On Tuesday, 10 September 2019, European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented her selected team to lead her programme ‘for a Union that strives for more’ and released her Mission Letter to Commissioner-designate for Health, Stella Kyriakides of Cyprus. Dr. Kyriakides is a medical psychologist with many years of experience in the field of social affairs, health and cancer prevention. 

Commentary from John Middleton, President of ASPHER

The Andrija Stampar Summer Educational and Tutoring School (ASSETS), being the first event of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region  (ASPHER) - Public Health Training Academy (PHTA), was launched at Brussels in July 2019, with nine promising young public health professionals attending the week long mentoring summer school.

ASPHER Intern Naomi Litharo Nathan reports and reflects on her experiences interning with ASPHER.

John Middleton Presidential Statement as part of the Opening Ceremony, Erice, Sicily, May 26th 2019

There is no civilisation without public health.

Best wishes this holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year to all!

Your ASPHER Secretariat,
Robert Otok, Lore Leighton & Cedric Slock

In January of this year, a review by Wald, Morris & Blakemore published in Public Health Reviews set off a new call for mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid in the UK. On 14 October, the British newspaper, The Guardian reported that UK ministers have backed a plan that will require all flour to be fortified with folic acid within the next few weeks. Sir Nicholas J. Wald was quoted as saying “If this is officially confirmed, the UK is taking an important step in preventive medicine and helping to avoid disability or termination of pregnancy.”