254107 Role of public health associations to move forward action towards health equity through a "social determinants of health" lens

Monday, October 31, 2011: 3:30 PM

James Chauvin, MA, MSc , President, WFPHA, Canadian Public Health Association, Ottawa, ON, Canada
The concepts of “health equity” and the “social determinants of health” have gained greater visibility over the past several years, especially following the release in 2008 of the Report of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. Numerous health and social agencies and organizations have been advocating for a SDH approach to address health and health equities in developed and developing countries alike. Prior to the WHO Conference on the Social Determinants of Health (19 – 21 October 2011, Rio de Janeiro), the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) conducted a survey of its member associations about the role they perceive for national public health associations and for the WFPHA in terms of moving forward action on the achievement of health equity through an SDH approach. This presentation will report on the survey results, including the opportunities, challenges and gaps identified by respondents that affect real movement on health equity in their countries and on the global front. The presentation will conclude with a call to action to the global public health community as to the fundamental actions that it can take to foster action on this issue.

Learning Areas:
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe the findings of a survey of WFPHA member associations on the role of national public health associations and the WFPHA to move forward action towards health equity through a “social determinants of health” lens. Discuss personal impressions from the WHO Conference on the Social Determinants of Health (Oct 19 – 21, 2011).

Keywords: Social Inequalities, Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As the former Director of Global Health and now the Director of Policy at the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) I have been actively involved for the past 19 years in building both organizational and community capacity development/competence for public health both in Canada and overseas. This is a role I continue to pursue through my position with the WFPHA. I will moderate this session which focuses on exploring the importance of including building community competence for public health as a critical element to achieve Health for All.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Developing community competence for public health to achieve the MDGs and Health for All
See more of: APHA-World Federation of Public Health Associations