5.G. Skills building seminar: How to organise and benefit from a public health week in your country, region or continent

Abstract

Abstract The European Public Health Week (EUPHW) is an annual activity by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) that began in 2019, inspired by similar initiatives organised in Austria and the USA. This session aims to inspire and guide individuals and institutions to organise a public health day, week or month in a new city, country, region or continent. Having taken place both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the EUPHW has demonstrated that public health professionals, institutions and citizens across Europe are strongly committed to deliver its goals: to make the case for public health, amplify existing messages about important health topics, and create innovative ways of collaboration among all professionals contributing to public health - from local to international level. With a rich portfolio, the three editions of EUPHW recorded approximately 400 online and in-person activities hosted by more than 40 countries in multiple languages. In this skills-building seminar we will share examples, tips, best practices and lessons learned. This will be an interactive session combining group dynamics and Q&A to and from the audience, allowing participants to provide suggestions for improvement and share their experiences and perceptions as event hosts, disseminators or participants of past editions. The topics to be covered include governance, choice of themes and key messages, logistics, target audiences, communication, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, involvement types and evaluation, as well as concrete ways of applying the motto of EUPHW: “Joining forces for healthier populations”. Panellists will bring the perspective of organising a public health week at both national and European levels, including the day-to-day coordination work. They will also explain how we can engage with the future generation of public health professionals (EUPHAnxt) and build continuity and sustainable partnerships. The EUPHW is an initiative by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), receives co-funding under an operating grant from the European Union's Health Programme and is supported by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Speakers/Panelists Dineke Zeegers Paget EUPHA Thomas Dorner Austrian Public Health Association, Vienna, Austria Marie Guichardon EUPHA Monica Brinzac Cluj School of Public Health, Cluj Napoca, Romania Key messages The European Public Health Week is a unique opportunity to make the case for public health, raise awareness about important health themes and promote collaboration among the public health community. This seminar aims to inspire individuals and institutions to organise a public health awareness day, week or month in their own local community, country or even continent.