The STOP OBESITY Partnership participated in the conference “PUBLIC HEALTH NOW! Security – Governance – Education”, organized to mark the 35th anniversary of the Institute of Public Health at the Jagiellonian University Medical College and the 35th National Conference of Healthy Polish Cities. The event brought together representatives of public administration, local governments, academia, civil society organizations, and public health experts to discuss health security, governance, and health education.
The STOP OBESITY Partnership actively contributed to discussions on the future of public health and the role of local governments in building healthier communities. Dr. Małgorzata Gałązka-Sobotka participated in the opening session, “Public Health Today: Security, Governance, Education”, as well as in the panel discussions “The Place of Public Health in Poland” and “A Sustainable and Resilient Healthcare System.” Marta Pawłowska took part in the expert panel “Why and How to Become a Healthy City?”, which focused on the importance of local preventive initiatives and cross-sector collaboration to improve the health of residents.
One of the conference’s key topics was the obesity epidemic, identified by many experts as one of the three greatest public health challenges facing Poland in the coming years. Speakers emphasized that effectively addressing this issue requires action extending beyond the healthcare system and the involvement of all sectors that influence population health.
During the PUBLIC HEALTH NOW! Security – Governance – Education conference, the obesity epidemic was identified by many experts as one of the three greatest public health challenges facing Poland in the years ahead. That is why we need a united front against obesity – one common goal, many sectors, and shared responsibility for the health of the Polish population. We are proud that the STOP OBESITY Partnership had the opportunity to participate in this important event and demonstrate how essential cooperation between public administration, local governments, academia, civil society organizations, and business is for building an effective national health policy, said Marta Pawłowska, Chair of the Presidium of the STOP OBESITY Partnership.
The importance of prevention and cross-sector collaboration was also highlighted by Adam Jarubas, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT), who emphasized that health education and cooperation among experts are the foundation of a modern and effective healthcare system.
The conference provided an important platform for substantive dialogue, bringing together representatives of public administration, local governments, academia, and public health practitioners. The STOP OBESITY Partnership extends its special thanks to Professor Iwona Kowalska-Bobko for her continued commitment to advancing public health in Poland and fostering dialogue between science, health policy, and practice.
Participation in the conference was another opportunity for the STOP OBESITY Partnership to present its experience in building cross-sector collaboration for effective obesity prevention and treatment, while strengthening initiatives aimed at improving public health.