Public health institutes and the fight against climate change

Is Africa prepared for tackling the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. Lessons from past outbreaks, ongoing pan-African public health efforts, and implications for the future

Climate change is arguably the greatest threat to population health worldwide. Urgent action is needed to mitigate and adapt to the impacts. National public health institutes (NPHIs) are key actors in preventing illness and improving the health and wellbeing of their populations. They therefore have a crucial role to play in addressing climate change and making it central to their agendas. They can contribute to a better understanding of how climate change affects health, translate this knowledge into policy advice, and identify health co-benefits and possible harms of mitigation and adaptation measures to support the implementation of healthy measures within and beyond the health sector. NPHIs are also responsible for reducing their own footprint through “greening” and can role model and support other organisations in this regard. The International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) recognises the threat that climate change poses and, to this end, published the “IANPHI Roadmap for Action on Health and Climate Change” in November 2021. This roadmap highlights the essential role of NPHIs’ as “key climate actors”. NPHIs are at different stages of progress on climate change and health, and there is therefore need and opportunity to learn from best practices and to liaise and work together to address shared challenges. It is also essential that NPHIs have an ongoing collaboration with other actors, such as academics, civil society, NGOs and other non-state actors, within and beyond the health sector, in order to learn from other perspectives and sources of knowledge and to ensure coherence and joint action on climate change and health across the system. This workshop therefore aims to promote discussion and exchange and to raise the visibility of NPHIs as key climate actors in order to strengthen their individual and shared contribution. The workshop will also ensure that the IANPHI Roadmap remains front of mind a year after publication. It will also give the opportunity to NPHIs to share their progress since then, as well as promote coherence and exchange in their continued efforts. The workshop will start with a presentation of the IANPHI Roadmap, followed by three examples from NPHIs on their progress on climate change strategy development and implementation. It will then be followed by an interactive session and discussion on NPHIs’ priorities in this area, on how NPHIs and other actors can best exchange and work together, and on how IANPHI as a global network of NPHIs can promote and support NPHI and stakeholder cooperation. The presentations are coherent together in offering the Roadmap's vision as well as a set of diverse examples that illustrate the role of NPHIs on climate change and health in practice. Key messages • Emphasis of the important role that NPHIs have in addressing climate change and health, as well as the value of their partnerships and intersectoral working, which can be supported by IANPHI. • Promotion of discussion and new ideas between the presenters and the audience on how to ensure health is at the forefront when tackling climate change.

7-1-7: an organising principle, target, and accountability metric to make the world safer from pandemics

In 2003, the Swedish Parliament adopted a cross-sectorial national public health policy based on the social determinants of health, with an overarching aim--to create societal conditions that will ensure good health, on equal terms, for the entire population--and eleven objective domains. At that time the policy was globally unique, and serves as guidance for public health practice at the national, regional and local levels. The development of the public health policy and the determinants of health are presented regularly in various reports by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health. This supplement is a condensed version of the 174-page Public Health Policy Report 2010, the second produced since the national policy was adopted in 2003. In order to provide a holistic approach to analysing implemented measures and providing new recommendations within the eleven objective domains of the Swedish national public health policy, we have divided these in three strategic areas. These are: Good Living Conditions, Health-Promoting Living Environments and Living Habits, and Alcohol, Illicit Drugs, Doping, Tobacco and Gambling, each described in the respective introductions for Chapters 3-5. The production of the report was supported by a common analytical model that clarified the societal prerequisites for health in the eleven objective domains. These are factors that can be influenced by political actions in order to create a change. Economic analyses have also been developed to provide a priority basis for political decisions. Analyses of the development of public health determinants were based on data from the National Public Health Survey and data delivered from about 15 various national agencies. Measures that have been implemented between 2004 and 2009 are analysed in details, as the basis for new recommendations for future measures. The introduction describes Swedish public health policy in the new millennium and how it has developed, the role of the Swedish National Institute of Public Health and other important stakeholders. Approaches, models and methods used in carrying out the commission to produce the public health policy report are also described. In the following chapters, the trends of important determinants of public health, in relation to the overarching aim and the 11 objective domains as grouped in the three strategic areas, are analysed. The final chapter presents the proposed prioritisation for the large number of recommendations that were made, and a presentation of the annual costs of ill health in Sweden. These are compared with the costs of implementing recommended measures. The final chapter also describes how the Public Health Policy Report 2010 was received and lists the recommendations that the Swedish Government has taken action on as of September 2012. Public health trends have generally been stable or positive, although health inequalities persist. Economic analyses demonstrate that ill-health in Sweden costs 12 billion SEK every year, yet a large amount of this ill-health can be prevented. Sixty-eight recommendations were presented in the report. The government's response to recommendations has been very positive; approximately 60% of the recommendations in the three strategic areas have been adopted less than two years after the Public Health Policy Report 2010 was published.

Background: In the context of the fight against HIV, a lack of skills in monitoring and evaluating the personnel in charge of activities has been identified at the national level. It was the subject of a priority axis of the national plan for monitoring and evaluating the fight against HIV (2006-2010) that was aimed at strengthening the capacities of actors in this area. To increase the critical mass of competent human resources in the short term, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) of Côte d’Ivoire organized monitoring and evaluation training sessions for healthcare professionals from 2011 to 2016. Methods: A single case study with multiple levels of analysis was carried out, combining a qualitative survey and a literature review. An evaluation was carried out six months after each training session. In addition, the results of the pre- and post-tests and of the daily and final evaluations that accompanied the various training sessions were used to provide further information. The qualitative data collected were analyzed using INVIVO 15 software. Results: Some 89 health professionals (69% men and 31% women) working at the national level (51% at the central level, including 58% in health programs) and in development partner agencies (37%) participated in this capacity building program. Most participants were senior health managers (56%), data managers (23%), and statisticians and computer scientists (10%). Almost all the trainings were financed by 16 technical and financial partners (85%), mainly the MEASURE Evaluation project (27%). Conclusion: M&E training, despite all its imperfections, has made it possible to identify M&E training needs at the national level and to increase the critical mass of national skills and to have some culture in M&E.

Public health emergencies remain a persistent threat to global health security, with the COVID-19 pandemic exposing critical weaknesses even in advanced health systems. National Public Health Agencies (NPHAs), particularly National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs), have emerged as central actors in coordinating preparedness and response functions. However, institutional maturity, financing, and subnational integration remain uneven, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This scoping review consolidates evidence on governance, institutional arrangements, workforce development, financing, and cross-cutting determinants shaping public health emergency preparedness and response. A scoping review of literature published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported according to PRISMA-ScR standards. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and relevant WHO repositories. Eligible studies were screened and charted using a standardized data extraction template, and findings were synthesized using an inductive thematic approach. A total of 4,163 records were identified, 538 duplicates removed, 3,625 records screened, 98 full texts assessed, and 60 studies included. Evidence was organized into seven domains: institutional landscape, governance and autonomy, preparedness functions, workforce, financing, subnational presence, and cross-cutting enablers. National public health institutes were widely established but frequently operated with unclear mandates and limited subnational implementation. Core functions such as surveillance, laboratory systems, risk communication, and emergency operations were inconsistently institutionalized, with recurrent constraints in financing, workforce capacity, and digital interoperability across regions. Public health emergency preparedness and response systems function most effectively when embedded within stable governance, financing, and accountability frameworks. Strengthening statutory authority, predictable domestic investment, workforce sustainability, and interoperable information systems is critical to translating technical capacity into reliable operational performance. Durable, institutionally anchored preparedness is essential for moving from reactive crisis management to sustained and equitable national readiness.

Acta Pathologica Microbiologica ScandinavicaVolume 64, Issue 4 p. 534-542 Article A URONIC AND SIALIC ACID FREE CHICK ALLANTOIC MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDE SULPHATE WHICH COMBINES WITH INFLUENZA VIRUS HI-ANTIBODY TO HOST MATERIAL 1. Purification of the Substance GUNNAR HAUKENES, GUNNAR HAUKENES The National Institute of Public Health, Virus Department B, Oslo, Norway. (Head: A. Harboe, M.D.)Search for more papers by this authorARILD HARBOE, ARILD HARBOE The National Institute of Public Health, Virus Department B, Oslo, Norway. (Head: A. Harboe, M.D.)Search for more papers by this authorKAREN MORTENSSON-EGNUND, KAREN MORTENSSON-EGNUND The National Institute of Public Health, Virus Department B, Oslo, Norway. (Head: A. Harboe, M.D.)Search for more papers by this author GUNNAR HAUKENES, GUNNAR HAUKENES The National Institute of Public Health, Virus Department B, Oslo, Norway. (Head: A. Harboe, M.D.)Search for more papers by this authorARILD HARBOE, ARILD HARBOE The National Institute of Public Health, Virus Department B, Oslo, Norway. (Head: A. Harboe, M.D.)Search for more papers by this authorKAREN MORTENSSON-EGNUND, KAREN MORTENSSON-EGNUND The National Institute of Public Health, Virus Department B, Oslo, Norway. (Head: A. Harboe, M.D.)Search for more papers by this author First published: September 1965 https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.1965.64.4.534Citations: 40AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume64, Issue4September 1965Pages 534-542 RelatedInformation

Acta Pharmacologica et ToxicologicaVolume 59, Issue s7 p. 486-488 EXCRETION OF LEAD IN RAT BILE - THE ROLE OF GLUTATHIONE J. Alexander, J. Alexander Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.Search for more papers by this authorJ. Aaseth, J. Aaseth Medical Department B, Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.Search for more papers by this authorA. Mikalsen, A. Mikalsen Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.Search for more papers by this author J. Alexander, J. Alexander Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.Search for more papers by this authorJ. Aaseth, J. Aaseth Medical Department B, Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.Search for more papers by this authorA. Mikalsen, A. Mikalsen Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1986 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0773.1986.tb02809.xCitations: 19AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume59, Issues7December 1986Pages 486-488 RelatedInformation

Journal of Electron Microscopy TechniqueVolume 6, Issue 1 p. 87-88 Article Double labeling of cell surface antigens imaged with backscattered electrons E. Namork, E. Namork Department of Methodology, National Institute of Public Health, N-0462 Oslo 4, NorwaySearch for more papers by this authorH. E. Heier, H. E. Heier Department of Immunology, National Institute of Public Health, N-0462 Oslo 4, NorwaySearch for more papers by this authorE. Falleth, E. Falleth Department of Immunology, National Institute of Public Health, N-0462 Oslo 4, NorwaySearch for more papers by this author E. Namork, E. Namork Department of Methodology, National Institute of Public Health, N-0462 Oslo 4, NorwaySearch for more papers by this authorH. E. Heier, H. E. Heier Department of Immunology, National Institute of Public Health, N-0462 Oslo 4, NorwaySearch for more papers by this authorE. Falleth, E. Falleth Department of Immunology, National Institute of Public Health, N-0462 Oslo 4, NorwaySearch for more papers by this author First published: May 1987 https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.1060060111Citations: 8AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume6, Issue1May 1987Pages 87-88 RelatedInformation

Acta Pathologica Microbiologica ScandinavicaVolume 63, Issue 1 p. 79-90 Article POLYOMA VIRUS 2. Further Studies on the Interaction of Polyoma Virus with Mouse Embgo Cells at Low Temperature K. HELGELAND, K. HELGELAND The Virus Department A, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo Norway.Search for more papers by this authorJ. JONSEN, J. JONSEN The Virus Department A, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo Norway.Search for more papers by this authorO. LAHELLE, O. LAHELLE The Virus Department A, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo Norway.Search for more papers by this author K. HELGELAND, K. HELGELAND The Virus Department A, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo Norway.Search for more papers by this authorJ. JONSEN, J. JONSEN The Virus Department A, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo Norway.Search for more papers by this authorO. LAHELLE, O. LAHELLE The Virus Department A, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo Norway.Search for more papers by this author First published: July 1965 https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.1965.63.1.79Citations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume63, Issue1July 1965Pages 79-90 RelatedInformation

Suboptimal detection and response to recent outbreaks, including COVID-19 and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), have shown that the world is insufficiently prepared for public health threats. Routine monitoring of detection and response performance of health emergency systems through timeliness metrics has been proposed to evaluate and improve outbreak preparedness and contain health threats early. We implemented 7-1-7 to measure the timeliness of detection (target of ≤7 days from emergence), notification (target of ≤1 day from detection), and completion of seven early response actions (target of ≤7 days from notification), and we identified bottlenecks to and enablers of system performance. In this retrospective, observational study, we conducted reviews of public health events in Brazil, Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, and Uganda with staff from ministries of health and national public health institutes. For selected public health events occurring from Jan 1, 2018, to Dec 31, 2022, we calculated timeliness intervals for detection, notification, and early response actions, and synthesised identified bottlenecks and enablers. We mapped bottlenecks and enablers to Joint External Evaluation (second edition) indicators. Of 41 public health events assessed, 22 (54%) met a target of 7 days to detect (median 6 days [range 0-157]), 29 (71%) met a target of 1 day to notify (0 days [0-24]), and 20 (49%) met a target of 7 days to complete all early response actions (8 days [0-72]). 11 (27%) events met the complete 7-1-7 target, with variation among event types. 25 (61%) of 41 bottlenecks to and 27 (51%) of 53 enablers of detection were at the health facility level, with delays to notification (14 [44%] of 32 bottlenecks) and response (22 [39%] of 56 bottlenecks) most often at an intermediate public health (ie, municipal, district, county, state, or province) level. Rapid resource mobilisation for responses (six [9%] of 65 enablers) from the national level enabled faster responses. The 7-1-7 target is feasible to measure and to achieve, and assessment with this framework can identify areas for performance improvement and help prioritise national planning. Increased investments must be made at the health facility and intermediate public health levels for improved systems to detect, notify, and rapidly respond to emerging public health threats. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Considering the crucial role of health behaviour in addressing key health challenges, fostering a health culture in which health-related behaviours are effectively enabled, supported and promoted is essential. The application of behavioural and cultural insights (BCI) for better health, a flagship WHO initiative, aligns with this objective. By adopting the European Action Framework for BCI for Health, Serbia-along with other countries in the WHO European Region-has committed to implementing and reporting on five strategic commitments: building stakeholder understanding and support for BCI; conducting BCI research; applying BCI in policy and program development; allocating human resources and funding for BCI; and integrating BCI into health strategies and plans. This paper summarizes BCI implementation in Serbia across two reporting cycles (covering 2021-22 and 2023-24, respectively) based on a consensus-building process with mapped stakeholders. Stakeholder mapping was guided by the BCI action framework criteria, aiming to include activities initiated, conducted, or completed by national or sub-national authorities and public health institutions within the reporting periods. This involved representatives from governmental bodies, institutes of public health, academic institutions, and UN agencies, ensuring a comprehensive overview of BCI activities and perspectives in Serbia. The reporting to WHO comprised five self-assessment scales (rated from level 1 to 5) and three binary (yes/no) indicators. In both reporting cycles, Serbia self-assessed implementation at level 3 (moderate) for all five strategic commitments. While progress on the 1 to 5 scale remained unchanged, some advancement was observed in the implementation of BCI in the areas of research and strategic health planning. Key challenges identified through this process are similar to those faced by other countries and include the translation of behavioural insights (BI) and cultural understanding into evidence-based practice, the systematic integration of BCI into program and intervention design, and limited interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. Addressing these challenges requires investment in BCI capacity-building, sustained funding through health programs, and the establishment of BI units and/or interdisciplinary BCI networks. These findings may also be valuable for countries with similar cultural contexts that are seeking to operationalise BCI within their health systems.

Welcome to Annals of Global Health,Annals of Global Health is a peer-reviewed, fully open access, online journal dedicated to publishing high quality articles dedicated to all aspects of global health. The journal's mission is to advance global health, promote research, and foster the prevention and treatment of disease worldwide. Its goals are to improve the health and well-being of all people, advance health equity, and promote wise stewardship of the earth's environment. The latest journal impact factor is 3.64.Annals of Global Health is supported by the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College. It was founded in 1934 by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as the Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine. It is a partner journal of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. Authors of articles accepted for publication in Annals of Global Health will be asked to pay an Article Publication Charge (APC) to cover publication costs. This charge can normally be sourced from your funder or institution. We are committed to supporting authors from all countries to publish their work in Annals of Global Health regardless of national income level, and to achieve this goal, we waive the Article Publication Charge for manuscripts where all authors are from low-income or lower-middle-income countries (as defined by the World Bank). From time to time, Annals of Global Health publishes Special Collections, a series of articles organized around a common theme in global health. Recent Special Collections have included “Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Global Health”, “Decolonizing Global Health Education”, and “Capacity Building for Global Health Leadership Training”. Global health workers interested in developing a Special Collection are strongly encouraged to contact the Managing Editor in advance to discuss the project.

Climate change impacts on mental health come in various forms. They include the trauma of experiencing extreme weather events and the longer-term effects thereof, such as PTSD or depression; implications of heat for persons with mental health conditions, in particular those on certain medications; as well as climate anxiety, i.e. the mental and emotional distress in response to the ongoing changes in the climate. Whilst those mechanisms are increasingly recognised, less is known about the extent of those impacts in the European population and how they are being addressed in policy and practice. In recognition of this knowledge gap, this workshop organised by the European Climate and Health Observatory lines up panellists from academia, national public health institutes and European and international organisations to discuss what is being done to response to the mental health implications of the changing climate. Firstly, the responses at the individual level will be discussed. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) will present the results of the 2025 cross-European Living and Working in the EU e-survey on experiencing climate change and concerns about future impacts, including the associations of those experiences and concerns with the characteristics of the respondents and their mental well-being. The Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management will share the COST Action CliMent findings on effective interventions, best practices, and regional strategies that contribute to global efforts in addressing and mitigating the psychological effects of climate change. Secondly, with regards to the institutional settings, the Austrian NPHI will present a concept for a digital solution to deal with heat impacts on health care in psychiatric/psychosocial care. The workshop will then focus on the coverage of mental health in policies and action plans. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will share the findings of their work looking at the impact of climate change on mental health, the extent to which OECD countries are introducing policies to respond to the impact of climate change on mental health, and what these priorities these policies are focused on. Columbia University will zoom in on the coverage of mental health in heat health action plans across the globe, with a particular focus on Europe. To round off the discussion, the WHO Regional Office for Europe will discuss the lessons learnt from their 2025 collection of case studies on responses to mental health impacts of climate change. The discussion with the audience will focus on the sharing of practices in responding to mental health impacts and identification of gaps for further action in policy and practice. Key messages • Increased awareness of the urgency and importance of addressing the impacts of climate change on mental health. • Greater understanding on the effectiveness of the wide range of interventions in policy and practice that address mental health impacts of climate change. Speakers/Panellists Eszter Sandor Dankhazi Eurofound, Dublin, Ireland Chiara Cadeddu Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands Michele Cecchini OECD, Paris, France Robbie Parks Columbia University, New York, USA Mareike Kroll WHO/Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Germany

The primary prevention program of the Hungarian Spine Society was launched in 1995 with two goals: 1. to achieve that all school-children take part regularly in effective posture correcting exercises as part of physical education; and 2. to achieve daily physical education for all school-children. With appropriate governmental legislation and parliamentary decision both goals were integrated into the National Public Health Program in 2001 and 2003 and later in the national educational laws and documents. From 2011 and 2012 holistic health promotion in schools with the goal to reach all children became also prescription for all schools in Hungary. Public health institutions and actors still have to do much: they have to give continuous professional help to the physical education teachers in their posture correcting work and to all teachers in their daily health promoting tasks. The article presents the details of the special posture correcting exercises, their distribution and prospective controlled studies, their place in the national education, the present situation and the further tasks. The article is supplemented by a short report about daily physical education and holistic health promotion in schools: how the prescription was achieved, the essence and the follow up of it, and what are the tasks for the helping public health actors.