New Voices in Global Health 2014

Abstract

The second World Health Summit regional meeting was held in São Paulo, Brazil, in April this year following a successful first regional meeting in Singapore in 2013. More than 1000 participants from 30 countries took part in the meeting in Brazil and discussed global health challenges, especially those relevant to Latin America. Five goals were articulated by the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies in São Paulo in the following areas: better health for populations with particular attention to a healthy life expectancy and social inequalities; policies that address determinants of health related to urbanisation; strengthening research and development capacity in the region; ensuring true universal health coverage; and adopting an educational system for health professionals that addresses local priorities. As part of the regional meeting, the five best abstracts were chosen from more than 400 submissions for oral presentation in Brazil, continuing The Lancet's programme of New Voices in Global Health. These five abstracts are presented in this booklet together with five further abstracts that were chosen from 40 posters exhibited during the regional meeting. Many, if not all, of the regionally presented goals will be taken up again at the main World Health Summit in Berlin in October. This year's central topics are climate change and health, healthy ageing, healthy cities and disease prevention, universal health coverage, and medical education. The ten remaining abstracts in this booklet were chosen from 126 submissions and will be presented at the Berlin meeting. Now more than ever, a new generation of researchers needs to take up the enormous challenges posed by a rapidly changing world. Achieving a healthy future for all, and a healthy planet, is not a given nor is it an easy task, despite (or perhaps because of) rapid development and technological advances. Inequities are likely to increase with climate change and sociodemographic changes, unless policies are targeted specifically to the most vulnerable people. New health threats will continue to emerge in both infectious and non-communicable diseases. Solutions will be needed both at a local and a global level. Research alone is not sufficient. Policymakers need to listen carefully and work closely with researchers, and researchers need to translate their findings into science-based advocacy. Young enthusiastic researchers are the key to continued sustainable progress towards the health and wellbeing of populations worldwide and to a healthy, sustainable planet. The new voices in this booklet give hope that the global community has such committed and passionate researchers.