Hygiena 2022, 67(1):35-37 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1799

An unusual conference

Jaroslav Kříž

Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha, Česká republika

A conference of public health officers from the northern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, with participants from other re-gions and institutions, was held 40 years ago in February 1982. Instead of professional issues, the programme comprised unorthodox and humorously presented themes inspired by work, life and political problems. The speeches were coloured by hyperbole, irony, fantasy and high intellect, often on the verge of political risk-taking (it was the time of the communist regime). One of the many examples: "Epidemiology will deal with human stupidity in the future. Everything indicates that it is highly contagious". A unique conference dubbed "The greatest laugh in hygiene" is one of the unforgettable events in the history of Czech public health.

Keywords: conference of hygienists, presentations, humour

Received: November 2021; Accepted: November 18, 2021; Published: February 28, 2022  Show citation