Didier

Webinar: Health, literacy and education in Persian speaking countries

Webinar: Health, literacy and education in Persian speaking countries

On 3 December 2020, 8.30-10.00 CET, 11.00-12.30 Iran, 12.00-13.30 AFT, 12.30-14.00 TJT the webinar “Health, literacy and education in Persian speaking countries: achievements, challenges and the link” will take place. It is the first webinar in Persian in the Global Health & Education webinar series.

Do we really acknowledge the health-education co-evolution in health promotion research, policy and practice?

Speakers from Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan will present a brief explanation of the importance of knowledge exchange and production within networks of different languages for the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education. As well as the value of exchange of knowledge and experience among neighbouring countries. Furthermore, the speakers will share with the audience the current state of health and education in the 3 Persian speaking countries, the challenges and achievements and their perspectives about the way forward to achieve the joint goals of “health for all” and “education for all” through the “education for health and health for education” strategy.

The webinar will opened by:

  • Alireza Zali, Vice-chancellor of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  • Mojtaba Zeinivand, Deputy Minister of Education, Iran
  • Didier Jourdan, UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, France

Speakers are:

  • Nastaran Keshavarz Mohammadi, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Co-chair of the Scientific and Ethical committee, UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education
  • Abdul Jalal, M.A International Public Policy, M.A International Relations, External-Policy and Partnership Consultant, Aga Khan Cultural Services-Afghanistan
  • Nazira Sodatsayrova, Secondary School Teacher Educator, Tajikistan

They will address the following questions:

  1. What is the current status of health and education in the 3 countries?
  2. What is the local evidence for the link between health and education?
  3. What are the challenges in acknowledging the health-education co-evolution in health promotion research, policy and practice?

To participate: Zoom link

This webinar will also be broadcasted live on our YouTube channel

More information: bit.ly/webinar3DEC

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Video Webinar: School issues in children during COVID-19

Video Webinar: School issues in children during COVID-19

Watch the video of the Webinar on School issues in children during COVID-19 organized by the International Pediatric Association (IPA), UNICEF and WHO.

On 2 November, IPA, UNICEF and WHO organised a webinar in French on “School issues in children during COVID-19”. The invited experts spoke about the difficulties of the child in school during the COVID-19 pandemic. They highlighted the significant impact on schoolchildren in terms of learning, loss of opportunities but also the consequences on dropping out of school. This webinar wished to return to the issues in order to better guide professionals towards a successful return to school by following the recommendations.

Pr. Rachida Boukari from the University of Alger, host and moderator of this webinar, was surrounded by experts:

  • Didier Jourdan, holder of the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education presented “Data from a study of professionals from 42 countries on the process of reopening schools”
  • Mbola Mbassi, Doctor and public health expert at national and international level spoke of the “WHO School Health Services Guidelines for COVID-19”
  • Joseph Haddad, Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology at Saint George Beirut University Hospital, Lebanon raised “The challenges of Education and Disability in children and COVID-19”.

Pr. Didier Jourdan recalled the interest of this survey which was to collect the points of view of professionals in the field, testimonies from the field on the possible reopening of schools in different countries, and on the successes and difficulties encountered in reopening schools.

In his review of the “WHO School Health Services Guidelines for COVID-19” Dr. Symplice Mbola Mbassi mentioned that schools have been closed in over 190 countries, reaching 90% of the global student population. He added that school closures have exposed children to more anxiety, depression, violence, physical inactivity, poor diet, loss of learning, sedentary lifestyle and increased screen time but also for parents an increase in unmet childcare needs. Dr. Symplice Mbola Mbassi pointed out that schools are places of protection, of learning opportunities. They provide social protection, nutrition, physical activity but also emotional support.

Finally, Pr. Joseph Haddad talked about “The challenges of education and disability in children and COVID-19”. He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to the care of children with disabilities that ensures dignity, based on the rights and needs of these children. The rights of these children are the same as to others, such as the right to education, medical care, rehabilitation, social support and social integration.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJHqv-vlia0

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Online live stream: Re-imagining health education

Online live stream: Re-imagining health education

On Monday 23 November 2020 from 19:00 – 20:30 (Melbourne time zone) the Monash University will organize the free online live stream: “Re-imagining health education”. The live stream is part of their series of Global Critical Conversations which welcomes a line-up of distinguished scholars, educators and industry representatives to share their insights and engage in dialogue focusing on the Monash Education Research priorities. The online live stream will be held in English.

Health education has long been a school subject area and an important element in public health and health promotion campaigns but its goals are still difficult to achieve. Continuing challenges force professionals to critically rethink health education, its assumptions and practices, and thus transform it.

Panelists from Australia, Italy and Canada will explore the new ways of working, teaching, and learning in health education. They will answer these questions:

  • What are the current major challenges facing health education?
  • What can we make of health education’s intentions and tactics?
  • What does it mean to bring interdisciplinarity to the table, what does it offer and what challenges does it pose?
  • How might we involve people and communities through participatory approaches to health education?
  • Is there a need to explore new spaces for health education?
  • How well placed are we to realize new ambitions for health education and what kind of workforce do we need?

More information: https://bit.ly/2Ur7kr4

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Promoting proven policies and practices to reduce the burden of chronic diseases: Joint Action CHRODIS-PLUS

Promoting proven policies and practices to reduce the burden of chronic diseases: Joint Action CHRODIS-PLUS

CHRODIS-PLUS mobilizes more than 50 partners from 21 European countries to help them cope with chronic diseases and is co-funded by the European Commission health program. The purpose of the CHRODIS-PLUS joint action is to ensure a “comprehensive community” approach to health promotion and disease prevention. CHRODIS-PLUS has set up 21 pilot projects and 16 policy dialogues with the aim of evaluating tools and good practices to fight chronic diseases, promote their long-term sustainability and integrate them into policies.

The following publications are available:

  • Consensus statement: concerning the EU added value of cross-country collaboration to prevent and manage chronic diseases beyond 2020.
  • Landscape report: a comparative overview of policies, approaches, good practices, gaps, and needs in participating countries.
  • Recommendations for the implementation of health promotion good practices: five good practices in eight new contexts across the EU where implemented and evaluated. They involved cross-sectoral work and focused on improving physical activity and nutrition among different groups (children, employees and older people) in schools, workplaces and communities.
  • Seven recommendations for intra and intersectoral collaboration for health promotion and chronic disease prevention: that would foster effective intersectoral collaboration inside and outside of health care in order to strengthen health promotion activities.
  • 16 action plans for policy and legislation: that would tackle key chronic disease risk factors, strengthen health promotion, and ensure health systems are well equipped to meet the challenge of chronic disease.

EuroHealthNet has been a partner of the CHRODIS-PLUS joint action since 2017.

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/38HETh4

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Webinar 18 November: Neoliberal globalization and migrant children’s right to health in Latin America

Webinar 18 November: Neoliberal globalization and migrant children’s right to health in Latin America

On 18 November 2020, 16.30 – 17.30 CET, 11.30 – 12.30 AST the UNESCO Chair and WHO Collaborating Center Global Health & Education and the  University of Puerto Rico will organise the webinar: Neoliberal globalization and migrant children’s right to health in Latin America. The webinar will be held in Spanish.

Speakers from Puerto Rico and El Salvador will present a brief analysis of how globalization, through neoliberal policies, has worsened the living conditions of Latin American children, expelling them massively from their territories in search of survival strategies. Furthermore, the speakers will share with the audience the current state of migrant children in the region and the challenges that arise in the countries of origin, transit and destination to guarantee the right to health of this population.

During this webinar the experts will answer these questions :

  1. How has neoliberal globalization exacerbated migration processes in the Latin American region, particularly among women and children? (Dr. M. Rivera, Puerto Rico)
  2. What is the status of migrant children in the region? (Dr. M. Rivera, Puerto Rico and Dr. A. Hernández, El Salvador).
  3. What challenges do migrant children in the region face in terms of the right to health? (Dr. A. Hernández, El Salvador)

To participate: Zoom link.

This webinar will also be broadcast live on our YouTube channel

Posted by Didier in News
GEM 2020: Reopening schools safely – the challenges for health and education

GEM 2020: Reopening schools safely – the challenges for health and education

On 20 and 22 October, UNESCO with the Governments of Ghana, Norway and the United Kingdom, has convened a virtual Global Education Meeting (GEM) focused on post-COVID learning. Ministers and representatives from UN and other agencies looked at the challenges for health and education. Children have suffered many impacts on their health, diet, mental health and well-being, but also violence, sexual and reproductive health risks, because of the closure of schools due to COVID19.

The director of School-based programmes at the World Food Program, Carmen Burbano, spoke about the importance of reopening schools and the need for safe and creative ways to keep schools open. Dr. Valentina Baltag from the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), added that “There is no zero risk strategy for the reopening of schools, but a lot can be done to make sure they are a safe place to learn”.

Dr. Anshu Banerjee, Director at the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO, proposed reducing the size of classes,  improving hygiene, and alternating days at school as measures to maintain the health and the well-being of the pupils.

The UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education was represented by Dr. Nicola Gray. She expressed the fact that this year is difficult for students all over the world. She underlined: “It’s fair to say that this year has been a year of lost milestones for children; proms, graduations, birthday parties, she said. These joyful events in the lives of children and young people have been disrupted.”

Read the article

See also

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Symposium: School Health as we confront COVID-19 in Asia

Symposium: School Health as we confront COVID-19 in Asia

On 2 November 2020, 13.15 – 14.45 JST, 5.15 – 6.45 CET, the Osaka University UNESCO Chair Global Health and Education and the Japanese Consortium for Global Health Research will organise the symposium “School Health as we confront COVID-19 in Asia. What have we learned and where do we go from here?” The symposium will be held in English and is part of the Joint Congress on Global Health 2020 in Osaka.

Speakers from seven Asian countries (Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Nepal and Philippines) will present on the COVID-19 situation in their countries and the measures that have been taken in and affecting schools.

Chairs are, Beverley Anne Yamamoto, Osaka University, chair holder UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education and Jun Kobayashi, University of the Ryukyus, JC-GSHR.

ZOOM Webinar URL:
https://zoom.us/j/98411449783?pwd=enlUQXhPSU8rRWJubmFOK1hFa29TQT09
Webinar ID: 984 1144 9783Password: 789328

Please see the flyer for details of the program.

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“Prioritizing the health and safety of students and educators through closer intersectoral collaboration” – Extraordinary Session of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting on Education post-COVID-19

“Prioritizing the health and safety of students and educators through closer intersectoral collaboration” – Extraordinary Session of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting on Education post-COVID-19

On 22 October, over 70 Member States adopted a Declaration in an online extraordinary session of the UNESCO 2020 Global Education Meeting expressing their commitment to protect national education financing and to implement measures to mitigate the devastating impact of the pandemic on students, families and school staff. As part of the technical discussion underpinning the adoption of the global Declaration, the UNESCO Chair in Global Health and Education was asked to participate in Breakout Session Theme 2 on re-opening schools safely.

In recent months, Professor Didier Jourdan, Dr Nicola Gray and Chair community members have written evidence- and practice-informed perspectives about safe school re-opening with partners including Sir Michael Marmot (UCL Institute of Health Equity), Mr Sean Slade (ASCD), and Dr Janet McDonagh (University of Manchester). The Chair also conducted a survey of professionals to explore their experience of providing education during the pandemic and of implementing school re-opening guidance issued by national or regional authorities.

Dr Gray, on behalf of the Chair, described the compelling evidence base supporting the ‘triple dividend’ of inclusive, equitable and sustainable secondary education – health for adolescents now, as future adults, and for their children – as the best investment that any government can make in its youth. We reported survey findings regarding the need for close collaboration between school teams, local authorities and families. We supported empowering adults in schools – to secure their rights to a safe workplace and, in turn, their responsibility to protect the setting from outside infection.

Dr Gray was specifically asked to respond to questions about supporting mental health as schools re-open, and optimising the return for children and youth with disabilities. Both issues demand effective inter-sectoral working between education and health, a view strongly shared by the contributors from Member States, reported back to the main session, and confirmed as a priority action in the Declaration (point 8).

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Returning to School: children and young people living with chronic illness

Returning to School: children and young people living with chronic illness

In the article “Returning to School: children and young people living with chronic illness” published on September 28, 2020 in the Journal of Children’s Services, Didier Jourdan, Nicola Gray and Janet E. McDonagh propose a framework to support the successful return to school of children and young people with chronic illnesses using appropriate intersectoral strategies.

The article is based on both research regarding the impact of school closure on children and young people with chronic illness, as well as global research findings about their lives during the pandemic and on the advice from practitioners who work in the field with these young people and their families.

It thus exposes the importance of a strategic approach to the return to school for these students who are vulnerable and recalls the need to take action against growing inequalities.

Read the article here

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Pre-conference: Helping people to help themselves to better health – From theory to practice

Pre-conference: Helping people to help themselves to better health – From theory to practice

Join the online pre-conference “Helping people to help themselves to better health – From theory to practice” on Monday 12 October 2020, 14.00 – 16.00 CET. This pre-conference is part of the virtual 16th World Congress on Public Health.

More than ever, the current context reminds us how public health approaches need to be based on strong knowledge of health determinants, social practices, cultures and the active involvement of the people themselves. In public health interventions there is often still an over-emphasis on individual-level factors at the expense of the social determinants of health.

During this pre-conference Dr. Nina Bartelink (Maastricht University), Pr. Kenneth Yongabi Anchang (IMO State University) and Pr. Marco Akerman (University of São Paulo) will showcase experiences of participatory community-based programmes that made a difference to people’s well-being and health. These presentations will be followed by a round table where experts as Pr. Louise Potvin (Montreal University) and Dr. Orkan Okan (Bielefeld University and EUPHA Health Promotion section) will share their views on the state of public health practice and how to get public health systems investing more in participatory community-based interventions.

The pre-conference will result in a statement with the main conditions for large-scale implementation of policies and practices that leave no one behind, by reviewing the evidence and learning from innovations in the field. Participants will be invited to contribute to this statement.

For more information or to register for the pre-conference (registration fee is € 40,-).

The pre-conference is organized by WHO Collaborating Centre & UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, EUPHA Health Promotion Section and EHESP School of Public Health.

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