Introduction by Croakey: While revealing gaps in institutions and a fractured society, the pandemic provided opportunities for the global public health community to come together and work for a brighter future, according to a declaration from the 17th World Congress on Public Health.
The declaration says:
Our world is in turmoil. Yet, there are opportunities. The pandemic did, however, provide grounds for optimism.”
Opportunities exist to take advantage of scientific progress, promote equity, act on the climate crisis and strive for peace, according to the declaration. It also urged the public health community to counter misinformation, and powerful people and organisations who threaten health.
The World Congress, held in Rome earlier this month, heard discussions on these topics and more, including mandates to decolonise public health.
“Do public health for all the public’s health,” said the President-elect of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), Emma Rawson-Te Patu (pictured above), who will be the Association’s first Indigenous president and is of the Māori tribal groups of Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai te Rangi, Raukawa and Ngāti Haua.
The WFPHA guest tweeted for Croakey’s rotated, curated Twitter account @WePublicHealth from the World Congress using the hashtag, #WCPH2023. A summary follows below.
World Federation of Public Health Associations writes:
Decolonising public health
View CAPHIA’s Twitter thread here.
Greener, more sustainable world
Equity
Commercial determinants of health
Read The Lancet series on the Commercial Determinants of Health here.
Awards
Students of public health
Conflict, politics and health
Permacrisis
Opportunities to focus on the public’s health
Read the final declaration here.
See articles from the #WorldInTurmoil series, a collaboration between the WFPHA and Croakey.
