title: A Plea for Global Health Action Bottom-Up.
abstract: This opinion piece focuses on global health action by hands-on bottom-up practice: initiation of an organizational framework and securing financial efficiency are - however - essential, both clearly a domain of well-trained public health professionals. Examples of action are cited in the four main areas of global threats: planetary climate change, global divides and inequity, global insecurity and violent conflicts, and global instability and financial crises. In conclusion, a stable health systems policy framework would greatly enhance success. However, such organizational framework dries out if not linked to public debates channeling fresh thoughts and controversial proposals: the structural stabilization is essential but has to serve not to dominate bottom-up activities. In other words, a horizontal management is required, a balanced equilibrium between bottom-up initiative and top-down support. Last but not least, rewarding voluntary and charity work by public acknowledgment is essential.
authors.affiliation: Section of International Public Health (S-IPH), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielefeld , Bielefeld , Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Laaser
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Secretariat Health and Education Unit , London , UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorey
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Secretariat Health and Education Unit , London , UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nurse
keywords: bottom-up initiatives; global health action; global threats; public health professionals