IANPHI Webinars

IANPHI hosts webinars that allow member national public health institutes to discuss urgent global health issues with peer and partners organizations. Topics are chosen by members for their relevance to fellow NPHIs and the wider global health community. Webinar recordings and supporting materials are archived on this page.

December 16, 2024

Implementing Community Protection: Role of NPHIs to Operationalize the Community-Centered Preparedness, Response, and Resilience for Public Health Emergencies.

On December 16, 2024, IANPHI and WHO hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled "Implementing Community Protection: Role of NPHIs to Operationalize the Community-Centred Preparedness, Response, and Resilience for Public Health Emergencies". The session brought together public health experts from around the world to discuss how National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) can play a key role in community protection and health emergency preparedness.

The webinar highlighted the importance of community-centered approaches in strengthening global health emergency response frameworks. This aligns with the recent WHO, UNICEF, and IFRC publication on community protection in health emergencies. The framework emphasizes the vital role of communities prior to and in the early stages of response as active contributors and actors to prevent and tackling the spread of epidemics. In addition, highlights the need for stronger collaboration between health systems and community actors.

The webinar underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration and the active involvement of local communities in building resilience to health emergencies. It was an invaluable opportunity for NPHIs and partners to come together, share insights, and explore practical strategies for community protection.

Key topics covered during the webinar included:

  • The critical role of NPHIs in implementing community protection strategies in health emergencies.
  • Updates on WHO's activities related to community protection within the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) framework.
  • Exploring ways to strengthen coordination, planning, and capacity-building efforts in emergency situations.

Panelists:

  • Kai Von Harbou, Unit Head, Country Readiness and Resilience, WHO
  • Zainab Alwash, Public Health Advisor, Robert Koch Institute, Germany
  • Dalia Zayed, Chief Health Policy Officer, Jordan Center for Disease Control
  • Edmund Newman, UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, UK Health Security Agency

Moderators:

  • Sadaf Lynes, IANPHI Director of Collaborative Surveillance, Workforce and Health Emergencies
  • Rim Kwang, Team Lead, a.i, Community Public Health and Service Delivery, Community Readiness and Resilience Unit, Country Readiness Strengthening Department, WHE Program, WHO

Presentation of Kai Von Harbou (PDF)

Presentation of Zainab Alwash (PDF)

Presentation of Dalia Zayed (PDF)

Presentation of Edmund Newman (PDF)

December 4, 2024

'Genomic Surveillance in One Health and Case Studies of Successful One Health Initiatives'

The IANPHI Asia Network recently hosted a webinar focused on innovative approaches to public health through the One Health framework. Experts discussed the integration of data from multiple sources, including human, animal, and environmental health, to tackle pressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and climate-sensitive diseases. The session also highlighted successful initiatives and workforce development efforts aimed at strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration for more effective disease prevention and response.

We welcomed:

  • Dr. Manjur Hossain Khan Jony, Assistant Professor (Virology) and Senior Scientific Officer (Zoonosis) at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control & Research (IEDCR) & the National Influenza Centre (NIC) in Bangladesh. He made a presentation on "Leveraging Wastewater Surveillance for One Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Pathway to Integrated Public Health".
  • Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Project Coordinator, Environmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division at the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh (iccdr,b). He presented on "Integration of human, animal and environmental surveillance for antimicrobial resistance and other climate sensitive reemerging pathogens using a One Health approach in Bangladesh".
  • Dr. Simmi Tiwari, Joint Director and Head of the Centre for One Health at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in India. She presented "One Health initiatives in India".
  • Dr. Meera Dhuria, Joint Director of the National Centre for Disease Control in India. She made a presentation on "SectorConnect (Field Epi Programme - One health): Multisectoral Workforce development initiative".
  • Dr. Kokouvi Kassegne, Assistant Professor at the School of Global Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China. He presented "Genomic Surveillance of Malaria Parasites Leading for Malaria Elimination in China : under Umbrella of One Health".

The webinar was moderated by Dr. Muhannad Aloraini, Chair of the IANPHI Asia Regional Network and Director of the Saudi Public Health Academy.

Missed the webinar? Read the full summary to learn more about the key takeaways and insights shared during the session. You can also take a look at the PowerPoint Presentation from some of our speakers.

One Health Webinar Summary (PDF)

One Health Webinar Introduction (PDF)

Presentation of Dr. Kahn (PDF)

Presentation of Dr. Rahman (PDF)

Presentation of Dr. Tiwari (PDF)

November 19, 2024

Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: Engaging Your Audience Effectively Webinar Recap by the IANPHI Europe Network

The IANPHI Europe Network recently hosted an insightful webinar focused on mastering the art of public speaking. In today's fast-paced world, capturing and engaging your audience is more essential than ever. This session provided practical strategies to help participants connect with listeners, share compelling messages, and leave a lasting impression.

Key topics covered:

  • Techniques for effective audience engagement
  • Crafting relatable and memorable stories
  • Tips for creating impactful presentations

We were honored to welcome Ms. Nataliia Tykhopii, a leading public speaking coach with over 15 years of experience, who has trained top politicians, presidential candidates, and executives across a variety of industries. The session was moderated by Dr. Anna Prykhodko from the Public Health Ukraine Center (PHUC).

Missed the webinar? Read the full summary to learn more about the key takeaways and insights shared during the session.

Public Speaking Webinar Summary (PDF)

November 18, 2024

Artificial Intelligence and Public Health

The IANPHI Asia and Africa Networks hosted a webinar focused on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Public Health. Experts dove into how AI is revolutionizing various aspects of public health, from mathematical modelling for more effective interventions to enhancing infectious disease surveillance systems and detecting and responding to health threats. Additionally, the discussion addressed the growing concern of global health inequality and how AI can help bridge these disparities.

A panel of experts offered a comprehensive overview of AI's potential to reshape public health practices and policies, providing valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, health, and global well-being.

Panelists:

  • Abel W. Walekhwa, Director of IDEMU Mathematical Modeling Unit in Uganda
  • Zhihang Peng, Deputy Director of the Information Center at China CDC
  • Homoud Algarni, senior Global Health expert and Director of the Global Health Department at the Saudi Public Health Authority

Moderated by:

  • Muhannad Aloraini, Chair of the IANPHI Asia Network and Director of the Saudi Public Health Academy.

Artificial Intelligence and Public Health Summary (PDF)

Presentation of Mr. Walekhwa (PDF)

Presentation of Dr. Algarni (PDF)

November 4, 2024

Transformative systems approaches to promote population health – What role can national public health institutes play?

In alignment with One Health Day 2024, IANPHI's Thematic Committee on Climate Change & Public Health held on November 4 a webinar on transformative systems approaches to public health, particularly in the context of planetary health. The webinar, co-hosted by Angelina Taylor from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Germany and Lisbeth Hall from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, emphasized the interconnectedness of global crises, such as biodiversity loss, climate change and social issues, and their impact on public health. National public health institutes were highlighted as key players in addressing these challenges.

Following the presentations, the speakers and audience engaged in a discussion on transformative systems approaches for national public health institutes. Highlights from the discussion included the importance of effective communication, such as using clear terms and engaging communities in citizen science, with Joyce emphasizing the need for a positive, values-driven message to build support for planetary health. Maya highlighted the responsibility to future generations, stressing the need for a shift in values, while Joyce reiterated the importance of a decolonized approach. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare shared their efforts in raising awareness about the environment-health connection, conducting economic calculations to demonstrate the benefits of nature, and involving healthcare professionals in promoting outdoor activities. They also emphasized integrating planetary health thinking across their work, with notable success in nutrition through the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet.

Panelists :

  • Dr. Maya Gislason, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Canada
  • Dr. Joyce Browne, Associate Professor Global Health / Epidemiology at the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Dr. Horacio Riojas-Rodriguez, Director of the Direction of Environmental Health Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (national public health institute), Mexico

Moderated by:

  • Lisbeth Hall, RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands
  • Angelina Taylor, Robert Koch Institute, Germany

Presentation of Dr. Maya Gislason (PDF)

Presentation of Dr. Joyce Browne (PDF)

Presentation of Haracio Riojas (PDF)

September 4, 2024

Building Effective Networks: Strategies for Partnership Mapping and Stakeholder Engagement in NPHIs

Co-organized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), and the Department of International Health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health the September 4 webinar was the fourth in a series of webinars focused on partnerships and stakeholder management in the National Public Health Institute (NPHI) setting, featuring insights from public health practitioners and researchers from Zambia, Jordan, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The series is focused on organizational development and how various frameworks and tools can be applied in the NPHI setting and will address areas related to strategic planning; workforce strategy and development; partnership assessment and mapping; and change management. Objectives of the webinar series are for NPHIs to discuss their experiences working in the domains, share best practices, discuss possible solutions to challenges faced, and touch upon the importance of NPHIs investing in these areas. This webinar series is a collaboration between IANPHI and the Building Capacity for National Public Health Institutes Project, which is funded by the U.S. CDC and led by researchers in the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School.

Panelists:

  • Mr. Miyoba Dindi, Project Director, COAG, Zambia National Public Health Institute
  • Ms. Dalia Zyed, Chief Health Policy Officer, Jordan Center for Disease Control
  • Dr. Bhakti Hansoti, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Moderated by:

  • Ms. Shelly Bratton, Lead, National Public Health Institute Program, Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. CDC

Presentation of Mr. Miyoba Dindi

Presentation of Ms. Dalia Zyed

Presentation of Dr. Bhakti Hansoti

June 6, 2024

Insights into Workforce Strategy and Development for National Public Health Institutes

Co-organized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), and the Department of International Health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health the June 6 webinar was the third in a series of webinars focused on workforce planning and development in the National Public Health Institute (NPHI) setting, featuring insights from public health practitioners and researchers from the Republic of Georgia, Mozambique, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The series is focused on organizational development and how various frameworks and tools can be applied in the NPHI setting and will address areas related to strategic planning; workforce strategy and development; partnership assessment and mapping; and change management. Objectives of the webinar series are for NPHIs to discuss their experiences working in the domains, share best practices, discuss possible solutions to challenges faced, and touch upon the importance of NPHIs investing in these areas. This webinar series is a collaboration between IANPHI and the Building Capacity for National Public Health Institutes Project, which is funded by the U.S. CDC and led by researchers in the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School.

Panelists:

  • Ms. Elene Godziashvili, Head of Continuous Professional Training and Development Division, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia
  • Dr. Eduardo Samo Gudo, Director General of National Institute of Health, Mozambique
  • Dr. Sara Bennett, Director and Professor, Health Systems Program Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Dr. Smriti Ridhi, Research Associate, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health

Moderated by:

  • Dr. Tushar Singh, Country Director for Georgia and Regional Workforce Development Advisor, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Presentation of Ms. Elene Godziashvili

Presentation of Dr. Eduardo Samo Gudo

Presentation of Dr. Sara Bennett and Dr. Smriti Ridhi

April 10, 2024

Charting the Course: The Vital Role of Strategic Planning in National Public Health Institutes

Co-organized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), and the Department of International Health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health the April 10 webinar was the second in a series of webinars focused on the application of strategic planning in the National Public Health (NPHI) setting, featuring insights from public health practitioners and researchers from Liberia, Colombia, the U.S. CDC, and the Department of International Health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The series is focused on organizational development and how various frameworks and tools can be applied in the NPHI setting and will address areas related to strategic planning; workforce strategy and development; partnership assessment and mapping; and change management. Objectives of the webinar series are for NPHIs to discuss their experiences working in the domains, share best practices, discuss possible solutions to challenges faced, and touch upon the importance of NPHIs investing in these areas. This webinar series is a collaboration between IANPHI and the Building Capacity for National Public Health Institutes Project, which is funded by the U.S. CDC and led by researchers in the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School.

Panelists:

  • Dr. Julius Gilayeneh, Deputy Director General for Technical Services/Chief Scientist, National Public Health Institute of Liberia  
  • Dr.  Franklyn Edwin Prieto Alvarado, Director of Public Health Surveillance and Risk Analysis, National Institute of Health of Colombia 
  • Dr. Cyrus Engineer, Professor of the Practice, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 

Moderated by: 

  • Shelly Bratton, Lead, National Public Health Institute Program, Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. CDC

Presentation of Dr. Julius Gilayeneh

Presentation of Dr. Francklyn Edwin Prieto Alvarado

Presentation of Dr. Cyrus Engineer

February 28, 2024

Insights from Organizational Development Frameworks

Co-organized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), and the Department of International Health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health the Feb 28 webinar was the first in a series of webinars focused on the application of organizational development frameworks in the NPHI setting, featuring insights from public health practitioners and researchers from Burkina Faso, Zambia, the U.S. CDC, and the Bloomberg School.

The series is focused on organizational development and how various frameworks and tools can be applied in the NPHI setting and will address areas related to strategic planning; workforce strategy and development; partnership assessment and mapping; and change management. Objectives of the webinar series are for NPHIs to discuss their experiences working in the domains, share best practices, discuss possible solutions to challenges faced, and touch upon the importance of NPHIs investing in these areas.

Panelists:

  • Prof. Hervé Hien, Co-Chair, IANPHI Regional African Network
  • Prof. Roma Chilengi, Director General, Zambia National Public Health Institute
  • Dr. Sara Bennett, Director and Professor, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Moderated by:

  • Shelly Bratton, Lead, National Public Health Institute Program, Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. CDC

Presentation of Prof. Hervé Hien

Presentation of Prof. Roma Chilengi

Presentation of Dr Sara Bennett

January 18, 2024

Conditions for Resilient Communities; Applying Public Health Approaches to the Emergency Management Continuum

On January 18, 2024, IANPHI co-hosted a webinar on "Conditions for Resilient Communities; Applying Public Health Approaches to the Emergency Management Continuum " with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The recommendations in the 2023 Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) of Canada's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada provided a platform to promote the sharing of best practices with IANPHI Members and Partners.

From COVID-19 to extreme weather events, emergencies are becoming a part of our daily lives. With this reality comes a shift in how we think about preparing for emergencies by looking beyond immediate response efforts. Effective emergency management must prioritize health equity, community engagement, and influence social structures that can withstand shocks. Health promotion approaches, founded on addressing the social determinants of health, can pull these mechanisms together to guide a stronger public health and emergency response approach. National Public Health Institutes (NPHls) are well-placed to advocate for an intersectoral, systematic way forward, to create conditions for resilient communities before, during, and after emergencies. Under the moderation of Dr. Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive of Public Health Wales and IANPHI Executive Board Member, this webinar discussed vital aspects of public health in emergencies.

Speakers

Moderated by

Webinar highlights

November 23, 2023

Public Health Workforce Development: Challenges and Opportunities

Moderated by Dr. Muhannad Sulaiman Aloraini, Public Health Academy Director at the Saudi Arabia Public Health Authority and Chair of the Asian Regional Network, the webinar held on November 23, 2023, highlighted the current challenges and opportunities in the public health workforce development process, in terms of training, competency frameworks, workforce roadmap and volunteering. The session offered presentations of panelists from China CDC, Jordan CDC, the WHO collaboration Centre for Public Health Education & Training, the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), and the Community Medicine Council of the Arab Board of Health Specializations.

Speakers

Moderated by

Webinar highlights

November 8, 2023

IANPHI Webinar on NPHI strategies: Tumultuous times and pressing strategic choices for NPHls

On November 8, 2023, the IANPHI Europe Network hosted a webinar on "Tumultuous times and pressing strategic choices for NPHls". The covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the circumstances for many National Public Health Institutes (NPHls). The current war in Ukraine and economic challenges reinforce the volatility of the situation alongside longer trends in emerging health threats and in technological advances. Many NPHls have recently revised their strategy or are in the process of doing so. IANPHI Europe regional network launched, in March 2023, a survey  with the  goal to gather information on the most pressing strategic choices that NPHls are currently facing. Preliminary results were presented at the European annual meeting in Lisbon in April 2023.

In this webinar, expanded findings from the survey have been presented and then debated from multiple perspectives with the aim of better understanding what NPHls worldwide should do next. Moderated by Dr. Trygve Ottersen, Executive Director, Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Chair of the IANPHI Europe Network, the session offered presentations and a discussion between panelists from the National Public Health Institute of Mozambique, the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, the National Institute of Health of Pakistan and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Speakers

  • Dr. Bjorn G. Iversen, Senior Medical Officer, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
  • Dr. Igor Galić, Director, Institute of Public Health, Montenegro
  • Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of the Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Dr. Sofia Viegas, Deputy General Director of the National Institute of Health of Mozambique
  • Prof. Aamer lkram, Former Director, National Institute of Health Pakistan

Moderated by 

Webinar highlights

October 18, 2023

Artificial Intelligence in Public Health - Recent Developments, Challenges and Opportunities

On October 18, 2023, the IANPHI European  Network hosted a webinar on "Artificial intelligence in Public Health - Recent Developments, Challenges and Opportunities".

Under the moderation of Dr. Trygve Ottersen, Executive Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Chair of the IANPHI European Network, this webinar highlighted the current challenges and opportunities for public  health  brought by  the recent developments of artificial intelligence (Al). In this session, the panelists collectively discussed the opportunities and challenges of integrating Al into public health, the need for responsible and transparent practices, and the potential for Al to improve public health outcomes.

Speakers

Moderated by 

Webinar highlights

October 12, 2023

Global Health Emergency Corps

Co-Organized with WHO and moderated by Sadaf Lynes, IANPHI's Director of Collaborative Surveillance, Workforce and Health Emergencies, the October 12, 2023 webinar introduced the newly launched Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC). GHEC is a global network of networks aimed at strengthening health emergency response and leadership capacities across countries, regions and internationally to prevent, prepare for, and rapidly contain new and emerging health threats.

Speakers

  • Dr. Scott Dowell, Deputy Director for Surveillance and Epidemiology at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Scott Douglas Pendergast, Director for Strategic Planning and Partnerships of the Health Emergencies Programme at the World Health Organization (WHO) 
  • Prof. Duncan Selbie, IANPHI President

Moderated by 

  • Sadaf Lynes, Director of Collaborative Surveillance, Workforce and Health Emergencies, IANPHI

Presentation Global Health Emergency Corps

September 6, 2023

IANPHI Africa Webinar: Innovative approaches to public health emergency response and policy decisions

Moderated by Alex Riolexus Ario, Chair of the IANPHI Africa Network, the September 6, 2023 webinar introduced the Data to Policy program, or D2P, for improving public health data collection and the 7-1-7 framework for enhancing disease outbreak response. The session offered presentations of panelists from CDC Foundation, the National Institute for Communicable diseases in South Africa and Resolve to Save Lives. 

Data to Policy, or D2P, aims to enhance public health data collection in low and middle-income countries, focusing on cancer registries, vital statistics, and innovative survey methods for noncommunicable diseases. Coordinated by Vital Strategies and CDC Foundation, D2P bridges the gap between policymakers and public health professionals through intensive training. This program has made a significant impact, operating in 20 countries, training 93 mentors, and developing 167 policies, shaping health policy in Africa.

In South Africa, D2P transformed public health professionals by equipping them with tools to leverage public health data for policy development. Participants created policy briefs on critical topics such as neglected tropical diseases, cancer, and communicable diseases, which have been adopted for implementation. This underscores the program's influence on evidence-based policy development within South Africa's public health sector.

The webinar also explored the 7-1-7 framework, designed to enhance early disease outbreak detection and response. It emphasizes rapid disease detection within seven days of emergence, timely notification to public health authorities, and tailored early response actions within another seven days. Identifying bottlenecks and enablers is crucial for successful implementation. The 7-1-7 framework's practical application during the 2022 Ebola Sudan virus outbreak in Uganda showcased its effectiveness in disease outbreak preparedness and response, ultimately improving public health outcomes.

Speakers

  • Andrew Ancharski, Epidemiology and Health Policy Trainer, CDC Foundation
  • Ruvimbo Chingonzoh, Field Epidemiologist, National Institute for Communicable diseases in South Africa
  • Mohammed Lamorde, Project Director for 7-1-7 Alliance, Resolve to Save Lives

Moderated by 

  • Alex Riolexus Ario, Director, Uganda National Public Health Institute
 

Presentation of Mohammed Lamorde

Presentation of Andrew Ancharski and Ruvimbo Chingonzoh 

June 23, 2023

IANPHI Webinar: How can countries improve Integrated Disease Surveillance systems?

On June 23, 2023, IANPHI hosted a webinar to discuss how countries can improve Integrated Disease Surveillance Systems, or IDS. The webinar outlined our work with member institutes to examine the status of national surveillance systems and the evidence base for the effectiveness of IDS. IDS has been advocated as an approach to enable countries to improve their disease surveillance and response capabilities so that they can detect and respond to communicable disease threats in a timely way. To achieve these objectives IANPHI conducted a scoping review of published evidence, a multi-country survey of IANPHI members, and qualitative “deep dive” case studies in seven countries. The webinar offered an overview of the project findings and key recommendations.

Speakers

  • Andrew Lee, UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom
  • Gerd Flodgren, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
  • Janine Bezuidenhoudt, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa
  • Ivalda Macicame, Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Mozambique
  • Muhammad Sartaj, UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom
  • Pierre Grand, WHO Hub for Pandemic & Epidemic Intelligence

With the participation of

  • Duncan Selbie, President, IANPHI

Moderated by 

  • Sadaf Lynes, Director of Strategy, IANPHI

Integrated Disease Surveillance Project Reports and Resources

March 15, 2023

IANPHI Europe: Filling the Knowledge Gap in Public Health and Social Measures

On March 15, 2023, the IANPHI Europe Network hosted a webinar to discuss the knowledge gap in public health and social measures (PHSMs). Throughout the world, PHSMs have been implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19. NPHIs play a key role in advising governments about the use of such measures – which, how and when to implement. Providing such advice has been challenging due to the limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of these types of measures, including their unintended consequences. The evidence base consists largely of logical arguments and observational data, and there have been very few randomized trials of PHSMs conducted, both before and during the pandemic. Moderated by Dr. Atle Fretheim of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the session offered presentations and a discussion between panelists from Germany's Robert Koch Institute, Public Health Wales and Denmark's Statens Serum Institut about the role of NPHIs in contributing to filling the knowledge gap.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Charbel El Bcheraoui (Germany)

Presentation of Prof. Fu-Meng Khaw (Wales)

Presentation of Dr. Henrik Ullum (Denmark)

February 7, 2023

IANPHI Africa: National Public Health Institutes and Lessons Learned from Stakeholder Involvement in their Operationalization

On February 7, 2023, the IANPHI African Network hosted a webinar on the operationalization of NPHIs in the region and the lessons learned from stakeholder involvement. Panelists from the South African and Zambian NPHIs and Africa CDC discussed how NPHIs can capitalize on the influence of national stakeholders (NGOs, ministries, public health associations, technical and financial partners) and the political will of the countries' leaders to succeed in their process of operationalization and maturation. The session was moderated by Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario, chair of the IANPHI African Network, with the participation of Prof. Hervé Hien, vice chair of the network.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Nathalie Mayet (South Africa)

Presentation of Prof. Roma Chilengi (Zambia)

Presentation of Haftom Taame (Africa CDC)

January 25, 2023

IANPHI Europe: Prioritization in Health – How Can We Lift Prevention?

On January 25, 2023, the IANPHI European Network hosted a webinar on the prioritization of health promotion and prevention. Limited resources and priority settings often result in treatment being prioritized over preventive interventions within healthcare services. Given the long-term benefits of health promotion and prevention, many NPHIs are faced with a need – and a challenge – to strengthen such services. In this webinar moderated by Dr. Trygve Ottersen, chair of the IANPHI European Network, NPHI leaders from Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands shared the experiences of their institutes in steering systems to better take into account or reinforce health promotion and prevention on a national level, including securing resources within the budget process rather than prioritization on a lower scale.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Annika Veimer (Estonia)

Presentation of Dr. Anders Tegnell (Sweden)

Presentation of Dr. Eeva Nykänen (Finland)

Presentation of Prof. Dr. Martin Dietrich (Germany)

November 14, 2022

Developing Indicators to Drive Relevant Action on Climate Change and Health

On November 14, 2022, the IANPHI Committee on Climate Change and Public Health held a webinar on Developing Indicators to Drive Relevant Action on Climate Change and Health. Indicators are critical tools to track and capture climate-induced health impacts, harness evidence and implement effective public health interventions. The discussion featured representatives from the Lancet Countdown, the European Environment Agency, and from member NPHIs in the UK, the U.S., France and India. The webinar was opened by Dr. Sébastien Denys, chair of the IANPHI Committee on Climate Change and Public Health, and moderated by Dr. Svenja Matusall of Germany's Robert Koch Institute.

Webinar highlights 

Presentation of Kim van Daalen (Lancet Countdown)

Presentation of Dr. Aleksandra Kazmierczak (EEA)

Presentation of Dr. Giovanni Leonardi (UK)

Presentation of Dr. Shubhayu Saha (U.S.)

Presentation of Dr. Mathilde Pascal (France)

Presentation of Dr. Aakash Shrivastava (India)

November 9, 2022

National Public Health Institutes Exercising Scientific Independence

On November 9, 2022, the IANPHI Europe Regional Network hosted a webinar about NPHIs Exercising Scientific Independence during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many NPHIs have been center-stage in their nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and their roles and interactions with major stakeholders such as policymakers at the national and local levels, the media, healthcare services, and other public entities have been put to the test. Moderated by Prof. Fu Meng Khaw, the webinar explored two central themes: 1/ whether NPHIs can ensure robust independent knowledge production and dissemination without political influence, and 2/ how NPHIs can work with stakeholders to advocate effectively for the collective benefit of independent scientific advice. 

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Prof. Hans Brug (Netherlands)

Presentation of Prof. Herwig Ostermann (Austria)

September 14, 2022

National Public Health Institutes' Influence and Advocacy Strategies Using Scientific Evidence

On September 14, 2022, IANPHI hosted a webinar on “Influencing and Advocating to Policymakers Using Scientific Evidence” featuring leaders from member NPHIs: Prof. Lothar Wieler (Germany), Dr. Qiulan Chen (China), and Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana (Rwanda). Moderated by IANPHI President Prof. Duncan Selbie, the focus of this session was to address the challenges of NPHIs to communicate and influence policymakers and advance public health legislation. 

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Prof. Lothar Wieler (Germany)

Presentation of Dr. Qiulan Chen (China)

Presentation of Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana (Rwanda)

June 8, 2022

The Challenges of Integrated Surveillance for National Public Health Institutes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

On June 8, 2022, IANPHI held a webinar on the challenges of integrated surveillance for national public health institutes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic highlighted gaps and weaknesses in national surveillance systems. NPHIs have had to adapt and strengthen their surveillance programs taking into account the new political, institutional and social context, and develop fresh approaches for the longer term. The session offered a panel discussion featuring surveillance experts from Pakistan's National Institute of Health, Mozambique's Instituto Nacional de Saúde, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moderated by the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Program.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Oliver Morgan (WHO)

Lancet article on disease surveillance for the COVID-19 era



March 3, 2022

IANPHI Africa: Wastewater Surveillance for COVID-19 and Other Pathogens Led by African National Public Health Institutes

On March 3, 2022, the IANPHI African Network held a webinar to share experiences of African national public health institutes that are conducting wastewater surveillance programs for COVID-19 and other pathogens. Monitoring wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 has proven to be a very useful tool during the pandemic to detect new variants and track trends. The webinar featured presentations by Ghana Health Service and South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases as well as a Q&A session moderated by Africa CDC.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Kerrigan McCarthy (South Africa)

Presentation of Dr. Dennis Laryea (Ghana)



September 28, 2021

IANPHI Africa: COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation and How African NPHIs Can Address It and Increase Vaccine Uptake

On September 28, 2021, the IANPHI African Network hosted a webinar to discuss how African NPHIs can address COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and rumors resulting in vaccine hesitancy, and improve vaccine uptake in African countries. Bob Omoda Amodan of the Uganda National Institute of Public Health and Dr. Raji Tajudeen, head of Africa CDC's Division of Public Health Institutes and Research, gave presentations sharing their experiences and offering possible strategies and solutions. Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario, director of the Uganda National Institute of Public Health and chair of the IANPHI Africa Regional Network, and Dr. Hervé Hien, his vice-chair and director of Burkina Faso's Institut National de Santé Publique, co-moderated the session.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Bob Omoda Amodan (Uganda)

Presentation of Dr. Raji Tajudeen (Africa CDC)



June 30, 2021

The Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and How International and Regional Collaboration Can Support NPHIs

On June 30, 2021, IANPHI hosted a webinar to understand how NPHIs can further develop genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 as part of their surveillance systems, and how regional and international collaboration can support the development of genomic sequencing. The webinar offered case studies presentations from INSP Burkina Faso, Argentina ANLIS, and Denmark SSI on their experience with genomic sequencing and surveillance, their best practices, the gaps they identified and the role of regional and international collaboration in the development of capacities in this field. A panel discussion followed with experts from Africa CDC, PAHO, CARPHA and NIH Pakistan to exchange ideas about ways international or regional networks and cooperation can participate in reducing regional disparities in the ability to sequence genomes. The session was moderated by Dr. Jinal Bhiman of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of South Africa.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Prof. Abdoul Salam Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)

Presentation of Dr. Claudia Perandones (Argentina)



May 12, 2021

The Impact of Heat Waves during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Lessons Learned by NPHIs from Summer 2020

On May 12, 2021, IANPHI hosted a webinar to understand how COVID-19 affected heatwaves risks in 2020, identified the key lessons learned by the NPHIs and other public health stakeholders from this experience and explored solutions and good practices. The webinar featured NPHI case studies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, and Public Health England. A panel discussion followed to discuss possible solutions and how to adapt public health practice to address the combined impact of heatwaves and COVID-19, with panelists from Santé publique France, the National Public Health Institute of Quebec, the Global Heat Health Information Network, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. The session was moderated by Prof. Duncan Selbie, president of IANPHI.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Shubhayu Saha (U.S.)

Presentation of Dr. Werner Hagens (The Netherlands)

Presentation of Owen Landeg (UK)



April 14, 2021

The Role and Challenges of National Public Health Institutes in COVID-19 Vaccination

On April 14, 2021, IANPHI hosted a webinar to facilitate a high-level discussion on NPHIs' role and challenges in COVID-19 vaccination. The objectives of the session were to 1) understand and compare the NPHIs role and activities regarding COVID-19 vaccination, showing the diversity and regional specificities among the IANPHI network, as well as 2) identify the common challenges encountered by the NPHIs regarding COVID-19 vaccination, and 3) show how they are facing them by sharing good practices and discussing with the IANPHI membership. The webinar featured speakers from Israel's Ministry of Health, Bangladesh's Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The webinar was moderated by Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, co-founder of IANPHI and vice president for Global Health at Emory University.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Roee Singer (Israel)

Presentation of Dr. Tahmina Shirin (Bangladesh)

Presentation of Dr. Kim Fox (U.S.)



October 22, 2020

IANPHI Europe: Balancing Investment for Well-being and Health Equity in the Context of COVID-19

On October 22, 2020, IANPHI hosted a webinar on balancing investment for well-being and health equity in the context of COVID-19. The webinar was a session of the virtual 2020 IANPHI European Meeting. Moderated by Prof. Mark A. Bellis, director, WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Wellbeing at Public Health Wales, it outlined current and potential challenges and impacts of COVID-19 (and related response measures) on population well-being, equity, social and economic development, and highlighted the importance of urgent and sustainable investment in well-being and health equity. It explored theoretical approaches and solutions as well as examples of good practice and country experiences, developing and using different models and tools towards sustainable investment.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Dyakova (Wales/WHO)

Presentation of Dr. Azam (Wales/WHO)

Presentation of C. Brown (WHO/Europe)

Presentation of T. Buzeti (WHO/Europe)

Presentation of C. Costongs (EuroHealthNet)

Presentation of A. Maassen (EuroHealthNet)



July 10, 2020

The Mobilization of Behavioral Science in the Time of COVID-19

On July 10, 2020, IANPHI hosted a webinar on the mobilization of behavioral science in the time of COVID-19. Moderated by Neil Squires of the Global Health Department of Public Health England, the webinar featured public health leaders from the Netherlands and France. Behavioral science plays a vital role to play in efforts to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Research on behavior and health provides insights on how to help people understand and follow guidelines to keep themselves and their communities safe.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of RIVM's Corona Behavioral Unit

Presentation of the French Behavioral Insights Unit

Presentation of Santé publique France



June 3, 2020

IHME's COVID-19 Pandemic Forecasts and their Utilization by National Public Health Institutes in the National Responses

In partnership with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the webinar discussed COVID-19 pandemic forecasts with national public health institutes (NPHIs) and key stakeholders, and addressed the methodology and data source of the third generation of IHME's model as well as the implications of their COVID-19 resource for national authorities and NPHIs. Dr. Jean-Claude Desenclos, scientific director and deputy to the director general at Santé publique France, and secretary general of IANPHI, moderated a discussion with Dr. Christopher J. L. Murray, director of IHME and chair of department of Health Metrics Sciences.

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Murray (IHME)



May 15, 2020

Lockdown De-escalation Strategies in Europe

Facilitated by IANPHI Co-Founder Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, the webinar featured Dr. Johanna Hanefeld, scientific director and head of department at the Centre for International Health Protection (ZIG) of Germany's Robert Koch Institute, and Dr. Frode Forland, specialist director of infectious diseases and global health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH).

Webinar highlights

Presentation of Dr. Frode Forland (Norway)



April 29, 2020

The Role of West African National Public Health Institutes in the COVID-19 Response

Facilitated by IANPHI Secretary General Dr. Jean-Claude Desenclos, the webinar was the first held in French. It featured Dr. Hervé Hien, director general of the Institut National de Santé Publique of Burkina Faso, Prof. Dinard Kouassi, director general of the Institut National de Santé Publique of Côte d'Ivoire, and Dr. Abdoulaye Touré, director general of the Institut National de Santé Publique of Guinea.

Webinar highlights (English)

Webinar highlights (French)

Presentation of Dr. Hervé Hien (French)



April 15, 2020

The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the COVID-19 Response

Facilitated by Prof. Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, the webinar featured Dr. George Fu Gao, director of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).

Presentation of Dr. Gao



April 7, 2020

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the COVID-19 Response

Facilitated by IANPHI co-founder Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, the webinar featured Dr. Minwon Lee, director general at the Center for Public Health Emergency Response of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), and Dr. Seon Kui Erica Lee, director at KCDC's Division of Risk assessment and International cooperation.

Presentation of Dr. Lee

Dr. Lee's letter to her peers



March 24, 2020

Italy's Istituto Superiore di Sanità and the COVID-19 Response

The first webinar of the IANPHI COVID-19 Series featured Prof. Silvio Brusaferro, president of Italy's Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). Brusaferro discussed how Italy's COVID-19 response in the first month of the pandemic. He offered insight and data on how public health leaders in other countries could respond more effectively. The webinar included a presentation by Brusaferro, followed by a question and answer session.

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