THE IDWG
PREVIOUS EVENTS
A PANEL DISCUSSION ON PLANETARY HEALTH
Policy, Practice, & Research
A virtual panel discussion hosted by the Infectious Disease Working Group and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health
A PANEL DISCUSSION ON PLANETARY HEALTH:
Policy, Practice, & Research
Join the Infectious Disease Working Group on March 12th at 10:30 am (EST) for our panel discussion, “Planetary Health: Practice, Policy, and Research”, which aims to introduce planetary health and provide insight into its importance.
We aim for the panel to provide an open discussion surrounding the diverse field of planetary health that focuses on evaluating the impact and consequences of human disruptions to the natural systems of Earth. With the health of our planet sharply declining, it is of the utmost importance to discuss topic planetary health encompasses such as climate change, shifts in biodiversity, altered food systems, water scarcity and pollution.
Through this panel we also hope to clearly draw a connection between the health of the planet and human health and wellbeing. With our diverse panel perspectives, we want to provide the public with accurate and useful information that will help inform the audience on the urgency and importance of improving the health of the planet.
Register on Eventbrite:
https://tinyurl.com/yp23v88w
Zoom details will be emailed to registered attendees closer to the event date.
Contest Alert: By registering and attending this event, you will be entered into a giveaway for 1 of 2 $50 PC Financial gift cards redeemable at your local grocery store such as Loblaws. Share the official Instagram Post and tag someone for an extra entry.
PAOCAI WEBINAR
The webinar was delivered by Master of Public Health graduates specializing in Epidemiology and Social & Behavioural Health Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.
The topics covered in the public webinar included foundations of public health, the most up-to-date research on COVID-19, and precautions recommended by medical and public health experts.
A brief overview on the social determinants of health was presented. The social determinants of health are the main drivers of an individual’s wellbeing and health outcomes.
A common misconception is that our health and well-being is mainly determined by our biology or genetics. To the contrary, about half of our health is determined by the social determinants.
MASK EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Personal Protective Equipment Collection Drive In collaboration with the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and ‘PPE for HCPs’ initiative
Mask Exchange Program
Healthcare professionals are trained on how to effectively use medical grade masks such as N95s and surgical masks. Unfortunately, there is currently a shortage of N95 and surgical masks in Ontario. It is important that medical-grade masks are reserved for healthcare workers who face a much higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and becoming ill. Medical grade masks are not suitable for the general public because they need to be fitted for full efficacy and require training to prevent accidental contamination.
Although the use of non-medical masks in the community has not yet been fully proven to be effective, Canadian Public Health officials are advising that simple cloth masks or facial coverings can be an additional measure to protect yourself and others to help prevent the spread of the virus (only when proper physical distancing and hand hygiene measures are taken as well). Wearing a non-medical mask is another way of covering your mouth and nose to prevent your respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces. Wearing a non-medical mask may also help prevent you from touching your nose and mouth. In this way, masks may help in reducing the spread of infection.
To help keep medical grade masks for healthcare professionals, we are introducing the “Give a Mask, Get a Mask” campaign. Individuals and businesses can donate medical grade masks or other forms of personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals. In return, you will receive a factory-manufactured cloth mask, which can help reduce viral spread in the general public without depleting the limited supply of medical supplies and resources needed by medical professionals in the fight against COVID-19.
We are no longer accepting donations of PPE. If you have any questions please email torontoppeforhcp@gmail.com.
Personal Protective Equipment
The following are examples of personal protective equipment, disinfecting products, and cleaning supplies that are needed by hospitals, medical clinics, and long-term care homes across the province. Please ensure that the equipment and supplies you want to donate are new, unused, unsoiled, and preferably in their original, unopened packaging.
N95 Masks
Face Shields
Disinfecting Sprays and Wipes
Surgical Masks
Goggles
Hand Sanitizer (>60% Alcohol)
Medical Gloves
Medical Gowns
Isopropyl Alcohol (>70% Alcohol)
We are no longer accepting donations of PPE. If you have any questions please email torontoppeforhcp@gmail.com.
COMMUNICATION IN A PANDEMIC.
CHL5700 Public Health Perspectives on COVID-19
“This field segment was developed for a course that was designed to follow, in quasi-real time, this collective learning process. This course enlisted an impressive lineup of academic and community contributors to help students gain a broad understanding of the pandemic: its nature; its context and origins; its multiple interpretations; the many direct and indirect effects it produces and the uneven geosocial distribution of these impacts; the array of individual and collective, local and global responses; emerging debates about the appropriateness and meaning of the phrase ‘going back to normal.’ Building on core public health principles and practices, students will be invited and guided to critically engage with the broad, complex, and crucial questions this crisis is throwing at us.
These field segments involve individuals or teams who are working in the field/frontlines of COVID-19 response to share their perspectives of the impacts and responses to the COVID-19 crisis. In this session, the many elements that influence pandemic communications was investigated in relation to COVID-19 through the eyes of the Infectious Disease Working Group. The desire for certainty and simple answers among the public and how the mediascape is at the same time subject to biases and tendencies is a key consideration that must be understood. Best practices as well as bad and ugly examples of spokespeople will be looked at, as social compliance depends on trust. We also look at the skills you need to combat misinformation and how to play an effective role in shaping the discussion as a public health professional.”
- Excerpt taken from CHL7001H: Public Health Perspectives on COVID-19 Course Syllabus
THE INVISIBLE WAVE: A VIRTUAL DISCUSSION HOSTED BY THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE WORKING GROUP AND THE DALLA LANA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 and Mental Health
The Infectious Disease Working Group hosted a live webinar event on July 28th at 12.00PM EST for a much needed conversation around the mental health ramifications of COVID-19. “The Invisible Wave: COVID-19 and Mental Health” examined the rise in mental health issues that has accompanied viral spread. This neglected wave has seen many physicians, policy makers, activists, and community members sound the alarm for increased social supports - but concerns remain unaddressed. This discussion focused on neighbourhood disparities that have led to disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on marginalized populations, especially Black, brown, and Indigenous communities as well as individuals experiencing homelessness. The differential response to COVID-19 and unequal distribution of resources in the region have exacerbated poor health outcomes for marginalized groups. With the diverse voices on our panel, we discussed how systemic racism and discrimination in the city has played a role in the stark differences in physical, emotional, and mental health outcomes due to COVID-19 that we are seeing across Toronto.
Initiatives Supported by Panelists
The following resources and organizations were brought forth by our guests during the webinar. Click on each initiative to learn more and find ways to support their work.
Petition calling for urgent resources for COVID-19 in Indigenous Communities - This petition is demanding the Federal Government urgently implement suggestions from our community leaders. We are asking that the Federal Government’s pandemic plan for outbreaks of COVID-19 in Indigenous communities be transparent and open, and easily searchable. This plan should be prepared in advance and implemented on request by any Indigenous community to prepare and avert an outbreak, and rapidly respond should an outbreak occur.
Caribbean African Canadian Social Services - An organization which provides culturally appropriate social services to enrich the lives of the African, Caribbean, and diasporic communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Regent Park Sewing Collective - A collective of men and women of all ages and cultural backgrounds who come together to create sewing projects that pivoted to creating re-usable cotton masks for community members in the fight against COVID-19.
Initiatives Supported by Panelists
The following resources and organizations were brought forth by our guests during the webinar. Click on each initiative to learn more and find ways to support their work.
Petition calling for urgent resources for COVID-19 in Indigenous Communities - This petition is demanding the Federal Government urgently implement suggestions from our community leaders. We are asking that the Federal Government’s pandemic plan for outbreaks of COVID-19 in Indigenous communities be transparent and open, and easily searchable. This plan should be prepared in advance and implemented on request by any Indigenous community to prepare and avert an outbreak, and rapidly respond should an outbreak occur.
Caribbean African Canadian Social Services - An organization which provides culturally appropriate social services to enrich the lives of the African, Caribbean, and diasporic communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Regent Park Sewing Collective - A collective of men and women of all ages and cultural backgrounds who come together to create sewing projects that pivoted to creating re-usable cotton masks for community members in the fight against COVID-19.
Panellists:
Moderator: Dr. Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco
Dr. Anna Banerji
Floydeen Charles-Fridal
Dr. Hayley Hamilton
Dr. Farah Mawani
A VACCINE RECOVERY:
COVID-19 PANEL DISCUSSION
A virtual panel discussion hosted by the Infectious Disease Working Group and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health
The Infectious Disease Working Group hosted a live webinar event on January 15th, 2021 for a panel discussion, “A Vaccine Recovery”, which examined COVID-19 vaccination including vaccine contenders, distribution and the immunization process. The aim for the panel was to provide an open discussion surrounding potential issues concerning the vaccination, potential solutions, and best practices for COVID-19 immunization. Currently, there are several misconceptions surrounding the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccination that many physicians, scientists, activists, and others are worried is not being addressed. Through this panel, we hope to tackle important topics such as the shorter time span required for COVID-19 vaccine development and vaccination priority within the Canadian community. With our diverse panel perspectives, we want to dispel myths surrounding the vaccination process and provide the public with accurate and useful information that will help inform them on Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination process.
Initiatives Supported by Panelists
The following resources and organizations were brought forth by our guests during the webinar. Click on each initiative to learn more and find ways to support their work.
W5 News Article - Dr. Bridle provides fact-based answers to outstanding questions about COVID-19 vaccines in this recent interview for W5.
Community Pharmacist Journal Article - Wilson was involved in the publication of a study that served to understand patient experiences and perceptions surrounding being vaccinated by a pharmacist.
COVID 19 Tracker - Launched in March 2020, the COVID19Tracker.ca Project was created in order to collect details on all COVID-19 cases from each province in Canada and display them in one place.
Panellists:
Dr. Byram Bridle
Jean-Paul R. Soucy
Wilson Li
Dr. Kate Mulligan