Public health is more than a clinical outcome, it is a reflection of the social, political, and informational environments in which we live. With health unequally distributed, sometimes, our wellbeing can be determined more by our zip code and access to clear information than by our biology.

”Applied public health: from policy to practice, building trust across systems and society” is a dedicated digital awareness campaign designed to showcase the burden of persisting inequalities in NCD linked to health literacy challenges, while spotlighting local and European initiatives that aim to bridge the gaps. It highlights how a lack of health literacy and the rise of disinformation create "prevention deserts" in underserved communities. In an era of rapid information exchange, health literacy is becoming a critical matter, and disinformation resilience becomes a vital asset.

By aligning with the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) themes, ”Applied public health: from policy to practice, building trust across systems and society” bridges the gap between high-level European policy and local community action.

The digital campaign consisting of written articles, visual infographics and a newsletter, that empower citizens and policymakers with a framework that combines policy alignment, equity-based innovation, and behavioral insights to dismantle the barriers of disinformation and inequality in NCD prevention. All materials are based on the experience that Centre for Innovation in Medicine (INOMED) has in either coordinating or participating in key local and European projects.

Objectives:

1. Awareness: To underscore why equity is crucial and to present how the lack of access to quality information worsens the incidence of chronic diseases in vulnerable communities.

2. Disinformation resilience: To highlight multi-systemic collaborative strategies to create a united front against health-related disinformation.

3. Promotion of good practice: To bring to the forefront European and local solutions that work and can be scaled up to turn policy into practice, build trust in systems and society.

Content:

a) written materials focusing on the EUPHA theme of the day ”Aligning all policies with public health”

1. From policy to practice, what makes public health actually work and the importance of a multi-systemic approach (May 4)

2. Designing for equity: why innovation must start with context? (May 11)

b) written materials focusing on the EUPHA theme of the day “Protecting public health and democracy: tackling disinformation, strengthening accountability, and building trust”

1. Trust by design: a missing layer in health systems & the burden of infodemia on public health (May 7)

2. Health literacy is not enough: understanding how people decide. How does the information spread within communities? (May 14)

The first written material focusing on the first EUPHA theme of the day will be published on May 4th on https://raportuldegarda.ro and will highlight the importance of developing, aligning and unifying existing health frameworks under the shared goal of protecting and improving public health. Special attention will be given to underserved communities where health inequalities are particularly heightened. The other material addressing the same EUPHA theme will be published on May 11th, and it will address the importance of contextualized innovation.

The second written material focusing on the fourth EUPHA theme of the day will be published on the 7th of May on https://raportuldegarda.ro and will highlight the burden of infodemia on public health and how trust needs to be embedded in the system. The other material focused on the same topic will be available on May 14th and will explore behavioral patterns regarding decision-making and the ways information circulates within communities.

All written materials will be accompanied by dedicated visuals, that will aid communicating the messages to a broader audience. All materials will be shared not only on Raportuldegarda website but also on its Social Media platforms (Facebook and Instagram). Materials will be summarized (in English) and published on INOMED’s LinkedIN account to reach a wider international audience.

Disclaimer: the titles provided have an informative character and are subject to slight changes due to English – Romanian translation, but the core messages remain the same.