Public health competences through the lens of the COVID‐19 pandemic: what matters for health workforce preparedness for global health emergencies

AbstractThis study argues that any nuclear weapon exchange or major nuclear plant meltdown, in the categories of human systems failure and conflict-based crises, will immediately provoke an unprecedented public health emergency of international concern. Notwithstanding nuclear triage and management plans and technical monitoring standards within the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO), the capacity to rapidly deploy a robust professional workforce with the internal coordination and collaboration capabilities required for large-scale nuclear crises is profoundly lacking. A similar dilemma, evident in the early stages of the Ebola epidemic, was eventually managed by using worldwide infectious disease experts from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and multiple multidisciplinary WHO-supported foreign medical teams. This success has led the WHO to propose the development of a Global Health Workforce. A strategic format is proposed for nuclear preparedness and response that builds and expands on the current model for infectious disease outbreak currently under consideration. This study proposes the inclusion of a nuclear global health workforce under the technical expertise of the International Atomic Energy Agency and WHO’s Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network leadership and supported by the International Health Regulations Treaty. Rationales are set forth for the development, structure, and function of a nuclear workforce based on health outcomes research that define the unique health, health systems, and public health challenges of a nuclear crisis. Recent research supports that life-saving opportunities are possible, but only if a rapidly deployed and robust multidisciplinary response component exists. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:129–144)

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12.G. Workshop: Support4Global Health and SDGs in health workforce education: advocacy and action

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.607 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

◽

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Education ◽

Global Health ◽

Health Workforce ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Education And Training ◽

Major Health ◽

Global Health Education ◽

Health Threats ◽

And Training

Abstract Background Global health has created new challenges for education and training of health professionals. Changing demand on humanitarian aid and infection control arising from the new corona virus outbreak, antimicrobial resistance, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), immunisation gaps and care needs of refugees meet with conditions that are only since recently considered as major health threats, including gender inequality, health workforce shortage, environmental risks and climate change as well as poor mental health. These developments have resulted in high-level meetings and new policy frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, action on the ground has still to follow. Health professionals are poorly prepared to respond to new global health needs. Public health and healthcare systems face an urgent need to strengthen global health in the education and training of all groups of healthcare workers to create a future workforce, which is capable to implement the SDGs and serve the needs of the population both locally and globally. Objectives This workshop addresses these questions and fosters critical debate. It has three major Objectives: improve advocacy for global health and the SDGs, introduce different models to support and implement global health and the SDGs in health professional education, and strengthen the role of public health in global health. The workshop brings together knowledge and expertise from different countries/regions of the world, professional groups and educational institutions. It seeks to build bridges between disciplines and stakeholder groups, including giving stronger voice to students and young professionals. The workshop illustrates diversity of advocacy and action in global health education, and reveals strong demand for multidisciplinary approaches to respond to population needs. It begins with information on competencies currently valued by global health employers in relation to those developed in graduates of public health programs. This is followed by novel models of global health education, including an institutional collaboration model as West-East hub and a students' driven participatory trans-sectoral model. Further case studies illustrate the benefits of a transdisciplinary approach to respond to major health threats, such as vaccine resistance and Ebola, and the need for including the Global South in gender sensitive research and methodology. The workshop will improve networking of global health advocates. It will add value through knowledge exchange beyond the professional silos, as well as across the global North-South/ East-West. Finally, it will strengthen connections between global health and public health and build capacity for multi-professional, trans-sectoral leadership in global health education and research, which is sensitive to gender and cultural/ethnic diversity. Key messages Strengthening global health competencies in education is a key to respond effectively to new public health challenges and to implement the SGDs. There is growing demand and urgent need for multidisciplinary approaches and transnational collaboration in global health education.

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Applying Risk Perception Theory to Public Health Workforce Preparedness Training

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice ◽

10.1097/00124784-200511001-00006 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 11 (Supplement) ◽

pp. S33-S37 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Daniel J. Barnett ◽

Ran D. Balicer ◽

David W. Blodgett ◽

George S. Everly ◽

Saad B. Omer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Perception ◽

Health Workforce ◽

Public Health Workforce ◽

Perception Theory ◽

Workforce Preparedness

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Public health competencies in global health education and demand of the global health labour market

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.608 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

K Czabanowska ◽

H Krasna

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Climate Change ◽

Global Health ◽

Health Workforce ◽

Health Impact ◽

Employment Outcomes ◽

Public Health Workforce ◽

Gis Mapping ◽

Climate Mitigation ◽

Systematic Research

Abstract Background Many competencies frameworks exist worldwide and it is well known that competence-based education supports employability. However, little research exists regarding public health graduates' employment outcomes. This paper aims to stir the discussion about the expectations of the global health employment market and the competencies, which should be developed in graduates of public health programs with global orientation. Methods Material from in three different studies is used, including a systematic review of public health competency frameworks, scoping review of employment outcomes of students earning public health degrees, and analysis of 16 years' worth job postings with focus on competencies related to climate change. Results Employers currently value competencies, such as the knowledge of climate mitigation/adaptation, climate-health justice, direct/indirect and downstream effects of climate on health, health impact assessment, risk assessment, pollution-health consequences and causes, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, communication/writing, finance/economics, policy analysis, systems thinking, and interdisciplinarity. Conclusions The public health workforce needs to be equipped with the capabilities which trespass disciplines, professional silos and paradigms in order to be effective and able to address multiple challenges and global disruptions including climate change, as well as to lead through insecure contexts. More systematic research is needed on tracking the employment outcomes of the global health workforce, which may help to adapt public health competencies frameworks and education programs to the changing demands of the global health employment market.

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