Photo courtesy: CDC/ Hannah A Bullock; Azaibi Tamin

IFEH Home > Coronavirus COVID-19 > IFEH Members Platform on EH and COVID-19

IFEH Members Platform on
Environmental Health and COVID-19


On this page you find information shared by the IFEH and by our IFEH member organisations with the aim of sharing of experience and ressources, having inputs from our members on the range of work they are doing in combatting COVID-19 and upholding critical EH functions during this crisis, including best practices and with specific emphasis on the role of Environmental Health Practitioners.

All the inputs from the different National Organisations must be submitted to their respective
IFEH Regional Group Chairperson, who are tasked to compile the inputs and submit to the Webmaster. These inputs may also be loaded onto our Facebook page.

Inputs have to be submitted by and on behalf of the national member organisation.
The IFEH member organisations are by submitting their input agreeing to have the input shared on the IFEH website and social media and that it is disclosed which organisation has submitted the information. We will not share personal contact information. Should the organisation want to have organisational contact info displayed, please clearly indicate so.

Photo courtesy: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS


Information from IFEH and IFEH member organisations re. COVID-19
(Sorted by date of publication)

Description

Submitted by
(Name of organisation)

Date of
publication
dd-mm-year

World Environmental Health Day 2021
Prioritizing Environmental Health for healthier communities in global recovery

IFEH Preparatory/Information Meeting

For members and associated of the IFEH a preparatory webinar meeting is scheduled to 24 July at 12.00 hrs GMT

The theme for the WEHD 2021 is:
Prioritizing Environmental Health for healthier communities in global recovery.

Look up the agenda for the 24 Juli 2021 meeting
Look up the IFEH WEHD webpage

IFEH

20.07.2021

Press Release

Coalition of International NGOs including the IFEH
call for Equitable access for vaccines and treatment during COVID-19 pandemic

On February 11, 2021, the World Federation of Public Health Associations hosted a historic meeting to initiate a coalition amongst leaders from international NGOs who share a common interest in equitable access for vaccines and treatment during COVID-19.

All these organizations, including the IFEH, call on the World Health Assembly, the G20, every government, and all organizations that engage in public health, social policy, and advocacy to make the ethical choice now for the health and the economic well-being of all populations globally, especially the most vulnerable — leaving no one behind.

Look up the Press Release - full Statement

IFEH

04.03.2021

Podcasts on Environmental Health and COVID-19 response

Representatives of NEHA US have participated a in two-part series podcast on Environmental Health and COVID-19. Guests include Dr. David Dyjack, Jesse Bliss and Tim Hatch.

Select the links below to listen!

Podcast #1 of 2 EH: Introduction to the Role of Environmental Health in Local Communities (23.02.2021)
Podcast #2 of 2 EH: Challenges of the Profession and COVID Response (09.03.2021)

NEHA

25-02-2021
/ 10-03.2021

IFEH Statement on Universality of Vaccine Distribution

The President of the IFEH Prof. Susana Paixão has issued a statement on the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Look up the IFEH Statement

IFEH

20.01.2021

How can Environmental Health Practitioners contribute to ensure population safety and health during the COVID-19 pandemic?

In a great article published through Elsevier - Safety Science, Volume 136, April 2021, the role of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) during pandemic is discussed.

The article is authored by researchers and EH professionals from several parts of the World - and many of those are well known in the IFEH community.

Look up the article (link to Elsevier ScienceDirect - Journal and Books)

NEHA

08-01-2021

Environmental Health Together register, England

The Environmental Health Together register will enable local authorities (LAs) in England to access the help they desperately need to combat the pandemic. The register is accepting candidate applications.

The register is hosted by the Local Government Association (LGA), professionally quality-assured by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and backed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and NHS Test and Trace.

Environmental Health Together application portal: www.local.gov.uk/EHTogether

Look up further information
(re-direct to CIEH website)


CIEH

08-11-2020

Report from National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), USA

NEHA has fielded a nationwide EH workforce needs assessment in response to COVID-19, from Juli - August 31, 2020. The findings are unequivocal. EH practioners, many of whom are employed at small local agencies, are actively supporting COVID-19 response and recovery.

Look up the full NEHA Report

NEHA

31-10-2020

2020 World Environmental Health Day Declaration

In communities across the globe, the environmental health family are fighting this global pandemic and supporting each other in their efforts.

On a World Environmental Health Day like no other the IFEH motto "Caring for the environment in the interest of world health" has never had greater resonance.

The declaration is released in connection with World Environmental Health Day 2020

The development of the declation was organized by NEHA with contributions from many IFEH members.

Look up the 2020 World Environmental Health Day Declaration

NEHA / IFEH

26-09-2020

COVID-19 and Environmental Health
Institutional Statement by Spanish Society of Environmental Health - SESA
Member of IFEH and EFEH

The Spanish Society of Environmental Health (SESA) has released an Institutional Statement (in Spanish and English) describing the SESA response on the COVID-19 pandemic and informing about the contribution of SESA as a Scientific Society to assist in combatting the pandemic.

The statement is released in connection with World Environmental Health Day 2020


Look up the SESA Institutional Statement (Spanish)

Look up the SESA Institutional Statement (English)

SESA
Spanish Society of Environmental Health

24-09-2020

NEHA virtual EH workforce conference - free Webinar available.

NEHA convened a 2-day virtual EH workforce conference a few weeks ago. The content is very good, focused on food and water. As might be expected, it is oriented toward North America, but valuable nonetheless. Registration is simple, quick, the entire program is free, and will be posted on-line for the next 6 months. Certificates of attendance can be secured. NEHA encourage any IFEH member with an interest to check it out (see below).

NEHA's Digital Defense: Education for a Safer World Virtual Conference & Exhibition is a highly informative forum that brought together over 2,000 environmental public health professionals and food and water safety specialists to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and emerging issues and solutions. The virtual conference was held on August 18 and 19, 2020. The virtual conference environment included auditorium presentations, poster sessions, a networking lounge, and exhibitor booths and resources. Two educational tracks on food safety and water were offered.

Registration Information:
https://www.neha.org/nehas-digital-defense-education-safer-world-virtual-conference-exhibition

NEHA
National Environmental Health Association
USA

04-09-2020

Corona Virus Disease Challenges in Africa: The Role of Environmental Health
Report from IFEH Africa Regional Group.

Look up the report by IFEH Africa Regional Group

IFEH Africa
Regional Group

11-07-2020

Environmental Health Officers and Assistant Environmental Officers Malaysia
COVID-19 Pandemic Report

Report by IFEH member Malaysian Association of Environmental Health - MAEH

Look up the report by MAEH, Malaysia

MAEH,
Malaysian Association of Environmental Health,

11-07-2020

IFEH member NZIEH, New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health
Update from NZIEH, New Zealand on COVID-19

Look up the update by NZIEH, New Zealand

NZIEH,
New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health,

29-06-2020

IFEH member EHA, Environmental Health Australia
Update from EHA, Australia on COVID-19

Look up the update by EHA, Australia

EHA
Environmental Health Australia

29-06-2020

IFEH Comments to UNDRR R-STAG paper on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Context of COVID-19.

The IFEH is a member of the UNDRR Science & Technology Partnership for DRR and in that capacity the IFEH were informed by UNDRR with an opportunity to comment on the paper on Science and Technology for DRR in the Context of COVID-19, ( spanish version ) which has been elaborated by the UNDRR, Regional Science and Technology Advisory Group, R-STAG in the Americas & Caribbean.
( Link )

The IFEH Americas Regional Group were asked to take the lead in preparing comments by the IFEH / IFEH Americas Regional Group. The comments have been submitted to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - UNDRR, Regional Office for the Americas & the Caribbean.

Look up the IFEH comments to the R-STAG paper on Science and Technology for DRR in the Context of COVID-19

IFEH
IFEH Americas Reginal Group

14-06-2020

Message from IFEH President

Message from the IFEH President on the launch of the dedicated IFEH webpage on COVID-19

IFEH

17-04-2020

Invitation to tell your story re. COVID-19

Invitation for all IFEH member organisations - and the individual members of those - to tell your story regarding EH issues in regard to the COVID-19 crisis. This initiative is done in partnership between the IFEH and NEHA (National Environmental Health Association, USA)

The stories may be published on the NEHA website and the IFEH website as well as on the social media of both the IFEH and NEHA.

Just fill in the template that you find at:
www.neha.org/globalstories

IFEH / NEHA

17-04-2020

Open letter

Open Letter to the Environmental Health Profession, issued by Dr. David Dyjack, CEO NEHA

NEHA

17-04.2020

UNDRR initiatives on COVID-19
PREVENTION SAVES LIVES

UNDRR - United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has released the
UNDRR Initial COVID-19 Engagement Strategy and
UNDRR COVID-19 Key Messages and Communication Campaign

IFEH is a partner with the UNDRR on Science and Technology and in that capacity and by the wish of UNDRR this information is disseminated to share within our network and partners.

IFEH

07.04.2020

Recomendation from the WHO to improve hand hygiene practices re. COVID-19

Look up the recommendation from WHO as of 01.04.2020

Link to WHO recommendation

EFEH

03.04.2020

CIEH COVID-19 Site

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health - CIEH, has launced a new COVID-19 resource page:

https://www.cieh.org/policy/coronavirus-covid-19/

As part of the this, the CIEH has published 2 guidelines which the CIEH has kindly offered could be shared with all IFEH member organisations and relevant EH professionals through the IFEH website.

The Guidelines are:

Food delivery and takeaway guidance - advice for businesses who want to move to takeaway.
Produced by CIEH with assistance by Wales Food Safety Expert Panel, and two freelance EHP consultants.

Safe shopping - guidance on shopping safely.
Produced jointly by Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), Environmental Health Association of Ireland (EHAI), and Irish Global Health Network (IGHN).

CIEH

07.04.2020

UNDRR webinar on COVID-19

Through the IFEH partnership on Science and Technology with the UNDRR - United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - the IFEH were invited to participate in a UNDRR webinar 25 March 2020 on practical experiences from P.R. China and the Republic of Korea with COVID-19. Some 750 participators were attending the webinar. The webinar was organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's office in Incheon, Korea and the World Health Organization.

All given presentations can be found on the UNDRR PreventionWeb:
Link

IFEH

30.03.2020

EH Professionals Involvement in COVID-19
Rapid Need Assessment

The National Environmental Health Association - NEHA, USA has conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment (convenience sample) of the US Environmental Health workforce relative to COVID-19 - conducted on March 25, 2020. This is relevant because environmental health professionals in the US are the second largest part of the local public health workforce, behind nursing. Responses were received from approximately 1,175 local, territorial, state, tribal, federal and private sector respondents. The report was realased to day March 30, 2020.

NEHA has kindly offered that this information could be shared with all IFEH member organisations and relevant EH professionals through the IFEH website.

The survey undertaken by NEHA in the US provides very useful information - and at the same time it sets an example for how other IFEH member organisations could undertake similar assessment / survey on what are the needs in terms of COVID-19 as experienced by EH Professionals in their own country.

Look up the full NEHA Rapid Needs Assessment Report

NEHA

30.03.2020

NEHA COVID-19 Site

The National Environmental Health Association NEHA, USA
has launced a new website on COVID-19


https://www.neha.org/covid-19

NEHA

19.03.2020

IFEH UPDATE ON COVID-19

The Emerging Situation - What we currently know about COVID-19
What we need to know as individuals - The role of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) - Useful and important links


Look up the IFEH Update

IFEH

08.03.2020