Planetary healthy publics after COVID-19

Stephen Hinchliffe; Lenore Manderson; Martin Moore

doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00050-4

Planetary healthy publics after COVID-19

Lancet Planet Health. 2021 Apr;5(4):e230-e236. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00050-4.

Authors

Stephen Hinchliffe¹, Lenore Manderson², Martin Moore³

Affiliations

¹ College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
² School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
³ College of Humanities, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.

Abstract

COVID-19 is a sign of a global malaise. The pandemic is an outcome of what we term a planetary dysbiosis, for which underlining drivers include inequality and the exploitation and extraction of human and non-human labours. The implication is that the usual fixes to outbreaks of infectious diseases (ie, surveillance, pharmaceutical measures, and non-pharmaceutical measures) will be insufficient without a thorough reappraisal of and investment in planetary health. Given the heterogeneity and diversity of environments and populations, we envisage these actions as a matter for the generation of new kinds of public, requiring widespread and multiple forms of engagement to generate lasting solutions. We use and extend the concept of healthy publics to suggest a movement that can start to reclaim planetary health as a collective and ongoing issue.

MeSH terms

Animals
COVID-19 / prevention & control
Disease Management
Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
Environment*
Global Health*
Humans
International Cooperation
One Health*
Public Health*
SARS-CoV-2
Social Change*
Social Determinants of Health*

Grants and funding

WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom