Environmental health and social vulnerabilities
Here at the beginning of this century, the public health sector is confronted with a major challenge: reconcile environmental health policies with the fight against social inequality in healthcare. This multi-day conference aims to define the best way to take vulnerable populations into account in the healthcare information systems and action processes. First and foremost, it will be an occasion to develop a European network of key actors in these domains, which is essential if the initiative is to be effective.
The Wallonia Health Monitoring Centre is organising a conference to explore the connections between environmental health and social vulnerabilities. These two key public health components too often evolve separately, while it is now acknowledged that the most disadvantaged populations are often also those most exposed to the accumulation of environmental risks. Paradoxically, if a consensus is reached on this connection, its exploration will consist solely in its premises. The dire lack of scientific data creates a risk of failing to take the most vulnerable groups into account in an optimal manner in environmental health policy.
A decision to take the neediest populations into account would involve taking on numerous challenges, in particular integrating approaches and deploying resources in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary manner. We must create a European network connecting actors in health, the environment, and social issues and build future action around today’s positive experiences.
The objective of this symposium is to produce concrete recommendations for Europe and for the member states in three domains: systematically taking social vulnerabilities into account in environmental health monitoring, the importance of the community and participation of target populations in taking on the challenge of environmental health in an equitable manner, and establishing connections between researchers, policy makers, and national associations active in this domain.
The symposium will feature lectures, roundtable discussions, and workshops with the aim of arriving at concrete recommendations for Europe and for the Member States.
Scientists, policy makers, and national actors from various European countries are expected to attend. The participants will be able to exhibit their local experiences (stand or poster).
Registration closed
Where
Large auditorium, press room, reception and exposition hall, multiple workshop rooms, 2 rooms for catering.
