DTH-Lab, Council of Europe and Youth Health Organization
17.02.25 - 21.02.25
Panel discussion: 27 June 12.25 to 14.15 WAT (open to all ADHS participants)
Workshop: 28 June 15.00-14.30 WAT (invitation only)
Aim
This study session aims to empower participants to be engaged and active citizens with the necessary skills and knowledge to advocate for policies grounded in a human rights-based approach to health and to be informed and engaged digital citizens for health.
Background
There is an existing gap within the digital transformation. Young people use digital technologies that shape their health and well-being but often lack the skills, resources, and opportunities to participate in governance structures or critically engage with digital ecosystems.
This study session will be a part of a wider programme of activities led by Digital Transformations for Health Lab (DTH-Lab) throughout the European year of digital citizenship and education 2025. This programme will include intergenerational dialogue, online surveys, partnerships with youth organisations and spaces for solution creation and innovation. Through this work DTH-Lab is seeking to support a generation of empowered digital citizens for health, to be able to participate and co-create policy solutions that improve their health and well-being in a digital age.
Objectives
The objectives of the study session are:
To share and exchange the diverse realities of young people growing up in a digital world through intercultural dialogue.
To develop a common understanding of key concepts and definitions underpinning digital citizenship for health for the improved well-being of young people.
To explore young people’s concerns and barriers and to identify gaps in skills, resources and capacity for young people to become digital health citizens.
To empower young people to meaningfully participate in civic spaces and governance structures and influence policy change.
Ideate and co-create solutions and identify processes needed to improve digital citizenship for health in the scope of the 2025 European Year of Digital Citizenship Education.
About the organization(s)
The study session is being organized by DTH-Lab in partnership with Youth Health Organisation International (YHO), with the Council of Europe.
DTH-Lab is a global consortium of partners working to drive implementation of The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on Governing Health Futures 2030’s recommendations for value-based digital transformations for health co-created with young people. DTH-Lab is working towards a future where digital transformations of health are led by ‘Health for All’ values and where digital first health systems deliver equitable benefits for the health, well-being and safety of young people and their communities.
YHO is an international network of over 45 youth-led organizations that work on all topics related to youth health. YHO works towards health and well-being of young people, through promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention of non-communicable diseases, including mental health and environmental health. YHO teaches, trains, connects and provides financial support to youth from different backgrounds to actively participate in prevention programmes, research, policy and leadership on youth health.
N.B: Participation was through a call for applications and is a closed session.
Photo credit: http://lucasara.myportfolio.com/
Chief Digital Advisor Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
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Njide Ndili is the Country Director for PharmAccess Nigeria. She is the Vice President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria an advocacy platform seeking greater involvement of the private sector in strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system. Njide was a Commissioner for the Lancet and Financial Times Commission on Governing health futures 2030 to accelerate UHC using digital technology, especially for the youth in LMIC. Njide’s qualifications include an MSc Health Economics, Policy and Management, London School of Economics; AMP INSEAD Business School France; MBA University of Houston; Post Graduate Diploma Finance and B. Sc. Computer Science, University of Nigeria.
Aferdita Bytyqi is the Executive Director of the DTH-Lab ensuring the success of overall project goals and strategic objectives of the DTH-Lab both internally and with key external stakeholders within the global health ecosystem. With a career spanning over 25 years, she brings a wealth of progressive programmatic experience in spearheading international research, development, and regeneration initiatives on behalf of multilateral and bilateral agencies, as well as private donors. Her previous professional contributions include ICS Integrare, MBM, FAO, WHO and the Senior Coordinator of the Lancet and Financial Times Commission. Aferdita has a Dipl. Ing in Architecture and an M.Sc. in Urban Design in Development from UCL.
Global Health | Digital Health | Public Health & Prevention | Meaningful Youth Engagement | Cultural Awareness & Diversity
Caroline Knop is a medical student at Charité Berlin with a strong interest in the digital transformation of health. She served as National Public Health Officer of the German Medical Student’s Association 2022/23 and was part of the International Federation of Medical Student’s Associations delegation to the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva. As Co-Head of the Youth Side Program on the World Health Summit she advocates for meaningful youth engagement. Passionate about addressing the digital determinants of health, she works together with SATMED, an open access satellite-based eHealth communications platform, providing digital health services to remote, resource-poor areas of emerging and developing countries. As a participant in the International Collaboration and Exchange Program (Columbia ICEP), an international student networking and exchange program partnering over 26 major leading medical universities on 5 continents, she believes that current health challenges need to be addressed by a global approach in collaborative problem solving. Having a strong interest in research she served as Head of Public Relations during the foundation of Berlin Exchange Medicine, the first German student healthcare journal. She is a scholar of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and has recently joined the Global Digital Health Lab at Charité Berlin.
Tomiwa Akinsanya, Project Coordinator at the Digital Transformations for Health Lab, is passionate about using digital technologies and innovative behavioral sciences to enhance global youth health. Tomiwa has worked with respected organizations dedicated to advancing digital health and youth well-being globally. With almost a decade of experience, a B.Sc in Physiology and a Masters in Public Health, she applies specialized skills in research, project management, communication, stakeholder management, and advocacy to improve health systems for the benefit of all. Her core values are aligned with Innovation, Empathy, Creativity, Integirty, Team Work and Excellence.