Day 1 : Self-governance and health for Indigenous peoples of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA
“While the Indigenous cultures in the four countries are different in some obvious and critical ways, they also share key commonalities in their colonial heritages and challenges in addressing development needs.
Through collaboration and sharing of new thinking and innovative processes Indigenous peoples can address their contemporary needs and aspirations.
Michelle will draw on case studies that show how investment in cultural based models of government will create diverse and effective Indigenous Nations and communities.
Michelle Deshong is a global leader in governance. She’s completeing a PhD at James Cook University in Townsville and draws her connection to the Kuku Yulanji Nation. 11.30 in The Plenary.
“ On behalf of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation I would like to welcome over 2,000 visitors (especially our International visitors) to #WCPH2017
The Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector deliver comprehensive primary health care in 302 sites nationally; have over 45 years of cultural capability, integrity, knowledge, and experience for the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples dating back to early 1970’s with the establishment of our first Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern.
The lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still on average 10 years shorter, we have far higher incidences of chronic diseases such as Diabetes and cancer and our children have less access to good quality education than the average non-Indigenous Australians.
The evidence tells us that Aboriginal people respond best to health care provided by Aboriginal people or controlled by the Aboriginal community.
Only by improving the health of Aboriginal people will we be able to tackle other areas of disadvantage – sick kids can’t get to school and sick adults can’t get to work.
That’s why we are so committed to achieving generational change in the health of Aboriginal people. “
Matthew Cooke Chair NACCHO
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The First peoples Networking space is hosted by our Victorian Affiliate VACCHO
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
Press Release Program Monday
‘Enemies of the people’: public health in the era of populist politics and media – Martin McKee, past president European Public Health Association
Public health has transformed the world. We have longer and healthier lives. Roads, work, food are all safer. So why are populist politicians and media portraying public health leaders as ‘enemies of the people’ asks Martin McKee.
They are rejecting scientific evidence and replacing it with fake news. Public health has a duty to speak truth to power. It can also help explain the rise of these forces including evidence that declining health was the strongest predictor of the shift in votes to Donald Trump.
But public health is not always on the side of the angels, especially in 1930s Germany. We are living in dangerous times, with some of the leading countries in the world led by politicians who are both dangerous and grossly incompetent. Yet there is hope. We have been here before. We must ensure that this time public health is on the right side.
Martin McKee is Professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He’s speaking at 10.30 in The Plenary. More below.
The poorest 20 per cent of Australians are most likely to be unhealthy – we can change that
“The world is an inherently unfair place—and that has consequences for your health,” says Professor Sharon Friel from ANU.
Beyond simple bugs and broken bones, health problems are also influenced by the circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. Australian National University researcher Sharon Friel wants to break these ‘social determinants of health’.
She will share a case study of how national policies can encourage healthy and equitable eating, helping to prevent chronic disease; explain how international trade agreements can have health consequences, and discuss a vision for a fair; sustainable and healthy world.
Sharon has advised the WHO and the Rockefeller Foundation on health equity.
The fifth of Australia’s adult population in the lowest socioeconomic status bracket is also the group most likely to be regular smokers, to do little or no exercise, to be overweight and to have high blood pressure. Could it be due to poorer access to healthy food? Or living in car-dependent outer suburbs that don’t encourage walking?
Sharon Friel is speaking at 11 am in The Plenary. More below
How to eliminate HIV and hepatitis B and C
Blood-borne diseases kill millions of people globally every year. The World Health Organization has set targets to end the HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C epidemics by 2030 and there is a real possibility of achieving these goals. Margaret Hellard from the Burnet Institute will lead a World Leadership Dialogue exploring what we need to do to end these diseases—and it will take more than drugs.
“It is vitally important that we take a multipronged approach if we are going to end the epidemics of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. We need prevention – safe sex education and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission, access to clean injecting equipment and opioid substitution therapy. We need to ensure that the “birth dose” of hepatitis B vaccine is given to all babies globally within 24 hours of birth. We need simple, affordable blood tests. We need to ensure equity of access to treatment. Finally, we need research for cures and vaccines.”
1.30 pm, more below.
Creating systems to prevent chronic diseases – Andrew Wilson, Australian Partnership Prevention Centre
Chronic diseases kill more than 38 million people a year and are the leading cause of premature death and disability in Australia. Despite all our efforts to encourage people to live more healthily, we’re getting fatter and sicker. Andrew Wilson will lead the World Leaders Dialogue session ‘Exploring systems approaches to chronic disease prevention’, with presentations and discussion with international and national leaders in health policy and research in new ways to tackle this wicked problem. 4 pm.
Self-governance and health for indigenous peoples of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA
While the Indigenous cultures in the four countries are different in some obvious and critical ways, they also share key commonalities in their colonial heritages and challenges in addressing development needs. Through collaboration and sharing of new thinking and innovative processes Indigenous peoples can address their contemporary needs and aspirations. Michelle will draw on case studies that show how investment in cultural based models of government will create diverse and effective Indigenous Nations and communities.
Michelle Deshong is a global leader in governance. She’s completeing a PhD at James Cook University in Townsville and draws her connection to the Kuku Yulanji Nation. 11.30 in The Plenary. More below.
Other speakers/topics/stats from day one, Monday, at the World Congress on Public Health
- Medicine is a social science and politics is nothing more but medicine on a grand scale. What does that mean in 2017? Dr Ilona Kickbusch, Global Health Centre, Geneva, 12 noon, The Plenary
- What can we learn from past global pandemics to be ready for the next one? – Raina Macintyre, UNSW
- Sex after 65: Sexual activity and physical tenderness in older adults – Rosanne Freak-Poli, Monash University
- Are celebrities bad for your health? Stars in food and beverage advertising – Vivica Kraak, Virginia Tech
- Up, Up and Away with Superhero Foods: Developing nutrition resources for school aged children – Jennifer Tartaglia, Foodbank WA
- Stopping mothers, children and adolescents dying young (six million preventable young deaths last year), Judy Lewis, University of Connecticut
- Could Trump’s withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership be good for public health? Deborah Gleeson, LaTrobe University
The 15th World Congress on Public Health is on from 3 to 7 April at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.