World Congress on Public Health to be Held in Melbourne, 2017

Members of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) meeting in Geneva have unanimously supported the 15^th World Congress on Public Health to be held in Melbourne, Australia in 2017, attracting more than 2000 delegates.
In another unanimous vote Michael Moore, the CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), was elected the Vice President (2014 – 2016) and President Elect of the WFPHA (2016-2018).
Professor Heather Yeatman, President of the PHAA said, “The overwhelming support for Michael’s nomination from other public health associations world-wide is a strong testament to his very significant leadership qualities and experience.  Michael is an outstanding leader and advocate for public health issues in Australia.  He will make an exceptional contribution to meeting public health challenges internationally and providing support to national public health associations in member countries.
“The PHAA is also very pleased with the success of our bid to host the WFPHA 15^th  World Congress on Public Health in Melbourne in 2017.  We expect that over two thousand people from all over the globe will attend this conference to consider challenges and advances in public health.  The range of issues to be covered will be very diverse, from communicable diseases and immunisation to the harms associated with obesity, alcohol and tobacco and broader issues impacting on health such as social inequity and climate change.
“The WFPHA will use the forum to develop understanding of the social determinants of health such as the impact of poverty and disadvantage - particularly in relation to Indigenous peoples and refugees - and the importance of prevention and primary health care in tackling these issues.  Importantly it will also be an opportunity to showcase public health action and achievements in Australia – and to address the challenges that we continue to experience,” said Professor Yeatman.
Mr Moore pointed out that the World Congress bid was a joint effort: “We thank our partners who have made this possible, including the Australian Health Promotion Association, Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Australasian Epidemiologists Association and the Public Health Association of New Zealand.  Additionally, the efforts of the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the MCI Group were a key factor in supporting the bid.
“I feel very honoured to have been elected as Vice President of the WFPHA and look forward to my time as President.  There continue to be many challenges in achieving good health for all.  Commitment across the world to the importance of prevention and health promotion as integral to government policies is still very limited.  The budget of the World Health Organisation, for example, is equivalent to that of just two German hospitals.  International treaty negotiations also do not yet formally consider health impacts and universal healthcare should be a standard approach across the world,” said Mr Moore