From Opportunity to Policy Impact: Public Health Advocacy in Action
Under the theme of “From Opportunity to Policy Impact: Public Health Advocacy in Action,” more than 150 European residents gathered in Madrid from May 9 to 11 to advocate for the role of “Public Health Advocacy” at the Spring Meeting Madrid 2024. Organized by the Association of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Residents (ARES MPSP), the event addressed the role of youth, planetary health, the destigmatization of mental health, universal health coverage and equity, the commercial determinants of health, and the health of migrant communities. The event was held at the Ministry of Health of Spain.
The opening ceremony featured the participation of Director General of Public Health and Health Equity (DGPH), Pedro Gullón, who celebrated the youth’s role in public health advocacy and emphasized the importance of putting health on all policy agendas. The President of EuroNet MRPH, Marta Caminiti praised the growth of the network and the importance of a united voice in public health. The Coordinator of ARES MPSP, Antonio Pujol de Castro highlighted the power of unity and associationism, acknowledging the contributions of various institutions. And the President of the Organizing Committee, Maryoli Veloso Fraigola emphasized our collective responsibility in public health advocacy and celebrated the event’s sustainability efforts, including vegan catering to reduce our carbon footprint.
Among the speakers were representatives from different national and international associations such as WHO, the EPHA, the EUPHA, YHO, Planetary Health Alliance, Save the Children, the International Organization for Migration, ISGlobal, Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine, Salud por Derecho, Association for fair Access to Medicine, CEEM, and National School of Health (ENS).
Francesca Zanni, advisor in the Quadripartite working group on Youth Engagement for AMR (WHO, FAO, UNEP, WOAH) and former President of EuroNet, stated that youth was a crucial stakeholder in public health. This is not only because they represent a significant portion of the world’s population but also because youth brings expertise to the table. “We must ensure that the engagement opportunities we participate in are truly meaningful, and for that, we need to demand respect from the institutions that involve us. Being in a position to advocate for youth is a privilege influenced by financial independence, social factors, nationality, and caregiving responsibilities at home. Once you occupy that space, strive to keep it accessible to everyone.”
The event concluded on May 11 at the Ateneo de Madrid with the European Scientific Contest. The event was sponsored by Spanish Society for Healthcare Quality and Spanish Society of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Health Management, and had the collaboration of the Ministry of Health, the Madrid DGPH, the Ateneo de Madrid, Spanish Society of Epidemiology, Madrid Public Health Association.
Maryoli, President of the OC said: I would like to thank the organizing committee for ensuring that this event showcases our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. We’re really proud that this event has been organized without any financial support from the industry, thanks to the EuroNet B&L and the collaborating societies that have supported us. In line with our commitment to sustainability, we’ve opted for vegan catering, not only for its low carbon footprint but also to support local and social economies. By choosing locally sourced vegan options, we aimed to reduce our environmental impact while contributing to the growth of our community.
Antonio Pujol de Castro, Coordinator of ARES MPSP, stated “The world is changing and medical and health professionals must be agents of social change for equity.”
Summaries of the panel discussions can be found on our SM social media channels.
Thank you very much to all of you who participated, and we will see you at SM25!