WIHU’24 Final Declaration
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FINAL DECLARATION
The 9th Congress of Muslim Health Communities was successfully completed between November 28-30, 2024. The Congress, which was organized face-to-face, was attended by 300 people. In the congress, 6 sessions and 1 oral presentation session were held in a single hall. In the sessions, 30 participants from different disciplines, including 13 from abroad, enriched our congress with their presentations. In addition, a health entrepreneurship competition and Gaza forum were organized on the last day of the congress.
Health workers are all people engaged in work activities whose primary purpose is to improve health and are the backbone of a functioning health system. While contributing to the enjoyment of the right to health for all, health workers must also enjoy the right to healthy and safe working conditions to protect their own health.
Health workers face a range of occupational risks, including infections, unsafe patient handling, hazardous chemicals, radiation, heat and noise, psychosocial hazards, violence and harassment, injuries, inadequate provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Protecting the health and safety of health workers should be part of the core business of the health sector. Protecting the health, safety and well-being of health workers can prevent work-related illnesses and injuries and improve the quality and safety of care, human resources for health and environmental sustainability in the health sector.
Protecting the health and safety of health workers contributes to increasing their productivity, job satisfaction and retention. It also facilitates compliance of health facilities with national laws and regulations on occupational health and safety, taking into account the specific working conditions and occupational hazards in the sector. Unsafe working conditions resulting in occupational diseases, injuries and absenteeism represent a significant financial cost for the health sector.
Globally, improving the health, safety and well-being of health workers reduces occupational harm costs and contributes to minimizing patient harm. Implementing key interventions to protect the health and safety of health workers improves the resilience of health services in the face of outbreaks and public health emergencies. It also strengthens the performance of health systems by preventing occupational diseases and injuries, protecting and promoting the health, safety and well-being of health workers, thereby improving the quality and safety of patient care, health workforce management and environmental sustainability.
It is important to update new and existing regulations, standards and codes of good practice to protect health workers; make the protection of health and safety of health workers an integral part of health management at all levels; establish mechanisms and build capacity for the management of occupational health and safety in the health sector at national, local and facility levels; expand the scope of competent occupational health services for health workers, including risk assessment and management, health surveillance, vaccination and psychosocial support; and collaborate with employers and health workers' organizations to improve working conditions.
While it is generally the responsibility of employers to ensure that all necessary preventive and protective measures are taken to minimize occupational risks, health workers also have a responsibility to cooperate with management and participate in measures to protect their health, safety and well-being.
We believe that our congress will contribute greatly to the development of norms and standards for the prevention of occupational risks in the health sector; advocacy and networking to strengthen the protection of the health, safety and well-being of health workers; raising awareness and preparing action plans for countries to develop and implement occupational health programs for health workers at national, local and health facility levels.
In the short term, a common guideline on the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programs for workers' health in the health sector should be published, in the medium term a periodical on this subject should be activated, and in the long term an institute for workers' health in the health sector should be structured.
Coordinated and effective aid activities should be organized in the light of information from the field in order to deliver effective and sustainable humanitarian aid to people in war and crisis in Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Arakan and other parts of the world, especially in Gaza.
In order to take these steps, work in cooperation with national/international partners and take concrete steps to prevent and manage occupational hazards without delay.
Sincerely yours.
