Health System and Environmental Health
About the course
Target group
Health and Care Workforce (HCWF)
Key words
Course introduction
This course provides a comprehensive overview of how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be effectively implemented in the health sector through a One Health approach, integrating real-world case studies and best practices. Participants will explore the interconnections between human health, environmental sustainability, and planetary health, highlighting how these elements are fundamentally linked.
The course covers a range of topics, including the influence of environmental contaminants, the role of sustainable practices, and the impacts of climate change on health. It explores the complexity of contemporary health challenges such as pollution, loss of biodiversity, and socio-economic inequalities. Students will learn to apply multidisciplinary frameworks like One Health and Planetary Health to address these challenges and devise solutions that are both effective and sustainable.
Through the use of practical examples and case studies, participants will also gain insights into how health policies can be designed to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental hazards and promote a healthier environment. The course emphasises a holistic understanding of health, encouraging participants to think beyond traditional approaches and consider the broader ecological and socio-economic context in which health outcomes are determined.
Ultimately, this course equips participants with the tools and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and contribute to the creation of healthier, more resilient communities, all while advancing global sustainability goals.
Details to know
Downloadable certificate
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Assessment
8 Quizzes
Taught in English
Also available in 6 other languages (IT, NO, DE, EL, BG, RO)
Learning outcomes
- Understand the SDGs in the Health Sector: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to health, particularly in relation to global health challenges and environmental sustainability.
- Apply the One-Health Approach: Analyse and apply the One-Health framework to integrate human, animal, and ecosystem health, recognizing the interconnectedness of these elements in addressing public health issues.
- Include Environmental and Ecosystem Impacts: Assess the role of environmental factors and ecosystem management in shaping health outcomes, including the mitigation of zoonotic diseases, climate change impacts, and resource degradation.
- Foster Sustainable Health Strategies: Design and propose health interventions and policies that align with the SDGs, utilising cross-sector collaboration to promote sustainable and resilient health systems.
- Analyse Case Studies: Critically evaluate real-world case studies, identifying best practices and lessons learned in implementing One-Health strategies within the context of the SDGs in different regions and sectors.
- Understand Core Concepts in Environmental Health: Recognize key principles and frameworks in environmental health prevention, including classical, biomedical, social-behavioural, techno-economic, and ecological public health models.
- Analyse the Impact of Environmental Factors on Health: Evaluate how global phenomena, such as climate change, COVID-19, and socio-economic inequalities, contribute to complex health outcomes through diverse pathways including biodiversity, urbanisation, and agricultural practices.
- Apply systems thinking to Health challenges: Use interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to address the complexities of contemporary health issues, considering the interplay between biological, social, economic, and environmental factors.
- Critically assess Environmental Health Policies and Interventions: Analyse how local, national, and global decisions impact health and explore strategies for effective intervention to manage cumulative exposures and emerging health threats.
- Environmental pathways of Pharmaceuticals: Identify the pathways through which pharmaceuticals enter the environment, such as surface water, groundwater, and agricultural applications.
- Impact of Pharmaceuticals on Health and Environment: Recognize the impact of pharmaceuticals on environmental species and humans, including the rise of antibiotic resistance.
- Designing greener and safer Pharmaceuticals: Explore strategies for designing safer and more sustainable pharmaceuticals from the early stages of drug development.
- Society’s role in Waste Reduction and Sustainability: Emphasise the role of each societal component in reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability.
More detailed Learning Outcomes can be found in module introductions.
Implement Sustainable Development Goals in Health Sector: Opportunities and Case Studies under One Health Approach
Lessons
Introduction 1. Setting The Scene: Knowing SDGs 2. One-Health and the SDGs 3. Case studies and Application ReferencesEnvironmental Health Prevention: Some Principles and Perspectives
Lessons
Introduction 1. Intro: Environmental health risks 2. Some concepts and principles 3. In practice ReferencesThe way forward safer pharmaceuticals: The hospital wastes, their impact and management
Lessons
Introduction 1. Contaminants impacting our life 2. For the future, anticipate the problem: Safer and greener pharmaceuticals References Course Evaluation
Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union under Grant Agreement number 101056563.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.