Didier

10
Nov
2020
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

Posted by Didier in News
29
Oct
2020
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.

Posted by Didier in News
26
Oct
2020
“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).

Posted by Didier in News
05
Oct
2020
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

Posted by Didier in News
01
Oct
2020
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.

Posted by Didier in News
04
Sep
2020
Coronavirus: what we know about the risk of reopening schools – and how best to limit it

Coronavirus: what we know about the risk of reopening schools – and how best to limit it

Across the world, over 1.5 billion children and young people were deprived of school during the first phase of the pandemic. We know this has had a negative effect on learning. And research carried out in England has shown that children in deprived areas have fallen furthest behind.

We know too that physical attendance at school has health benefits. Time spent with friends during adolescence helps brain development. Compulsory physical activity can protect against future chronic illnesses. And many young people benefit from school-based services such as free lunches and sanitary products.

Young people clearly benefit from being in school. But as many countries reopen, do the benefits of sending our children back outweigh the risks, and if so, what are the conditions of a safe return?

In the article published today in The Conversation, Didier Jourdan, Nicola Gray and Michael Marmot review the available data on the risks of returning to school and argue that the best means of mitigating them are locally driven control measures, based on national guidance.

Read the article.

Posted by Didier in News
03
Sep
2020
High-level virtual meeting on schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic

High-level virtual meeting on schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic

The challenge of supporting effective schooling during the pandemic

On Monday 31 August, WHO/Europe organised an online high-level meeting with ministers of health from across the WHO European Region to exchange experiences, views and reflections on providing safe and effective schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting effective schooling during the pandemic is essential for the health and well-being of children. Nevertheless, this is a real strategic challenge for education and health authorities, as countries seek to ensure a safe, friendly and educationally effective environment while controlling the transmission of the virus.

Initiated by a proposal of Dr. Roberto Speranza, Minister of Health of Italy, the meeting provided an opportunity for several Member States to present their experiences. Experts from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), WHO headquarters and WHO collaborating centres provided insights and facilitated the discussion.

 

The contribution of Prof. Jourdan and the UNESCO Chair

Prof. Jourdan took part to the expert’s round table and presented the WHO Collaborating Centre and UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education perspective on this issue. In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the Chair has been very active both within the United Nations working group and in the production of articles, teaching tools and support for teachers at a national level.

A recent global survey done by the Chair in 42 countries showed states have a double role to make the crisis management at a school level possible:

  • Producing national guidelines
  • Supporting local capacity building

At this stage of the pandemic, Prof. Jourdan recalled should give priority to the operational methods of organisations – including effective testing, tracing and isolation procedures – and above all the educational quality issues. The main issue is to not longer focus on national instructions, but on collective action at local level to limit transmission. We need to ensure that all students – especially the most vulnerable – continue to learn.

It is not a question of simply implementing a protocol, but rather putting into practice, the practices best suited to the situation. To recognise the expertise of education professionals, to trust them and empower them to act. Securing the involvement of everyone locally – students, parents, local decision-makers, education and health professionals – is essential for success. We need to develop the necessary skills so that everyone is capable of adapting their behaviour. The participation of children and young people is a condition for success and requires a long-term effort.

A positive and responsible local approach to the return to school by families, school teams and health professionals is our best hope for the ongoing success of our children and young people.

These discussions will contribute to a summary paper being developed by WHO/Europe to provide a reference point and operational considerations for national education and health authorities planning and implementing effective schooling during the pandemic.

 

Posted by Didier in News
21
Jul
2020
Sexuality education in the digital space and Health & Wellbeing for young people in times of COVID-19 – UNESCO publications

Sexuality education in the digital space and Health & Wellbeing for young people in times of COVID-19 – UNESCO publications

UNESCO recently published a range of products that have been developed relating to a series of work exploring sexuality education in the digital space. Also a report was published based on a consultation on the health and wellbeing challenges facing young people in the context of school closures and other lockdown measures in the time of COVID-19.

The products related to exploring sexuality education in the digital space:

  • Switched On Symposium Report:A report from a 3-day global symposium held in February (jointly by UNESCO, UNFPA, IPPF European Network and BZgA). The symposium explored the opportunities and challenges for capitalizing on digital spaces to strengthen efforts to deliver comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents and young people.
  • A series of posters showcasing examples of digital spaces delivering sexuality educationto adolescents and young people across the world. This series of posters featured as part of the exhibition at the symposium ‘Switched On. The posters are snapshots of digital sexuality education providers who are doing just that – taking sexuality education to the digital spaces where adolescents and young people can search for and hopefully find, the information they need.
  • Sexuality Education for Young People in Digital Spaces: A review of the evidence, commissioned by UNESCO and written by the Institute of Development Studies. This desk review examines the available evidence on the extent to which digital content can influence knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents and young people (aged 10–24 years), and looks at the potential for digital spaces to be used to add value to the delivery of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE).
  • Support. Connection: How are young people engaging with digital spaces to learn about bodies, sex and relationships?, commissioned by UNESCO and written by Restless Development. This research aimed to further shed light on young people’s (aged 10-24) engagement with digital spaces for obtaining information and education about bodies, sex and relationships. The report presents the results of a global survey completed by almost 4,000 young people from around the world, as well as a series of focus group discussions carried out in five countries. It provides insight into how young people are using digital spaces to find answers to their questions, and their experiences in doing so.

The report Health and Wellbeing Experiences for Young People in the Times of COVID-19 is based on a consultation in May 2020 with young digital content creators and users. It is the results of a partnership between the YTH (youth tech health) initiative and UNESCO. The researchers wanted to know what challenges youth were facing, what has changed in their lives since the COVID-19 pandemic began and what has stayed the same, and what youth-facing/serving organizations like the YTH initiative could do to support them.

Posted by Didier in News
21
Jul
2020
Videos and resources webinar “The COVID-19 pandemic: better aligning education and health” now available!

Videos and resources webinar “The COVID-19 pandemic: better aligning education and health” now available!

Many of you participated in the webinar “The COVID-19 pandemic: better aligning education and health” on Monday 13 July 2020. We would like to thank the guest speakers and all the participants for their excellent contributions. The videos and all the resources are now available on the dedicated web page.

This webinar was an opportunity to discuss the challenges and conditions necessary to better align education and health in the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of a global survey on the reopening of schools, as well as the EI Guidance on Reopening Schools and Educational Institutions were presented. The following three questions were answered:

  • What have we learned from the field about the successes and challenges of re-opening schools? by Nicola Gray, on behalf of UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education and International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH)
  • How is Covid-19 affecting or changing education? by Sean Slade, Senior Director of Global Outreach ASCD
  • What is the perspective of the teacher’s profession on the pandemic? by Antonia Wulff, COVID 19 Policy Co-ordinator Education International (EI)

Looking forward to see you at the next Global Health & Education webinar! Learn more about the webinar series.

 

Posted by Didier in News
20
Jul
2020

Our community members have their say! Fatou Diagne

A global community at the service of its members

The strength of the Chair’s community lies in the skills and knowledge of its members. The community is at the service of its members and exists of those who choose to join it. Therefore we want to put the community members in the spotlight and allow them to explain – in their own words – what this community means to them and what their expectations and hopes are for it.

Third video in the series: Fatou Diagne, Teacher-researcher at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Inspector General of Education and Training, coordinator of the Chair’s activities in Senegal. She describes the challenges encountered in health education, and more particularly in sexual health education for young people in Senegal.

Join us !

Researchers, professionals in health, social and educational sectors, volunteers from associations, movements or trade unions, committed citizens, universities, local authorities, foundations, companies, networks, associations, institutions, you all are welcome!

The Chair’s community is open to all. It is based on two inseparable dimensions: 1. produce and share knowledge 2. Contribute to social change for the health of children and young people.

You want to know more about our community ?

Do you share our common ambition? Join the Chair’s community!

Posted by Didier in News