Leaving No One Behind: Integrating Oral Health into Primary Healthcare for Refugee Populations

In a world that has been marred by conflict and turmoil, the devastating impact of wars and conflicts on daily life and health cannot be ignored. This year, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has taken a significant step towards addressing a critical yet often overlooked aspect of primary healthcare for refugee populations: oral health.

The WFPHA, in collaboration with several international organizations, including the World Dental Federation, Framework Convention on Global Health Alliance (FCGH Alliance), and Sustainable Health Equity Movement (SHEM), has spearheaded an initiative to emphasize the importance of oral health in the lives of refugees. Led by the dedicated efforts of the Oral Health Workgroup within the WFPHA, a policy brief has been developed. This policy brief calls for the integration of oral health into the primary health packages provided to refugee populations around the world.

The WFPHA, in collaboration with its Oral Health Workgroup and Public Health in Emergencies and Disasters Workgroup, is dedicated to identifying strategic partners and opportunities to integrate oral health into primary healthcare packages for refugees. The goal is to ensure that refugees receive comprehensive healthcare that addresses their oral health needs, contributing to their overall well-being and dignity.

Translating the Essential Public Health Functions into Public Health Curricula

On October 26, 2023, at 13:00 (CEST), the WFPHA held a webinar that provided an overview of the work the WFPHA’s Public Health Professionals’ Education and Training Working Group has been undertaking in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other key partners on the Public Health and Emergency Workforce Roadmap.

During this webinar, esteemed global speakers outlined how the WHO Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) have been unified and unpacked as part of the Roadmap project, how the revised EPHF have been used to inform a competency and outcomes framework towards the delivery of the EPHFs, and mechanisms intended to support incorporating the EPHF into curricula to train the future public health and emergency workforce.

This webinar is available to view by clicking on the link below.

Urgent Appeal for Humanitarian Action in Gaza – Join the Call for Peace

The most lethal attack ever registered against a hospital happened on Oct 17, 2023 in the Gaza Strip (or Gaza), with hundreds of people dead and injured. The World Health Organization issued a strong protest.

This week, The Lancet featured an open letter written by Luis Eugenio Portela Fernandes de Souza, President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations. The letter is addressed to influential leaders, including the Presidents of the United Nations Security Council, United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, high-ranking political and health authorities of Israel and Palestine, and His Excellency Pope Francis.

Plea for Peace: A Call to Protect Innocent Lives

The ongoing war between Hamas and the State of Israel has taken a devastating toll on the lives of innocent civilians in the region. The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has taken a bold and responsible step by sending a letter to key global leaders and authorities, including the President of the Security Council, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Authorities of Israel and Palestine, Pope Francis, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, to plead for the health and lives of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians, elderly persons, women, men, children, and babies caught up in the fight between Hamas and the State of Israel.

The WFPHA urges the key global leaders and authorities to use all their power, influence, and voice to stop this insane manifestation of pure evil. “We all know that the eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth paradigm will only lead to further loss and suffering. This has to stop. Use your power for this to happen.”

The WFPHA invites member associations, institutions, communities, and individuals to join this call by signing the letter. Together, we stand for peace!

WFPHA Condemns Attacks on Civilian Populations Everywhere

Following the strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel perpetrated by Hamas, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) also strongly condemns the Israeli forces’ attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip.

As alerted by the United Nations Secretary-General (UN-SG), António Guterres, while Israel’s security concerns are legitimate, military operations must be carried out strictly with international humanitarian law, and “civilians must be respected and protected at all times, and civilian infrastructure must never be a target”. Similarly, the European Union Foreign Policy Chief (EUFP-Chief), Josep Borrell, said clearly: “A collective punishment against all Palestinians will be unfair and unproductive. It will be (…) against the interest of peace. Not all the Palestinian people are terrorists.”

As a global public health organization, the WFPHA stresses that besides deaths and immediate threats to life, war and recurrent violence profoundly impact the mental health of people living in regions of armed conflict. Moreover, in conflict-affected areas, access to health services is limited due to the destruction of infrastructure and lack of resources.

Civilians in the Gaza Strip must have access to humanitarian aid, food, clean water, and healthcare services. The immediate release of hostages and the safe removal of children, women, and older people must be carried out urgently.

The WFPHA joins the UN-SG and the EUFP-Chief’s calls for respect for the lives of civilians in the Gaza Strip, remembering that Palestinians and non-Palestinians, including UN staff have been victims in this war.

WFPHA Condemns Terrorist Attacks on Civilian Populations

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel perpetrated by Hamas. To date, Hamas has killed over 900 Israeli and non-Israeli civilians, including women, children, babies, and 260 young people who attended a music festival. WFPHA considers these attacks as a severe violation of human rights and an infringement of international law. As a global public health association, WFPHA is deeply concerned about the many lives lost and the negative repercussions on the physical and mental health of individuals and communities.

WFPHA is fearful for the wellbeing of about 150 non-combatant civilians taken hostage by Hamas, including children, toddlers, disabled and elderly persons. Although no official list was given, it seems that among the hostages there are those with Canadian, US, EU, Philippines, and Thai citizenship, as well as Israeli citizens. Their lives, as well as their physical and mental health, are at great risk. WFPHA joins the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region’s (ASPHER) call for their immediate release and for rapid intervention on their behalf by organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

WFPHA is concerned about non-combatant civilians in the Gaza Strip. They deserve protection like civilians everywhere.

This latest atrocity by Hamas, which is a crime against humanity, has only added to the cycle of violence in the region. WFPHA appeals to all parties involved to seek peaceful lives together, respecting the rights of all people in the region.

WFPHA is a membership organization representing more than 5 million public health workers in 130 countries. Its mission is “protecting people and the planet, preventing diseases, and promoting health, peace, and wellbeing”. It again stresses the need for peace work.

WFPHA greatly values public health colleagues in the region. It is a testimony of their efforts to work harmoniously together in the interests of peace and health for all. WFPHA will support the Israeli public health community in all its further efforts.