2. Outcomes of the 52nd WFPHA General Assembly

The WFPHA’s 52nd annual General Assembly was held on May 20th this year. The GA offered an invaluable opportunity for the representatives of the WFPHA members to share and discuss the achievements and future plans of their respective organizations within the context of public health.

During the GA, several matters were resolved. An election was held, and several executive positions were filled. The WFPHA extends its congratulations to W. Ricciardi (Italy), who will serve as the next President Elect.

“Please assure [Walter Ricciardi] that the WHO is ready to strengthen its partnership with WFPHA," congratulated WHO's Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The WFPHA looks forward to continue fostering its growing relationship with the WHO.

Several Governing Council (GC) positions were elected as well: I. Nicoulet (France) and G. Sverre Braut (Norway) will fill the GC positions for the European Region; G. Amofah (Ghana) will fill the GC position for the African Region; H. Nieto (Colombia) will fill the GC position for the American Region; and S. Ghosh (India) will fill the GC position for the Southeast Region. The WFPHA graciously welcomes the new GC members, and looks forward to working with them.

The WFPHA  also welcomed its new President Dr. Laetitia Rispel, who will be serving from 2018 to 2020. 

The working groups, regions, and members of the WFPHA then had the opportunity to share their achievements and ongoing initiatives, and the members of the General Assembly voted to approve several WFPHA statements; these have been elaborated in more detail above.

For more information on WFPHA’s activities during the past year, we invite you to read our annual report available here. 

3. The WFPHA Welcomes the Newest Diplomats of the Global Charter

On the evening of May 19th, the WFPHA hosted a reception for the General Assembly members and WFPHA partners. During this reception, Dr. Rachel Melson—a Diplomat of the Global Charter—shared with attendees her achievements in integrating the Charter into her work on tobacco disinvestment. Following the reception and during other events that week, several high-level stakeholders of the WFPHA committed to integrating the Charter in their public health work and pledged to become Diplomats themselves.

The WFPHA extends its congratulations to the newest Diplomats of the Charter: Hon. Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu (Ministry of Health, Ghana), Prof. Walter Ricciardi (Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health), Dr. Georges Benjamin (American Public Health Association), Prof. Raman Bedi (Global Child Dental Fund), and Dr. Shih-Chung Chen. We look forward to continuing our work with all of you!

From left to right: Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Prof. Walter Ricciardi, Dr. Georges Benjamin, Prof. Raman Bedi, Dr. Shih-Chung Chen

4. WFPHA at the 71^st World Health Assembly: Statement on Digital Technologies in Public Health

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) presented a statement at the 71st World Health Assembly in May 2018 on the Responsible Use of Digital Technologies in Public Health. The 71st World Health Assembly, which took place in Geneva from the 21st to the 26th of May, is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization. The WFPHA’s statement fell under Agenda Item 11.6 (Global strategy and action plan on public health, innovation and intellectual property). In the statement, the WFPHA salutes the global strategy and plan of action on the innovation of intellectual property (A71/13). Additionally, the WFPHA acknowledges the efforts for mHealth(EB142/20) and advocates for the use of appropriate digital technologies for public health. The goal to reach health for all will inevitably utilize digital technologies; we must thus seek to integrate emerging technologies into our health systems.

If public health practitioners and institutions embrace technology — as they must do in response to consumer market demands — then we must remain vigilant of how they are applied across the many different models of society. Public health must build and maintain the trust of the public by ensuring that individual rights and privileges are preserved. In using data for research, public health must also consider the role of ethics if it is to use “big data” responsibly and appropriate in the interest of promoting the public’s health.

Overall, there is still much to learn regarding the potential, limitations, and consequences (both intended and unintended) of using these technologies in public health and clinical medicine. As the digital technology industry continues to grow, all public health professionals must remain cognisant of the effects and critically examine the pressures that can indirectly influence their basic values.

Engaged stakeholders in the realm of public health have the responsibility to take proactive roles and must never hesitate to express the views of the society we seek to protect. Our vision is for a society where technology enhances access and equity towards health for all.

5. New policy papers adopted by WFPHA

Integrating Oral Health into Public Health Systems using the Framework of the Global Charter for the Public's Health

Oral diseases are a neglected epidemic. Although most oral diseases are preventable and have common risk factors with other non-communicable diseases, integration of oral health into public health systems continues to be limited. The Global Charter for the Public’s Health, jointly developed by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is a framework that aims to streamline the functions and services of public health. This policy statement describes how oral health can be integrated into public health systems using the components of the Global Charter for the Public’s Health framework. Additionally, it serves as an international call to action for all public health professionals in all countries of the world to advocate for the full integration of oral health into public health systems. 

Full resolution available here.

A Renewed Call for Global Action to Ban Asbestos

Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals with fibrous structures commonly used in construction work and other industries. In 1972, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that lung cancer and mesotheliomas were induced in laboratory animals when asbestos was injected or inhaled. Fifteen years later, the same group classified asbestos into IARC Group 1, designating asbestos as being carcinogenic to humans. Recent estimates suggest that asbestos-related diseases account for 41,000 lung cancer deaths, 43,000- 59,000 cases of mesothelioma, and 7,000-24,000 cases of asbestosis each year. These numbers are expected to rise in the coming years, given the latency period between exposure and symptoms. The resolution, approved in May 2018 by the WFPHA General Assembly, represents a renewed call for global action to ban asbestos in order to limit further exposure and consequent morbidities and deaths. 

Full resolution available here.

Condemning Attacks by Israeli Defense Forces Personnel on Health Care Workers and Palestinians

The WFPHA commends the Public Health Association of Israel and—more generally—the public health community, human rights NGOs and civic societies for providing emergency and medical assistance to people in need, regardless of their nationality, and for their ongoing efforts to ensure that the human rights of all people are protected. The WFPHA’s statement on these attacks also calls upon the WHO to increase its assistance to multilateral agencies and non-state organizations that provide health services to Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. The WFPHA calls upon the United Nations: to ensure the continued protection of the human rights of all people; to encourage the relevant stakeholders to return to the negotiating table; and to increase its efforts to bring a just resolution to the Middle East conflicts so that we can protect the vulnerable people living in desperate conditions of war-torn Gaza. 

Full statement available here.

6. Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop

The WFPHA hosted an interdisciplinary workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance. The workshop, which took place in Geneva on the 23rd of May, 2018, was attended by approximately 200 experts from around the world. Invited speakers hailed from a wide variety of health sectors, facilitating unique interdisciplinary insight into the challenges and potential solutions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The workshop was organized in a series of panels and discussions moderated by Bettina Borisch, Michael Moore, Laetitia Rispel and Marta Lomazzi. Speakers included the Minister of Health of Ghana Honourable Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Mark Sprenger, April Johnson, Manica Balasegaram, Viviana Munoz and the WFPHA immediate past president Michael Moore, as well as representatives from organizations including: World Health Organization (WHO), World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), International Council of Nurses (ICN), Pfizer, Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), South Centre, Becton Dickinson (BD), React Europe, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Medical Association (WMA), TB Global Fund, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), SustainAbility, Public Health Agency of Sweden, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM UK), University of Antwerp, University of Manchester. We thank our speakers as well as all of the organizations that participated in this year’s workshop for their continuing role in integrating knowledge and experience from different sectors to create effective partnership and cultivate an interdisciplinary knowledge that is accessible to all health professionals in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

To conclude the workshop, the WFPHA released a call to action:

“Calling on all governments, industry, NGOs, health professionals, public and private research organizations to ensure that public health remains at the centre of all policy and scientific endeavours to tackle the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Federation proposes the establishment of antibiotic efficacy as a global public good.”

The call has since been signed by nearly 70 health organizations worldwide. The full version is available here. We would like to reiterate our thanks to all speakers, organizations, and other attendees for participating on our workshop this year and for making it a great success!

7. The New Interns

Paula Hepp 

I am Paula Hepp, a medical student from Munich, Germany. Through my experiences studying and working in Germany, Mexico and Uganda, I was able to gain some insight into different health care systems. This sparked my interest for public health. In order to learn more about the One Health approach and the structures within an international public health organization, I decided to spend two months interning at the WFPHA, before finishing my final year of medical school. With my time at the WFPHA coming to an end, I can say that I have learned at lot about communication between different stakeholders in the international setting of global health and the difficulties concerning international health advocacy. Currently I am working on a project on gender equality and sustainable development with Prof. Borisch.

Sophia Kim 

My name is Sophia Kim, and I am a graduate student from Toronto, Canada. I am enrolled in the Master of Public Health program at Western University, currently in progress to complete my practicum semester at the WFPHA from May to July. I have always stayed involved in advocacy work to raise awareness of various health issues, and one of the most meaningful projects that I did was filming a documentary on the quality of home care for senior patients. This project procured my interest in public health frameworks and how a holistic approach to care can be achieved. I chose to work with the WFPHA because I was intrigued by the Global Charter for the Public’s Health and the concept of applying a public health framework on a global level. As an intern at the WFPHA, I am working with the Indigenous Health Working Group on a scoping review focused on the past and current activities done by international Indigenous advocacy groups. My internship here has taught me the value of partnership and establishing networks, and has further fueled my aspiration to work in health policy.

Christopher Lee

My name is Christopher Lee and I am a Chinese-Canadian student from Toronto, Canada. I am currently completing my practicum semester of the Master of Public Health at Western University at the WFPHA. I started working at the WFPHA in the beginning of May this year and my placement will end at the beginning of August. Currently, I am working with Dr. Raman Bedi, a Diplomat of the Charter, on a project focusing on promoting behaviours that improve oral health among children in the first two years of life. I first became interested in international public health when my curiosity drove me to explore the conditions beyond Canadian soil. Since then, I've gotten experience on the field in Ecuador as well as rural China. I chose to work with the WFPHA because Geneva is the global hub of international health and is the perfect place for me to try my hand in the realm of international health policy. The past month and a half at the WFPHA have taught me the importance of teamwork and communication, especially when facilitating conversation between stakeholders whose cultures and ideologies may differ drastically.

Carlotta Lamura

My name is Carlotta Lamura. I earned a Bachelor in Psychological Sciences and Techniques at San Raffaele University in Milan, my city of origin in Italy. Concurrently, I had different experiences as a tutor with young students and children in no-profit organizations in Italy and Vietnam as well as extra-curricular experiences at San Raffaele Hospital neurology department with patients affected by language and sleep disorders. Now, I am currently pursuing a Joint Master Degree in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication between Università della Svizzera Italiana (Switzerland) and San Raffaele University (Italy). I am also a member of the Joint Didactic Commission.

From September 2017, I independently started a project for my Master Thesis on health communication that culminated in a collaboration between my university and a platform called Docplanner, aimed to produce the first scientific study in Italy on the issue of doctor rating websites. I joined the WFPHA as an intern in May 2018, and I will be with the federation until September 2018. Currently, I am working on a project on Indigenous Oral Health and I am planning to work on projects on Digital Health and Equity. During these months, I have learnt a lot about the importance of international cooperation and the incredible possibilities offered by digital technologies in addressing public health challenges.

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This continuing education program in French is the first master in public health in Switzerland, and one of the first programs in Europe about this subject.

This master is recognized by Swiss School of Public Health, Fondation Promotion Santé Suisse and Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER).

During 3 years, students follow courses in the University of Geneva (5 weeks per year) and do several projects about public health. Students are coached by the faculty and by several colleagues working in international organizations (World Health Organizations, ICRC, ONU, etc.).

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Job Offerings

Associate Professor @ The University of Western Australia

The Associate Professor will be responsible to the Head of School of Population & Global Health and provide leadership in Global Health teaching and research nationally. The applicant will undertake teaching, research and research supervision, contribute to the academic environment of the School and collaborate with other staff within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the virtual ‘Centre for Lifelong Health’.

For more information: http://www.web.uwa.edu.au/beinspired/available-positions/associate-professor,-lifelong-health-global-health

9. Publications

The third edition of the Mayo Clinic Antimicrobial Therapy

The third edition of Mayo Clinic Antimicrobial Therapy is fully updated and revised to reflect the latest guidelines and drug development since the second edition. Chapters have been added on the following subjects: bioterrorism, prosthetic joint and transplant infections, treatment options targeted for hepatitis B and C infections, and dosing for obese and neonatal patients.

Part of the Mayo Clinic Scientific Press suite of publications, this compact, user-friendly resource brings the specialized knowledge of Mayo Clinic to your fingertips.

Interesting Publications

Monitoring universal health coverage within the Sustainable Development Goals: development and baseline data for an index of essential health services

“Achieving universal health coverage, including quality essential service coverage and financial protection for all, is target 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). As a result, an index of essential health service coverage indicators was selected by the UN as SDG indicator 3.8.1. We have developed an index for measuring SDG 3.8.1, describe methods for compiling the index, and report baseline results for 2015.” (D. Hogan, The Lancet Global Health, 2017)

Progress on catastrophic health spending in 133 countries: a retrospective observational study

“The goal of universal health coverage (UHC) requires inter alia that families who get needed health care do not suffer undue financial hardship as a result. This can be measured by the percentage of people in households whose out-of-pocket health expenditures are large relative to their income or consumption. We aimed to estimate the global incidence of catastrophic health spending, trends between 2000 and 2010, and associations between catastrophic health spending and macroeconomic and health system variables at the country level.” (A. Wagstaff, The Lancet Global Health, 2017)

The role of healthcare and education systems in co-occurrence of health risk behaviours in 27 European countries

“Contextual factors play an important role in health and related behaviours. This study aims to examine the association of co-occurrence of five health-risk behaviours with healthcare and education contextual factors using nationally representative samples from 27 European countries.” (S. Kino, European Journal of Public Health, 2017)

WHO Bulletin- Noncommunicable diseases: a call for papers

The Bulletin of the World Health Organization will publish a theme issue on noncommunicable diseases. Since much is known of the clinical interventions in managing these conditions, this theme issue will be focusing on the political economy and experiences in addressing the commercial drivers of noncommunicable diseases and the impact of international trade on government policy on these diseases.

The commercial drivers are a significant challenge that requires better evidence, multisectoral actions and citizens’ involvement. We welcome all papers that address the industries’ interference in public policies and the gaps between policy and the implementation of population-based best-buy interventions that address modifiable behavioural risk factors.

The deadline for submission is 15 July 2018. Manuscripts should be submitted in accordance with the Bulletin’s guidelines for contributors, and the cover letter should mention this call for papers.The theme issue will be launched at Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) in January 2019. For more information, please click here.

You can see the entire bulletin here.

10. Upcoming events

3rd IFEH Academic and 16th MUEHSA Scientific Conference Tue Apr 09, 2019 Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda The International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in conjunction with Makerere University Environmental Health Students' Association (MUEHSA) announce the call for abstracts for the 3rd IFEH Academic and 16th MUEHSA Scientific Conference that will take place from 9th to 11th April 2019 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda. Read more...

Annual International Conferences on Law Enforcement and Public Health Sun Oct 20, 2019 Edinburgh, Scottland The annual International Conferences on Law Enforcement and Public Health brings together practitioners, researchers and policy makers from law enforcement (especially police, prosecutors and the judiciary), the breadth of public health, and local government to promote awareness of and better understand the importance of collaborations and partnerships in addressing complex social issues. Key themes at this extraordinarily multisectoral conference include mental health, violence, trauma, epidemic disease, alcohol and other drugs, marginalisation and vulnerability ... but the list of relevant issues is endless. The next conference, LEPH2019, will be in Edinburgh 20-23 October, 2019. Read more...