Short Biography

Professor and Associate Dean Shively, International Programs in Agriculture, Purdue University, USA

Name: Professor Dr. Gerald Shively
Position: Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in Agriculture; Professor of Agricultural Economics
University: Purdue University, USA City, State, Country: 615 Mitch Daniels Blvd., West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907 USA
Email: shivelyg@purdue.edu
Dr. Gerald Shively currently serves as Associate Dean and Director of International Programs in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. A Professor of Agricultural Economics and a Faculty Fellow for Global Affairs, he has served on the Purdue faculty since 1996 and has more than 25 years of research experience working in the areas of agricultural development, food and nutrition security and natural resource management worldwide. He has published more than 200 scholarly works and has received numerous teaching and research awards. He is a Fellow of both the International Association of Agricultural Economists and the African Association of Agricultural Economists. He serves as Principal Investigator for the USAID-funded pr

Abstract

Through its effects on temperature and precipitation patterns, climate change is widely expected to impact crop yields and food supplies. Negative impacts on food security and the nutritional status of low-income and vulnerable individuals are likely to be especially acute. This presentation highlights some of the conceptual and empirical links between climate and nutrition insecurity, presents empirical evidence regarding these connections, and outlines several action items for further research and policy attention

Short Biography

Prof. Dr. Florian J. Schweigert is an internationally recognized scientist in the field of human and animal nutrition, academic administrator and entrepreneur. His research focuses on nutritional biomarkers in the context of metabolic syndrome and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in developing countries. The results of his work have been published in more than 250 scientific publications (6300 citations, HF=41) in international journals. He completed his veterinary studies at the University of Munich and was an academic fellow at Harvard Medical School, Boston, US. After working as a Full Professor at the University of Leipzig, he held the Chair of Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nutrition and was Vice-President for International Affairs and Fundraising at the University of Potsdam. At the European level, he has served as Chair of the European Digital UniverCity (EDUC) Alliance, is Vice President of the Turkish-German University Consortium, and is a member of a number of international academic boards. Innovative research ideas and concepts have led to the creation of several spin-off companies. As CEO, he leads BioAnalyt and QuImpact, which are dedicated to developing innovative testing systems for the food and feed industry, personalised diagnostics, and strategic implementation of nutrition improvement programmes in close cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Abstract

Large-scale food fortification (LSFF), is a critical intervention that addresses global micronutrient deficiencies through the strategic fortification of commonly consumed foods such as rice, flour, salt or edible oil with vitamins and minerals. It is a key public health strategy with the dual potential to significantly improve nutritional status and drive economic progress by improving health outcomes and labour productivity. Despite the obvious benefits, the implementation of food fortification on a mass scale faces several technical, logistical, cultural and regulatory challenges. These challenges require quality control, effective supply chain management, cultural and consumer acceptance, and the establishment of robust policy and regulatory frameworks. Examples for both successful implementations and the obstacles faced, will be presented providing a balanced perspective on the practicalities of food fortification at scale. The discourse extends to the critical role of cross-sector partnerships, technological innovation in fortification processes, and the indispensable need for comprehensive public education to ensure consumer acceptance. Finally, the presentation advocates for a unified approach among governments, industry players, NGOs and communities to navigate the complexities of food fortification and underscores its potential as a game-changer in the global fight against malnutrition. The future of food fortification is considered in the context of emerging trends and potential advances, calling for concerted efforts to realise its full public health potential.

Short Biography

Oyuntogos Lkhasuren, technical officer in environmental health, and team leader of environmental health unit, of the WHO LAO PDR office.
Experiences: Lecturer and chair of department of environmental health, Health Sciences University, Mongolia, from 1997- 2010, technical officer in environmental health, WHO Mongolia office, 2011-2013, working in WHO Lao office from 2014. Qualification: Bachelor in Hygiene (1990-1995, graduated in 1995), Master of Public health (1995 – 1997), PhD in Occupational Health (2002-2005) from the National Health Sciences University of Mongolia. Studied at Korean Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (1999-2000), research fellow at University of Medicine, Innsbruck University, Austria (2006), Emory University (2008). Managing programmes in assessing vulnerability of climate change, developing health adaptation plan, stre ngthening capacity to assess and manage climate risks and integrating climate risks with disease surveillance for early warning and response.

Abstract

Background: Increases in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events such as flooding, droughts, and heatwaves, as well as changing rainfall patterns and higher temperatures are already being experienced in Lao PDR. the Government of the Lao PDR has also taken steps to make the country more resilient to the impacts of climate change, especially in vulnerable sectors such as public health, agriculture, forestry and land use, water resources, transport, and energy (1,2). For public health, the country developed its Strategy on Climate Change and Health Adaptation 2018–2025 and Action Plan 2018–2020, defining the strategic direction for building a climate-resilient health system. A priority area of the strategy is to build climate-resilient water sanitation hygiene and health care waste management services and health care facilities in flood-prone areas (2,4).

WHO operational Framework for building climate resilient health systems were used, successfully in the country for developing the health adaptation plan. The operational framework includes systematic stepwise approach. Priority health outcomes and risks to climate change defined for adaptation measures defined, as it is estimated at least 40,000 extra people in Lao PDR will be exposed to flooding due to climate change by 2030, heat-related death in the elderly (65+ years) are projected to increase from 3 to 72 deaths per 100,000 by 2080.

• Vector-borne diseases will increase because the mean relative vectorial capacity for dengue fever transmission is projected to increase from the baseline of 0.55 to about 0.62 towards 2070.
• Water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea are correlated with drier seasons in Lao PDR when water quality and security is threatened.
• Heat-related medical conditions are projected to increase due to heatwaves. Under a high emissions scenario in Lao PDR, heat-related deaths among elderly people are expected to increase to approximately 72 per 100,000 by 2080, compared with 3 per 100,000 worldwide from 1961 to 1990 (3).

The HNAP is key to addressing health equity issues and supports the improvement of adaptation capacity building activities in most vulnerable health care facilities and rural poor districts. Adaptation menu options are targeting women and children living in poor, rural, hard to reach villages, and outdoor workers, farmers and the elderly during heat waves identified as vulnerable groups.

Over 160 adaptation actions developed based on six Building Blocks of the WHO Operational Framework for Building Climate-Resilient Health Care Systems (6). Safe, Clean, Green, and Climate- resilient hospital - integrated interventions prioritized and included in the 2024 - annual workplan of the national and sub-national health departments.

Adaptation capacity of water sanitation and health service in health care facilities survey results reveal that while most facilities (70%) have basic water services, 16% functional hand hygiene facilities at both points of care and toilets and 19% have basic waste management services (3). Evidence-based suggestions for actions to strengthen and improve WASH services and climate resiliency in HCFs and a monitoring framework providing a consistent approach to capturing data and a baseline for monitoring progress on WASH services and climate resilience until 2025, and beyond to 2030 designed (4). The survey also reveals that very few health care facilities are climate resilient, even though a large majority of facilities have reportedly been impacted by extreme weather events in the last 20 years. Over half of HCFs that experienced extreme weather events attributable to climate change have been severely damaged in the last two decades, yet only 1% of HCFs have any measures in place to reduce their vulnerability to extreme weather events (5).

The HNAP is targeting underserved health care facilities that have been identified by the National WASH Survey and give them priority for further adaptation capacity building (7).

Short Biography

Dr. YU LEE PARK graduated Medical Doctor from WONKWANG UNIVERSITY, South Korea in 1998, Master of Public Health from JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, Baltimore, USA in 2008 and PhD in Medicine at WONKWANG UNIVERSITY, Iksan, Korea in 2011. Now, She is working as WHO Representative Office in Lao People's Democratic Republic. She has an intensive working experience in WHO such as she was Technical Officer (Traditional Medicine), Integrated Service Delivery Unit, Divisions of Health Systems, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific from 2016-2019. She also was Senior Researcher and Research Professor, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Gachon University, Seongnam, Wonkwang University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Global and regional context

While every Member State in the world has made enormous efforts in advancing the SDGs since 2015, the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Report revealed alarming results (1). At the midpoint to the deadline of the 2030 agenda, half of 140 targets which have data available for the evaluation are off track, and 30% of these targets, specifically targets on poverty, hunger and climate, show no progress or regression. The report also underscored inequities, how the COVID-19 pandemic, the triple planetary crisis and the complex geopolitical situation have had disproportionate impacts across the globe and within a country. The result is aligned with the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 (2). The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 also alerted the Region with extremely slow progress across all 17 SDGs in the Asia and Pacific Region and urges immediate action for climate change which showed regression below the 2015 baseline. Its sub-analysis for South-East Asia suggests that moderate progress on the SDG 3 Good health and well-being; low progress in the SDG 2 Zero hunger; regression in the SDG 13 Climate action and the SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production; and little progress in other SDGs related to climate change.

Six Transitions: Investment Pathways to Deliver the SDGs

In this context, the United Nations proposed six key transitions to accelerate the progress (3): food systems; energy access and affordability; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The SDGs are intertwined, which requires an integrated approach to accelerate the progress across the 17 SDGs. All the key transitions are also interconnected in accelerating the progress of multiple SDGs. The significant impact of climate change on health and nutrition now urges our collective actions to address these challenges in more strategic, innovative and integrated ways (4,5). In the health sector, there are various efforts to build the resilient and sustainable health system to achieve the universal health coverage and other health- related SDGs. Here, a couple of selected innovative approaches in the health sector in Lao PDR will be introduced, using one of the key six transitions, digital transformation.

Actions in the health sector, Lao PDR: Data-informed planning and digital transformation to accelerate the progress in achieving the SDGs on health, nutrition and climate change

In alignment with priorities of the Health Sector Reform Strategy 2021-2030 (6) and the 9th Health Sector Development Plan (7), the Ministry of Health (MOH), Lao PDR has made great efforts to enhance data-informed planning for strategic resource allocation with strong emphasis on vulnerable populations, using the geographic information system. The MOH has mapped all the socio- demographic data of the catchment areas, road access, geographical locations of health facilities, human resources for health, and utilization of healthcare services using the District Health Information Software version 2 into the map of Lao PDR to support the subnational planning for strengthening primary health care. Furthermore, since malnutrition has been identified as a significant public health and development issue in Lao PDR, MOH (8), with support from various development partners, has invested in improving nutrition surveillance system to better understand nutritional trends, identify at-risk populations, and tailor interventions accordingly.

As part of innovative approaches which the MOH introduced in the health sector, the MOH has also initiated the integration of climate data, such as temperature and rainfall data received from weather stations around the country, into the national Health Management Information System to forecast climate-sensitive diseases using statistical models through an early warning, alert, and response/ system (9). Early warning systems can predict and alert authorities of potential health and nutrition risks, such as waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases, and malnutrition. It also contributes to building the national health system’s and the society’s resilience for future climate-related challenges.

Way forward

The SDG progress reports at the global and regional levels (1,2) call for urgent actions by the government, development partners, academics, and our communities to address the off-track targets of the SDGs collectively. Regression in achieving the SDG 13, specifically, draws a strong attention of all, considering its significant impact on the SDGs related to health and nutrition and equity issues (10). To address the challenges effectively, we will need to enhance close coordination across relevant sectors beyond health; incorporate innovate tools and solutions; strengthen the health system and the entire society to be more sustainable and resilient in the future; and empower and work with our communities closely to improve our joint ownership and responsibility to achieve the SDGs across the globe.

Short Biography

Professor Dr. Wongsa Laohasiriwong is currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Khon Kaen University in Thailand. Professor Wongsa Laohasiriwong is an expert in various fields related to public health, including Health Impact Assessment (HIA), Health Policy Development, Health Service Systems, Evaluation Research, Health Security, Mental Health, Non-communicable diseases, and HIV/AIDS/Tuberculosis. Her extensive knowledge and experience in these areas make her a valuable asset to the field of public health. She has not only contributed to research dissemination but has also driven and inspired faculty members within the department to produce research and academic services that bring continuous benefits and value to themselves, students, communities, and society. With over 70 research publications indexed in SCOPUS and ISI, more than 20 of which are related to knowledge in health literacy and health promotion, his body of work significantly contributes to advancing knowledge in this field.

Abstract

Climate change appears to be not only an environmental health problem, but also a nutritional and health issue. Many studies have been conducted to determine the effect of climate change on environmental health, but research on the impact of climate change on nutrition and health is still rare. Therefore, it is important to describe the impact of climate change on weather disasters, food systems, biodiversity loss, nutrient loss, and health.

Climate change has resulted in weather disasters because of heatwaves, wildfires, drought, floods, and storms. After that, it affected soil fertility and rain patterns, so crop yields and food production dropped. Then the stability of the global food system was attempted and mass food production focused on conventional cereal and crops by using fertilizer and deforestation. As a result, biodiversity and gene diversity of species and ecosystems are lost. Moreover, nutrient content changed or lost, so human health was impacted. The impacts started from increasing insect populations as vectors of disease because of increasing global temperature. Also, the air pollution that comes from wildfire, human activity, and natural disasters could produce many more oxidants which result in lower immune systems and emerging of noncommunicable diseases.

Hence, Climate change resulted in weather disasters that affected the food system because of decreasing food production, then had an impact on biodiversity loss and nutrition loss. Finally, human health has been attacked by infectious disease and degenerative diseases, so we should maximize one health approach that considers animal health, human health, and the environment.

Keywords: biodiversity loss, food systems, vector-borne disease, degenerative disease, weather disasters

Short Biography

Associate Professor Natasha Howard is an interdisciplinary public health policy and systems researcher at NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, where she leads a programme of health equity-related research. Specialised in qualitative and mixed methods and low/middle-income countries, she draws primarily from sociology, anthropology, and political sciences/IR to engage in policy-relevant research in infectious disease control in Asia and strengthening health system responses during protracted adversity (eg, marginalisation, displacement/complex emergencies). Her teaching includes developing and managing doctoral and master’s degree courses, editing and writing textbooks, supervising doctoral and masters-level student research, and mentoring early career researchers.

Abstract

This talk explores equity considerations within public health initiatives in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, an area characterised by both rapid economic and public health development and persistent health disparities. Challenges include global and regional politics, geographic and cultural diversity, socioeconomic differences, climate/environmental change, and resource and infrastructural limitations. Comparative analysis of existing policies and interventions can identify areas for potential improvement based on principles of social justice, community engagement, and intersectoral collaboration. Highlighting examples and best practices within and beyond the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, we can identify lessons and recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders on strengthening equity within public health policies and initiatives in the region. The talk advocates for public health equity through considering structural and social health determinants, encouraging public sector engagement with diverse communities, and ensuring equitable health services access in the pursuit of health and wellbeing in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region.

Dear Distinguished Guests

It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you to the 14th International Conference in Public Health among the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, hosted in Laos.
This 14th conference provides professionals and scholars in the field of public health with the opportunity to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and strengthen our collaborative efforts towards better health outcomes for our region. Moreover, it offers a forum for meaningful partnerships and collaborations that extend beyond borders, disciplines, and sectors.
As the University of Public Health, Myanmar, one of the members of the School of Public Health network in GMS, our university dedicates itself to not only actively participating in this conference but also actively supporting and contributing to the ongoing efforts of this network.

Once again, welcome to the 14th International Public Health Conference among GMS countries in Laos. Together, let us pave the way towards a brighter tomorrow.

Prof. Hla Hla Win
MBBS, M.Med.Sc(P&TM), PhD(Public health) Dip Med.Ed
Rector, University of Public Health, Yangon, Myanmar