on areas such as harmful use of alcohol, access to universal health care, the challenges of ageing populations, racism, mental health and health equity. The range and quality of presentations in the concurrent sessions added to the quality and the significance of the Forum. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
11.- PublicationsA Plea for Global Health Action Bottom-UpU. Laaser, S. Dorey, J. Nurse Frontiers in Public Health (2016); DOI: 10.3389/fpuh.2016.00241
This opinion piece focuses on global health action by hands-on bottom up practice.
To read the article, click here. Health Systems Strengthening, Universal Health Coverage, Health Security and ResilienceJ. Kutzin, S. Sparkes Bulletin of the World Health Organization (2016); DOI:10.2471/BLT.15.165050
This article aims to facilitate understanding and highlight key policy consideration by identifying critical attributes of the concepts of 'universal health coverage', 'health security' and 'resilience', and emphasizing the distinction between ends and means in health policy.
To read the article, click here. When is Maternal Immunization Ethically Justified?M. Verweij, P. Lambachm, J. Ortiz, A. Reis The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2016); DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30349-8
This article constitutes a good starting point for discussions on whether maternal immunization may be ethically justified in underdeveloped countries. Vaccination during pregnancy can protect women, foetuses, and newborn children against infectious diseases, especially in developing countries. Maternal immunization, however, also raises ethical questions. Philosopher Marcel Verweij of Wageningen University and Research made a systematic analysis of the ethics of maternal immunization, which is now published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Click here to read more. The associations between domain-specific sedentary behaviours and dietary habits in European adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the SPOTLIGHT surveyS. Compernolle, K. De Cocker, P. Teixeira et al. BMC Public Health (2016); DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3708-3
The research conducted by BMC public health shows how all domain-specific sedentary behaviors, except transport-related sitting time, are significantly related to dietary habits. In general, having a higher sitting time was related to having less health dietary habits, especially with regards to television viewing. Gender did not moderate any of the relation, and age was only a significant moderator in the relation between other leisure sitting time and alcohol consumption.
Click here to read more. |
||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
12.- Upcoming events
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
On behalf of the WFPHA, the 15th WCPH Organising Committee and all involved in the organization of the Congress, it is our sincerest wish to you all for a safe and happy end to 2016 and the joy of a fresh start to the New Year and the opportunity to welcome you to Melbourne for the WCPH2017.
|
||||||||||||||
Follow us |   
|
||||||||||||||
At the meeting, Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, challenged health leaders to develop a public health manifesto in the period prior to the swearing-in of the President-elect. Of particular interest to public health professionals during Trump's campaign was his pledge to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act, which provided over 15 million people, who would otherwise be excluded, access to treatment. He has since stated that he plans to keep some parts of the law intact, but his proposals are still worrying to those who support the principle of universal healthcare. The European Public Health Association and World Federation of Public Health Associations have committed to writing the manifesto, which will be published in The Lancet, and to ensure that Trump promotes public health during his time in office. 
The Shanghai Declaration is a commitment made by the leaders of the world to make this world a healthier place, where people have the knowledge and power to make healthy choices. The Declaration recognizes that health and wellbeing are essential to achieving sustainable development. It aims to make bold political choices for health, including placing a high priority on innovation and development. It recognizes that good governance is crucial for health and that cities and communities are critical settings for health. The Declaration urges political leaders from different sectors and from different levels of governance, from the private sector and from civil society to come together to promote health and wellbeing in all the SDGs. 
The implementation phase started with the 
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the World Federation of Public Health Association, we are excited to invite you to participate in a photo competition to be held during the World Congress on Public Health 2017 in Melbourne. 
n 2016, the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh (PHFBD) organized various seminars, workshops, and trainings related to health. A scientific seminar on ‘Traditional Medicine: An additional gateway to universal health coverage’ was organized by PHFBD during the 4th International Conference of AYNUS, where the main speaker was Prof. Sharmeen Yasmeen, CEO of PHFBD. In addition, a workshop on Stress Management was held in November 2016, facilitated by PHFBD member, Dr. Ehsaan-Ul-Alaam Chowdhury, Health Promotion Specialist in Canada. The PHFBD has outlined several goals for the future, to be achieved within the next 5 years, which include integrating multidisciplinary public health service approach within Bangladesh and expanding PFHBD preventive and clinical services with digital support from the government. In addition, PHFBD will take part in a cervix cancer and breast cancer prevention program.
The Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA), a Non-Governmental Organisation, was established in 2011 but was re-incorporated under the Ghana Companies Code of 1963 (Act 179) on 25th March 2014. The Association is voluntary, apolitical, strictly professional, and open to all practitioners of public health who have a contribution to make to advance the cause of public health in Ghana and the world at large. The General Objective of the Association is to contribute to the advancement of public health for the promotion of health, prevention of diseases, prompt and appropriate treatment of the sick, and rehabilitation of the disabled.
On 14th of October 2016, the Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute, in conjunction with Women in Global Health, hosted a conference in Geneva, titled “A Gender reality Check in global Health.
On 10-11 October 2016, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at the World Health Organization hosted a congress on the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) and its development and implementation in different States. Mental, Neurological, and substance abuse disorders amount to a large burden of disease and disability. Feedback has been received from experts in all WHO regions who used the mhGAP package to train non-specialized health care professionals and to provide MSN services. The second part of the congress consisted of small group discussions on psychological assistance during and after emergencies such as Ebola and Zika virus, community engagement toolkit for suicide prevention and Progress on WHO’s Parents Skills Training program for developmental disorders. The hope is that the guide will continue to be a key tool to deliver care for people with MNS disorders around the world and lead closer to achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage. 
On 28 September 2016, a meeting of the Health Security Committee was held on 'Migrant Health Action: Health Needs, Existing Activities, and Future Action at EU Level'. The meeting underlined how the risk to refugees has increased due to overcrowding at reception facilities, resulting in poor hygiene and sanitation arrangements. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control plans to address training modules for health professionals, law enforcement officers and trainers in migrants' and refugees' health, in order to deal with mental health problems and communicable diseases.
The 9th European Public Health (EPH) Conference took place in Vienna from 9 to 12 November 2016. The EPH Conference, organized by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and the Austrian Public Health Association (ÖGPH) is considered the premier European gathering of public health professionals worldwide. The theme of the conference “All for Health, Health for all” aimed at reducing inequalities, improving health quality and fostering well-being for all.
The first plenary section was also the occasion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Ottawa Charter, launching a series of actions among international health organizations and civil society representatives to achieve the goal of “Health for All through better health promotion”. The conference looked also outside the conventional fields of public health exploring new Health technologies, E-health, telemedicine, IT solutions such as Health apps, giving a deep analysis on their possible leading role in the field of health care and their contributions towards health literacy. The WFPHA was represented by Micheal Moore, WFPHA President and Marta Lomazzi, WFPHA Executive Manager, who had the occasion to meet several European members and to discuss common projects including joint advocacy activities.
The significance of the Global Health Forum held in late October 2016 in Taipei was emphasized in the opening session as participants were welcomed by Ing-wen Tsai the Taiwan President and by Dr. Tzou-Yien Lin Minister of Health and Welfare. The theme was “Towards 2030 – A Global Health Agenda”. In the first plenary session with Sir Michael Marmot, Professor Martin McKee and Professor Helmut Brand, Michael Moore, WFPHA President, was fortunate enough to be able to present on how the Global Charter for the Public’s Health can be a framework for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals to improve health over the years leading to 2030.
