Oral

National public health associations (PHAs), and their global organization the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), are the unique non-governmental, politically independent and authoritative voices for public health. In some countries, they are its only voice. They serve multiple purposes. They are conveners, facilitators, researchers, and educators. They are advocates for healthy public policy, access to essential public health and primary health care services and for effective and ethical public health practice. The past four decades have witnessed the expansion and organizational maturing of the global PHA community. From only a handful of countries having national PHAs in 1967, the year the WFPHA was founded, now over 80 countries are served by their own associations, and that number continues to grow. The current global economic situation and the political situation in many countries is having an impact on the capacity of PHAs to function effectively, and in some cases, to exist. This session will explore some of the challenges facing national PHAs, and the WFPHA, as well as identifying the opportunities for PHAs and the WFPHA to ‘make a difference’ and strengthen their individual and collective contribution to improving and safeguarding health and progressing the achievement of health equity for all.

Session Objectives: Identify the challenges and opportunities facing public health associations. Describe the role of public health associations in current political and socio-economic contexts. Discuss the role and capacity of public health associations to influence public health policy and practice.