GLOBAL HEALTH: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

Click here to fill in the survey

Cittadinanzattiva, with the support of its European branch Active Citizenship Network (ACN), is working on an international project aimed at drafting a Global Health Charter, which aims to represent the main global health needs of each individual at a global level and to identify solutions in response to these. To participate in the project and to help define the perimeter of the macro areas in order to accurately define the Global Health Charter, please respond to this short survey focused on the degree of knowledge on the topic of "global health" and the main themes related to it.
Please note that the survey is anonymous and it takes no more than a few minutes to be filled out.
DEADLINE: Tuesday, 22nd February 2022.
For further information, please contact: b.ferraiolo@cittadinanzattiva.it

To know more:

- The Global Health Charter project (EN – IT)

The project is carried out with the unconditional support of Janssen

20-21 April 2022: XVI Edition of the European Patients’ Rights Day

CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF A HEALTHY EUROPE
“Taking part in the decision-making process on health priorities”
20 – 21 April 2022
14:30 – 16:00 CEST

Given the current situation of uncertainty, the conference will be organized in a digital format.

To virtually attend the conference, please register here (registration is mandatory).

On April 20th and 21st 2022 Active Citizenship Network (ACN) will organize the European celebration of the XVI European Patients’ Rights Day (EPRD) with its traditional format of a big multi-stakeholder conference focused on the role played by key actors in the decision-making process on health priorities.
In particular, just before the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe (9 May), the expectations and requests of citizens and Patients Advocacy Groups (PAGs) addressed to the institutions will be analysed. What has been discussed? Why did only a small percentage of the initiatives promoted within the CoFoE concern health issues? How to ensure that the priorities defined in the context of CoFoE will be incorporated in the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs)? What is the level of involvement of citizens and patients’ associations in defining the implementation process of the priorities that have been identified in the health sector?
The 2022 conference will have a twofold structure, with the direct involvement of MEPs, EU Commission, high level experts, healthcare providers, private sector, leader of civic & PAGs organizations, aimed to contribute to providing a multi-stakeholder vision for a Healthier European Union. To sum up:

- The first day will be dedicated to the main themes emerging from Citizens' Panels' recommendations & health-related initiatives (ACN has contributed with a cycle of 4 events in June, July, September, December 2021), organized in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

- The second day will be focused on the health mission within the National Recovery and Resilience Plans across Member States and the role of the stakeholders in the definition of priorities & plans' implementation.

To know more:

- To know more about the XVI European Patients’ Rights Day, please click here.

- European Patients’ Rights Days, what has been done

- The commitment of the EU Institutions & the European Patients' Rights Day: 10 benefits the EU brings to patients

- International & National celebrations for the European Patients’ Rights Day

- Read an introductory article just published by an international peer review journal

Global Health Charter Project

In 1948 the World Health Organization defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Today, after more than 70 years, the WHO definition is more relevant than ever if we think of the holistic approach to "global health” at the time of the health emergency that we have been experiencing for about two years.
The global pandemic confirms the need to recognize a broader scope to health that is no longer the result of a few and circumscribed variables but the result of multisectoral and global factors, such as lifestyle, environment and climate. Health as an integrated approach, unavoidable from the determinants of health connected to it.
From these preconditions, Cittadinanzattiva - with the unconditional support of Janssen and the involvement of its European branch Active Citizenship Network (ACN)  - has started a new project aimed at drafting a "Global Health Charter", starting from a civic perspective, with the intent of building a holistic and conscious reading of health and contributing to providing effective solutions to the crisis and the health needs of each individual.
The "Global Health Charter" will be declined at various levels (national, European and global) through a multi-stakeholder approach at international level. The Charter will be drafted through the results achieved from an anonymous survey focused on the degree of knowledge on the topic of "global health" and the main themes related to it.
For further information, please contact: b.ferraiolo@cittadinanzattiva.it

To know more:

- The Global Health Charter project (EN – IT)

- To fill in the survey, please click here.

Open letter calling for urgent action to address alarmingly low coverage rates for influenza vaccination
The Steering Group on Influenza Vaccination – a multi-stakeholder platform aiming to drive influenza vaccination uptake in Europe, promoted by Vaccines Europe in which is included also Active Citizenship Network – last 27 January sent an official letter to the EU Institutions calling for urgent action to address alarmingly low coverage rates for influenza vaccination. In particular, the document draws attention to how the current influenza season is going, and stresses the Steering Group’s commitment to working together with the European Commission and WHO Europe towards better protection against seasonal influenza for European citizens and health systems. Read more.

“This is Living” communication campaign: 14 questions to ask your healthcare professional in your consultation
Staying in control of our lives can be a daily struggle—especially this year, and especially for the half of us who live with a chronic condition. It’s time for a change. It’s time to work together to take back control. One way to start focusing on your health again is to see your doctor but there’s a lot to take in during a consultation with a health practitioner. Preparing yourself for the consultation helps ensure you leave satisfied. Check out thisislivingtoday.com to find our guide that helps you to prepare and suggests questions to ask in the session. The initiative and the website have been developed by Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH in collaboration with representatives from patient organizations and other experts, including Active Citizenship Network.
Coming with questions in hand can maximize the value of your appointment for both you and your healthcare team. A clear list will, of course, reduce the rush of the visit and ensure that important information isn’t missed, but it can also strengthen the relationship with your healthcare provider. Getting a full picture of the areas you’re unsure of will no doubt help you going forward. But sharing them also gives your care providers a clearer understanding of you as a whole person and how your condition specifically impacts your life. Your questions may vary depending on your condition or individual appointment, but you can use these as a guide to write down your own set of relevant inquiries before your next meeting. To download the “Guide to the 14 questions to ask your healthcare professional in your consultation”, click here.

“Healthy Sleep for People Living with Brain, Mind and Pain Conditions”: Third edition of the Pain Alliance Europe’s Brain Mind Pain Grant launched
Pain Alliance Europe (PAE), of which Cittadinanzattiva/Active Citizenship Network is a Board Member, is delighted to present the third edition of the Brain Mind Pain (BMP) Grant with the theme of “Healthy Sleep for People Living with Brain, Mind and Pain Conditions”. PAE represents the voice of people living with chronic pain. Pain, in a nutshell, is a significant disruptor of overall well-being, quality of daily life, and lifestyle choices. Chronic pain impacts mental health and healthy sleep. The latter is crucial for general health. With this vicious cycle in mind, the BMP Grant aims to explore and provide practical solutions for people living with pain and struggling with healthy sleep. PAE seeks all projects, big or small, that offer functional outcomes for people living with pain. They welcome applicants from various backgrounds, such as patient-centered NGOs, research/academia, medicine, and commercial organizations. Past BMP Grant winners include projects that utilized digital technology, such as an app for monitoring symptoms, an eHealth system with a self-help guide, or a social media campaign. Moreover, the BMP Grant also welcomes offline strategies for healthy sleep. This year, the BMP Grant fund is EUR 60,000. To access the application form, please click here. To know more, visit the BMP Grant official website.

European mHealth Hub: promoting harmonization in mHealth policy implementation
The European mHealth Hub established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia (Spain), together with 17 other European partners, to support the integration of mHealth programmes and services into national or regional health systems, is a project funded by the European Commission. Part of the work was to develop a Policy Framework Report aimed to contribute towards developing a policy framework for EU on cross-border adoption and assessment of innovation in mHealth to help pave the way for moving towards a “Single Healthcare Digital Market” in Europe. The Report aims to contribute to the development of a Common Policy Framework for mHealth in Europe, by sharing lessons learnt and recommendations, with the goal of promoting harmonization. Even so, app developers, industries, academia, research institutions and end-users (citizens and healthcare professionals) are seen as key actors for the Policy Framework development, and their role should be highlighted. To know more and download the Report, click here.

CropBooster-P EU project: watch the latest videos released
CROPBOOSTER-P is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) project, of which Cittadinanzattiva/Active Citizenship Network is a Core Stakeholder, supported through the EU Horizon 2020 funding programme. The project, which started on November 1, 2018, is mapping and assessing current and future strategies, methods and technologies for crop improvement. The project mainly aims at new crop varieties in current agricultural practice by aligning the development of these crops with the needs, concerns, wishes and expectations of society. Following a responsible research and innovation (RRI) approach, stakeholders representing all actors of the food system are involved both in designing the blueprints for the future crops, as well as in the developing of the roadmap to successfully introduce the new crops to the users, and to educate the consumers to new paradigms of sustainable agriculture, based on future proofed crops and more efficient resource use.
Recently, an animated video explaining the urgency and set-up of the project has been released in four different languages: English, German, Italian and French. To watch the videos, click here. To know more about the project, visit the official website.

11 March 2022 (10.00-16.30 CET): Shining a Spotlight on Life After Stroke
The Stroke Alliance for Europe has launched the European Life After Stroke series of free events for 2022. The first, scheduled for Friday, March 11, 2022, includes two plenary sessions covering new ways of thinking about the value of self-management and communications after stroke. Drawing on examples from research and clinical practice, the first session will inspire participants to consider the potential of self-management support to deliver outcomes that matter most to people living with stroke and help more people post stroke feel supported, engaged, and confident to self-manage. The second plenary will focus on overcoming communication barriers which can be a challenge for people with stroke, who will share their experiences of and show that even without aphasia, communication failures are common and can result in confusion and distress. There will be a mix of presentations from eminent speakers and contributions from stroke survivors. To register, please click here. To know more, visit the European Life After Stroke Forum.