The Institute of Health Visiting joins over 40 million doctors, nurses and other health professionals from 90 countries, including many working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, in sending a letter today to G20 leaders urging them to put public health at the centre of their economic recovery packages, to help avoid future crises and make the world more resilient to them.

In the biggest health community mobilisation since the run-up to the 2015 Paris climate agreement, over 350 medical groups representing health professionals (including the World Medical Association, the International Council of Nurses, the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation, the World Organization of Family Doctors and the World Federation of Public Health Associations) have signed the letter on behalf of their members, along with thousands of individual health professionals.

The letter asks governments to prioritise investments in public health, clean air, clean water and a stable climate in the economic stimulus packages currently under consideration. Such investments would reduce air pollution and climate-warming emissions, which damage human health, build greater resilience to future pandemics, and simultaneously create more sustainable jobs.

Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, Executive Director iHV, said:

“The world has the opportunity now to ensure that the next generation is not inhibited by the mistakes of the last.  By tackling climate change and ensuring better preparedness for any future pandemics, babies can be given the opportunity for a long and healthy life where they have the health, wellbeing and opportunity to contribute to their economy, to future economies, and to the wellbeing of their descendants.”

To achieve this healthy recovery, leaders of the G20 countries must involve their medical and scientific community in developing the stimulus packages. These stimulus decisions must also take into account medical and scientific assessments of how the measures will impact public health in the short- and long-term.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed doctors, nurses and other health professionals to death, disease and mental distress at levels not seen in decades. The scale of this pain could have been at least partially mitigated by adequate investments in pandemic preparedness, public health and environmental stewardship, the letter states.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made very clear, the economy suffers when human health is compromised. A science-based approach to a healthy recovery from COVID-19 must lead to decisions to reduce both air pollution, which weakens the lungs, hearts and other organs, and greenhouse gas emissions, which cause drought, extreme heat, flooding, wildfires and other life-threatening disruptions. This should be alongside ensuring every baby is given the best possible start in life and access to education and their parents supported.

A healthy recovery requires governments to invest in sustainable and innovative industries, jobs, food production and food supply chains. In doing so, leaders will encourage healthier diets, more renewable energy, more walking, cycling and zero-emissions public transport, a radical regeneration of trees and nature and other changes that will underpin human, economic and planetary health well into the future.

This letter is supported and promoted by the Global Climate and Health Alliance, Every Breath Matters, and the World Health Organization in service of the global medical and health community.

Nursing Now, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and International Council of Nurses, aims to raise the status and profile of nursing

Nursing Now has teamed up with Intrahealth International and Johnson & Johnson to conduct a survey of nurses worldwide to look at how gender is related to:

  • Perceptions of nurses, and of nurses in leadership positions
  • Nurses’ experience with discrimination and harassment
  • Challenges and barriers nurses face in moving into positions of leadership

Nursing Now welcomes and encourages all currently certified or formerly certified nurses, including nurse-midwives, to participate in this survey. 

Your answers will be confidential and your contribution will be incredibly valuable to their campaign to raise the status and profile of nursing and strengthen nursing leadership.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Samantha Rick, advocacy and policy officer for IntraHealth, at [email protected].

 

Please note the closing date for abstract submission for the 5th International Global Network of Public Health Nurses conference has been extended to 30 October 2018.

The 5th International Global Network of Public Health Nurses conference takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, 14-16 May 2019.

Conference Theme: ‘Good Health & Well Being’ – Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Because of their global significance and relevance to Public Health Nursing, it was agreed to explore the contribution of Public Health Nursing to achieving Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development  Goals ‘Good Health & Well Being’ as a working title for the conference. http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/ .

The sub themes will focus on how Goal 3 targets can be applied to every aspect and every population group, for example older people’s services, maternal & child, mental health, people with disabilities, health care systems and safe environments.

Call for abstracts:

  • in support of the conference theme ‘Good Health & Well Being’ – Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • deadline extended to 30 October 2018
  • please submit via the Ex Ordo online system

Conference Bookings/Registration and Earlybird

Bookings are now open with earlybird registration (saving you $50 USD) available until 28 February 2019.  After this date the prices will increase by $50 USD.

GNPHN members receive a $50 reduction on the conference registration cost.

Conference registration includes:

  • Attendance at 3 day conference 14-16 May 2019 including meals and refreshments
  • Optional – Site visits on 13 May 2019 /Welcome reception on 13 May 2019 /Gala Dinner on 15 May 2019

Conference registration does not include:

  • Accommodation and travel costs.
  • Tour packages will be available and can be booked separately.

Very exciting new global development!

Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced that the UK will host the first ever Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London this October.

The summit will aim to help countries work together to increase the evidence for different treatments, and to ensure healthcare systems around the world value mental health as much as physical health.

Ministers, leading academics, policy makers and patients from more than 30 countries will be invited to attend.