EPHA was invited to provide a welcome speech at the 54th annual national congress of the German Dietitian Association (VDD) in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony (Germany). On it, EPHA highlighted the benefits of networking at a national and European level, and the expertise that dietitians can bring to the policy table.
VDD is a member of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD), which in turn is a member of EPHA.
In her opening speech, VDD President Doris Steinkamp called on politicians to acknowledge the specific expertise that dietitians can offer and to place more value on them in the health sector so that diet-related therapies could become more accessible to patients. She also emphasised that the profession was marked by interdisciplinary cooperation in hospitals and in medical practices. Moreover, dietitians could help solve the problems of an increasingly ageing population with multiple morbidities.
In his presentation, Sascha Marschang, EPHA Policy Coordinator for Health Systems stated that EPHA’s national members – and members’ members – were invaluable ”translators” whose experience and applied knowledge could be of great use in European policy-making. He explained that the Federation of EU member National Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) input had helped shape positions in a number of areas including health workforce issues (e.g., highlighting the importance for good communication skills, lifelong learning and competence-based training). Furthermore, Mr Marschang stressed the urgent need to promote better nutrition and health (e.g. the CAP reform, incentives for changing people’s behaviour such as food labelling and taxation); a healthy and active ageing, and tackling chronic diseases. ”Embracing Europe to Strengthen our Profession” was also the the theme of a dedicated English-language session where experiences from Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK were shared.
The congress itself explored a number of interesting nutrition-related topics, such as:
– Obesity and adiposities;
– malnourishment (children, seniors, etc.);
– baby milk products;
– counselling in nutrition and dietetics;
– tailored dietary advice for migrants;
– diminution of health inequalities in vulnerable groups; and
– Nutrition Care Process
For further information
– European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD)
– German Dietitian Association (VDD)
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