Dear Eduardo,
Many thanks for your welcome message. On behalf of HIFA, it's great to be working with you and NextGenU.org on this project.
I would like also to welcome all new members worldwide who have joined us in the past few days for this discussion. Please feel free to introduce yourself by sending an email to: hifa@hifaforums.org
Here again are the five guiding questions for the discussion (these questions are intended only as a guide – you are welcome to discuss other aspects of alcohol use):
1. Do people understand the health, socio-economic and environmental harms of alcohol? What matters to them? How can they be better informed? How to reduce stigma?
2. Do health workers have adequate knowledge to prevent and manage alcohol use disorders among their patients? What matters to them? How can they be better informed?
3. What is the role of the alcohol industry? What can be done to address misinformation from the alcohol industry?
4. Do public health professionals and policymakers have adequate knowledge to prevent and treat alcohol use disorders in their country? What are current national policies and what more can be done to fully implement those policies?
5. How can we define and measure alcohol use disorders?
This week I invite everyone to consider Q1: Do people understand the health, socio-economic and environmental harms of alcohol? What matters to them? How can they be better informed? How to reduce stigma?
Each week we shall explore a subsequent question, but if you would like to comment about any of the questions above at any time, feel free to do so.
We especially look forward to hear your personal or professional experience and observations.
PS Do you know anyone who may like to participate in this discussion? Invite them to join here: www.hifa.org/joinhifa
With thanks, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org
