HCWH-Asia to participate in global health research conference in Manila

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Asia will be participating in the Global Forum on Research and Innovation for Health, also known as Forum 2015, which will be held on August 24-27, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Organized by the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) in partnership with the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Health (DOH), Forum 2015 aims to identify solutions to the world’s unmet health needs through research and innovation. Revolving around the theme “People at the Center of Health Research and Innovation,” the summit will gather 3,000 decision-makers and key opinion leaders from around the world, representing various stakeholders including government, academia, media and civil society. 

On August 25, HCWH-Asia will be hosting a parallel session under the “Health in Megacities” track, which is one of the six conference subthemes. Entitled “Addressing the climate-energy-health nexus in megacities: Innovations from the health sector and beyond,” the session will examine innovative approaches adopted by the health sector in mitigating climate change and addressing energy challenges and their impacts on health especially in megacities.

Merci Ferrer, HCWH-Asia’s director, will serve as moderator of the panel. Speakers in this session include: 

  • Dr. Renzo Guinto, Campaigner of HCWH-Asia’s Healthy Energy Initiative, who will provide an overview of research and innovation opportunities in the intersection of climate change, energy, and public health
  • Dr. Chin Lon Lin, Chief Executive Officer of the Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taiwan, who will share best practices in healthcare sustainability as part of HCWH’s Global Green and Healthy Hospitals
  • Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, consultant of the UN Development Programme, who will present innovations in the management of medical waste in Ebola-affected cities in West Africa
  • Dr. Erlidia Llamas-Clark, Clinical Associate Professor of the University of the Philippines Manila-Philippine General Hospital and former PhD fellow at the Australian National University, who will talk about child health and nutrition challenges in cities affected by climate change

In addition, HCWH-Asia will also be participating in the New Leaders for Health Pre-Forum, which is a prelude to Forum 2015 that aims to provide young emerging health leaders with a platform for networking, capacity-building, and dialogue on critical issues affecting global health today. The Pre-Forum will be held on August 22-24 also at the PICC.

On August 22, Dr. Renzo Guinto will deliver an interactive parallel session entitled “Do No Harm: The Role of Healthcare in Addressing the Climate-Energy Nexus.” The following day, Merci Ferrer will also be joining an interactive panel on “The Role of Research and Innovation in Improving Health in Mega-cities,” and Dr. Jorge Emmanuel will be conducting a session on “Building Sustainable Healthcare in the Time of Ebola.” 

HCWH-Asia has been deeply involved in the preparations for both Forum 2015 and Pre-Forum. Dr. Renzo Guinto serves as chair of both the “Health in Megacities” subcommittee and the Pre-Forum organizing committee.

To register, visit www.forum2015.org.