The European Public Health Association Newsletter - July 2019 |
1. EditorialWelcome to our July newsletter. In this newsletter you can find advices on how get through the hot summer days and advices on staying safe during the school holidays. EUPHA sections call for nominations of (vice-)presidents, including section Health services research, Child and adolescent public health, and Health and environment. This newsletter also includes updates from our members, European Public Health Conference, European Commission, ECDC and WHO. Wishing you nice summer and pleasant reading, Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, EUPHA President, and Dineke Zeegers Paget, EUPHA Executive Director |
2. EUPHA updateWhat was the European Public Health week like?145 events and activities taking place in 35 countries. More impressions from the first ever EUPHW are available here. Recipes for a Healthier Europe by the new Commission President-elect?Brussels, 16 July 2019 – On behalf of patients, medical associations, health managers and the wider European public health community, we welcome the positive vote for Ursula von der Leyen as the new President-elect of the European Commission. The support of the European Parliament is a huge responsibility and a concrete set of actions are needed to regain citizens’ trust. Achieving the strong coordination required for a coherent and robust health policy requires political leadership, drive and dedicated Commission resources to meet citizens’ expectations. We call on Ms von der Leyen to include a senior level health commissioner in her team, with a strong mandate, and to ensure that one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission has overall responsibility for mainstreaming health across the whole of the Commission. We have outlined the main responsibilities for such a role in our joint call. Call for nominations section president and vice-president Health services research (HSR)The Health services research section (EUPHA–HSR) announces the start of the election procedure for the section president and vice-president, following the completion of the mandates by the current president and vice-president. 1. ‘job requirements’ section president and vice-president
2. Additional requirements HSR section
Tasks The president supervises the section’s affairs, reviews existing activities, monitors scientific and policy developments in the field and contributes to EUPHA advocacy, education and research activities. The vice-presidents assist the president in fulfilling the tasks and represent the section to (inter)national meetings upon request of EUPHA or the president. Timeline Send in your application (motivation letter and CV) before October 7, 2019 to j.dejong@nivel.nl. Call for nominations section president Environment and healthThe Environment and health section announces the start of the election procedure for the section president, following the completion of the mandate by the current president. 1. ‘job requirements’ section president and vice-president
2. Additional requirements E&H section
Tasks The president supervises the section’s affairs, reviews existing activities, monitors scientific and policy developments in the field and contributes to EUPHA advocacy, education and research activities. Timeline Send in your application (motivation letter and CV) before October 7, 2019 to peter.van.den.hazel@vggm.nl. The applications will be discussed in a EUPHA-section Environment and Health core-group. Next, a selection will be made based on completeness of nomination, the requirements listed above and the quality of the motivation letter. If more candidates apply, the final selection will be presented for voting to the annual meeting in Marseille. Call for nominations section president Child and Adolescent Public Health (CAPH)EUPHA-CAPH announces the start of the election procedure for the section president, following the completion of the mandates by the current president. Everyone with a suitable profile is invited to apply for this very nice, interesting and varied job. Being president of this section offers you the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of disciplines on an international basis. In addition, you will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of child and adolescent public health activities and research. 1. ‘job requirements’ section president and vice-president
2. Additional requirements CAPH:
Tasks The president supervises the section’s affairs, reviews existing activities, monitors scientific and policy developments in the field and contributes to EUPHA advocacy, education and research activities. |
3. European Public Health Conference
Plenary Session: Bridging towards the future of public health in Europe EUPHA and the European Commission are organising an exciting plenary at the EPH Conference in Marseille on Friday 22 November, 09:40. The plenary is moderated by Isabel de la Mata (DG SANTE) and Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, President EUPHA. In 2019, we will welcome a new regional director for WHO Europe and we will have both a new European Parliament and a new European Commission. This has led to a debate on the necessity of health as a European priority area. In this plenary session, we will look at the priorities in public health from the perspective of the European Commission, the Finnish presidency of the European Council, the European Public Health Association and a ‘concerned citizen’. Speakers/Panellists include:
PRECONFERENCES We are pleased to announce an interesting programme of half day and full day pre-conferences on Wednesday 20 November, many of them organised by EUPHA Sections. Pre-conferences can also be added to your already made registration. You can do so by logging into your account and updating your registration. You will receive an adjusted invoice by email. Pre-conferences are offered with buffet lunches as moments for networking and getting together. For the full programme click here. REGISTRATION More than 1,000 people have already registered for the Marseille conference. Don’t miss out and benefit from early bird registration fees until 1 September. Early bird registration fees for EUPHA members are EUR 600. Non-members pay EUR 680, students EUR 420 (all fees inclusive of VAT). Registration here. |
4. EUPHA members updateMaltese National Public Health SymposiumFollowing the success of the first-ever National Public Health Symposium, the Malta Association of Public Health Medicine is embarking on the second edition of the Public Health Symposium.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on symposium@maphm.org Letter to mayor of Madrid: calling to maintain clean air programmeThe Spanish Association of Public Health and Healthcare (SESPAS) calls on the mayor of Madrid to maintain the clean air programme. EUPHA supports this call and wrote a letter to the mayor Madrid: "At the European Public Health Association we learned that your administration wants to repeal the current provisions to decrease traffic and pollution emissions in the central area of Madrid. We are very concerned with this news. [...]" Read the full letter here. |
5. European Journal of Public HealthVolume 29, Issue 4, August 2019EDITORIALThe tobacco industry is dying; disinvestment can speed its demise |
6. Call for proposals, job opportunitiesVacancies in the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health in Bonn, GermanyThe positions aim at strengthening the WHO support to the European Environment and Health Process and other multisectoral partnerships for environment and health. Deadline for application is 12 August 2019.
Fully funded PhD fellowship on 'The making of intersectoral coordination: understanding the practices of health professions'Aarhus University, Department of Public Health For the full call please follow this link, item P15. Post-doc vacancy at Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, GermanyThe Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research (head: Prof. Dr. Kayvan Bozorgmehr) seeks for a highly motivated researcher to conduct independent quantitative research related to the department’s research priorities in one or more of the following areas: social determinants of health, global health, social epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, migration, health care inequalities, and infectious disease epidemiology. Extended deadline for application: Wednesday, August 14, 2019. https://uni-bielefeld.de/Universitaet/Ak...Call for submissions for Casebook on Advocacy in Public HealthThe goal of the Casebook is to assist National Public Health Associations and other actors to improve their capacity of influence on national public health policies through advocacy efforts. Call for ECDC Fellowship Programme (EPIET & EUPHEM) cohort 2020The call for applications for the EU-track cohort 2020 of the ECDC Fellowship Programme is now open. Interested candidates can apply to become a fellow in one of the two paths offered by the Programme: EPIET field epidemiology and EUPHEM public health microbiology. Deadline for application is 8 September 2019, at 24.00 CEST. https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/ca... |
7. Interesting newsEuropean Programme for Integration and Migration - Policy updateThe European Programme for Integration and Migration is a collaborative funding initiative of currently twenty-five grant-making foundations, hosted in the Network of European Foundations. Global Launch of EU SDG10 report on Inequalities in the EU and BeyondDespite the European Union’s commitment to leave no one behind, millions of people in Europe are falling victim to widening inequalities. This new EU-wide report shines a light on the impact of rising inequalities on people and planet. https://www.sdgwatcheurope.org/hlpf-side...Amazon's Alexa will deliver NHS medical advice in the UKThe NHS says the partnership could reduce pressure on doctors. https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/10/20688...WHO says e-cigarettes, 'smoke-free' products do not help reduce cancerGENEVA (Reuters) - Electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products are not helping fight cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, urging smokers and governments not to trust claims from cigarette firms about their latest products. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-healt...How austerity politics hurts prisonersA blog by Nasrul Ismail in Oxford University Press's Academic Insights for the Thinking World. https://blog.oup.com/2019/07/austerity-p...Chronic wounds: the hidden health crisis hitting 2m BritonsThe NHS spends £5bn a year treating chronic wounds, mostly caused by injury or surgery. The numbers affected are rising fast – so why is this such a low priority? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...Should obesity be recognised as a disease?The decision to define obesity as a disease does not only have implications for healthcare professionals, but also for the wider public. [...] Stigma can be a significant problem for obese patients within healthcare settings as well, even now that it is now commonly acknowledged that a range of determinants outside of an individual’s control, including heritable, environmental and socioeconomic factors, can contribute to weight. https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l425...Data from health apps offers opportunities and obstacles to researchersResearchers are eager to tap into the steadily expanding pool of health information collected from users by products like Fitbit, Clue, and the Apple Watch. But while these datasets could be a scientific treasure trove for scientists, they also pose logistical and ethical challenges that need to be addressed. https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/3/206812...Time to tackle the physical activity gender gap2019 might well be the year of women's sport. While coverage has long been overshadowed by the male leagues, viewing opportunities and public engagement has been growing. Public excitement perhaps peaked during the Women's Football World Cup, with television audiences across the world increased by millions on previous years. As female athletes challenge inequalities over pay and investment and shift social expectations, could their example be used to tackle the gender gap in physical activity in the wider population? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpu...10 ways to help stay safe during the school holidaysSchools across the WHO European Region have closed or will soon close their doors for the summer. This means many families will pack their bags and head off on holiday – often driving to vacation destinations and frequently spending much of their time around water, whether on boats, swimming at beaches or playing in pools. While these activities can be a wonderful way to pass the summer holidays, they do come with risks. Syntax and the "sin tax": the power of narratives for healthhttps://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/07/17/syn... New OSH indicator proposed for the UN Sustainable Development GoalsThe World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Labour Office (ILO) have developed a proposal for a new occupational safety and health (OSH) indicator for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), relating to Goal 8: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.
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8. Upcoming courses and conferences
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9. Interesting publicationsNew Poland HiThttp://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/part... WHO launches new report on the global tobacco epidemichttps://www.who.int/tobacco/global_repor... Twenty Years Of Antiretroviral Therapy For People Living With HIV: Global Costs, Health Achievements, Economic Benefitshttps://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.137... Ending the neglect of global oral health: time for radical actionhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar... The global burden of childhood and adolescent cancer in 2017: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanon... A new vision for bioethics training in global healthhttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/langl... Common mental disorders: falling through the gaphttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanps... Global strategy to accelerate tobacco control: advancing sustainable development through the implementation of the WHO FCTC 2019-2025https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/3... Understanding masculinities to improve men's healthhttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lance... Hopes for health from new European Commission leader |
10. European Commission newsThe Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety plays a vital role in the Commission's ongoing work on Endocrine DisruptorsTo address potential risks for human health, the cosmetic products regulation (Regulation (EC) N°1223/2009) lays down a system of restrictions and bans on the use of certain substances in cosmetics based on a scientific risk assessment carried out by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). https://ec.europa.eu/health/eunewsletter...Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance - new guide on using antibiotic prescribing dataThe Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance – co-chaired by the Commission’s Director for public health John F. Ryan with his US counterpart Larry Kerr, is a collaboration between the USA, Canada, Norway and the European Union to combat antimicrobial resistance. https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/tatfa...What is the EU doing to help people eat better and move more?The EU Commission does more than encourage people to be active, it is very active itself in the fields of nutrition and physical activity. This brochure on EU initiatives that help people have healthier lifestyles has just been translated into all EU languages. https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health...Drug-related deaths and mortality in Europe: update from the EMCDDA expert networkThis publication provides an update on drug-related deaths in Europe, presenting and analysing the latest data and trends in drug-induced deaths and overall mortality among high-risk drug users in the European Union and beyond. It draws on contributions from specialists representing more than 40 countries at the latest meeting of the EMCDDA expert network on drug-related deaths in November 2018 as well as information provided by European countries in the annual reporting exercise. http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications...See all the presentations looking at progress made since the launch of the Tartu Call for a healthy lifestyleTwo years after the Tartu Call for a healthy lifestyle was signed, the 19 June 2019 seminar in Brussels looked at how changes were being implemented by the Commission, Member States and civil society. Top brass from three Directorate Generals spoke and best practice owners were awarded certificates. https://ec.europa.eu/health/nutrition_ph...New Joint Action SHARP - Strengthened International HeAlth Regulations and Preparedness in the EU - launchedThe 3-year Joint Action involves 30 countries and will strengthen the implementation of decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border threats to health, support EU level preparedness and response to health threats at national, EU and regional level, and improve the implementation of International Health Regulations. https://ec.europa.eu/chafea/health/newsr...All smiles at results of the EU-funded ADVOCATE project on oral health and wellbeingThe project received nearly 6 million € co-funding from the HORIZON 2020 in order to explore ways to optimise delivery of oral health and wellbeing to the population in EU Member States. It focused on the prevention of oral diseases through general dental practitioners. https://www.youtube.com/watchWorld Hepatitis Day: Statement from Commissioner Andriukaitis“State of play can – and has to – change, since, as for other communicable diseases, testing and early diagnosis of hepatitis, and linkage to care, can interrupt transmission and save lives”. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscor...Clinical trials: Call for all sponsors to publish results in EU databaseIn a joint letter published today, the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) reminded all sponsors of clinical trials conducted in the European Union of their obligation to make summaries of results of concluded trials publicly available in the EU Clinical Trials Database. https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/sante/news... |
11. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control newsEurosurveillance - Volume 24, Issue 30, 25 July 2019Rapid communicationDetection of Aedes flavopictus (Yamada, 1921), Netherlands, June 2019 Systematic ReviewHepatitis B and C prevalence and incidence in key population groups with multiple risk factors in the EU/EEA: a systematic review ResearchAcute hepatitis B notification rates in Flanders, Belgium, 2009 to 2017 Mortality rates among individuals diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV); an observational cohort study, England, 2008 to 2016 LetterLetter to the editor: Measles outbreak in Gothenburg urban area, Sweden, 2017 to 2018: low viral load in breakthrough infections Authors’ response: Measles outbreak in Gothenburg urban area, Sweden, 2017/18: lower viral load in breakthrough infections Eurosurveillance - Volume 24, Issue 29, 18 July 2019Rapid communicationDengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) outbreak, French Polynesia, 2019
Maite Aubry, Mihiau Mapotoeke, Anita Teissier, Tuterarii Paoaafaite, Elsa Dumas-Chastang, Marine Giard and Van-Mai Cao-Lormea Isolation of Candida auris from cystic fibrosis patient, Greece, April 2019 Angeliki Stathi, Ioanna Loukou, Helen Kirikou, Argyri Petrocheilou, Maria Moustaki, Aristea Velegraki and Levantia Zachariadou SurveillanceCharacterisation of measles after the introduction of the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in 2004 with focus on the laboratory data, 2016 to 2019 outbreak, RomaniaMihaela Lazar, Aurora Stănescu, Ana Raquel Penedos and Adriana Pistol ResearchPneumococcal vaccination coverages by age, sex and specific underlying risk conditions among middle-aged and older adults in Catalonia, Spain, 2017Angel Vila-Córcoles, Olga Ochoa-Gondar, Cinta de Diego, Eva Satué, Angel Vila-Rovira and Maria Aragón Dientamoeba fragilis – the most common intestinal protozoan in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, 2007 to 2017 Jukka-Pekka Pietilä, Taru Meri, Heli Siikamäki, Elisabet Tyyni, Anne-Marie Kerttula, Laura Pakarinen,T Sakari Jokiranta and Anu Kantele Eurosurveillance - Volume 24, Issue 28, 11 July 2019EuroroundupTargets for the reduction of antibiotic use in humans in the Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR) partner countries SurveillanceImproving preparedness to respond to cross-border hepatitis A outbreaks in the European Union/European Economic Area: towards comparable sequencing of hepatitis A virus 13 Extraordinary increase in West Nile virus cases and first confirmed human Usutu virus infection in Hungary, 2018 Eurosurveillance - Volume 24, Issue 24, 04 July 2019Rapid communication
A case of reassortant seasonal influenza A(H1N2) virus, Denmark, April 2019 ResearchSeroprevalence and demographic factors associated with hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection from a hospital emergency department testing programme, London, United Kingdom, 2015 to 2016 PerspectiveIncreasing childhood vaccination coverage of the refugee and migrant population in Greece through the European programme PHILOS, April 2017 to April 2018 |
12. WHO newsMajor step towards control of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European RegionDr Piroska Ӧstlin, Acting WHO Regional Director for Europe, and Mr Dmitry Kostennikov, Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, signed the Donor Agreement between WHO/Europe and the Russian Federation. The Agreement sets out the Russian Federation’s financial contribution for continued joint work to fight noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Region. Signed on 3 July 2019 in Moscow, the grant marks a milestone in the Region’s response to its high burden of NCDs. Taken together, the major NCDs – diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental disorders – account for more than 80% of the deaths and over two thirds of the disease burden in the Region. http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics... Detecting frailty in and promoting accessible services for older people in Friuli Venezia Giulia, ItalyIn 2018, the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy started the PRISMA-7 project on detecting frailty in older people early and improving the response of health and social services. The project seeks to enhance quality of life in this age group, promote independence and prevent or delay hospitalization and functional dependency. http://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/netw... Empowering clinical and public health leaders to strengthen small countries' health systemsAs part of WHO’s ongoing support to small countries, a capacity-building event entitled “Strengthening governance in small-state health systems: the role of clinical and public health leaders” was organized in Valletta, Malta, on 10 May 2019 in collaboration with the Ministry for Health of Malta. http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/mal...Measuring the gender pay gap for action in the Autonomous Province of Trento, ItalyThe Health Observatory of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy, has taken measures to establish a baseline for monitoring the gender pay gap among employees working in its public health system over time, and propose coherent, wide-ranging action to tackle it effectively. http://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/netw...Strengthening tobacco control in Slovenia to save livesThe Slovenian Parliament endorsed a tobacco control law in 2017, which led to significant improvement in tobacco control in the country. The advanced measures included in the law were the result of strong leadership and collaboration among many stakeholders, including civil society and the media. http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/slo...Statement of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and WHO Regions for Health Network (2019)WHO European Healthy Cities Network and WHO Regions for Health Network presented their joint statement the High-level Conference on Health Equity – Accelerating Progress towards Healthy and Prosperous Lives for all in the WHO European Region, 11–13 June http://www.euro.who.int/en/about-us/netw...WHO/Europe studies find baby foods are high in sugar and inappropriately marketed for babiesTwo new studies from WHO/Europe show that a high proportion of baby foods are incorrectly marketed as suitable for infants under the age of 6 months, and that many of those foods contain inappropriately high levels of sugar. http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/...Health advice: how to keep cool in the heatThe WHO European Region is currently experiencing a very hot summer, and this is expected to continue for the next weeks. During the holiday season, this is generally a cause for joy. However, the public, medical professionals and public health authorities need to be prepared for heatwaves and to tackle the possible health consequences of heat exposure. http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics...Take part in an on-line consultation on the 'Decade of Healthy Ageing' proposalThe WHO and partners are seeking open input, comments, revisions, additions on the zero-draft proposal for the Decade of Healthy Ageing. The document is 20 pages long, excluding annexes. Open through 15 August 2019. https://www.who.int/ageing/decade-of-hea... |
This newsletter received co-funding under an operating grant from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020). The content of this newsletter represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. |
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