Instructions: Time to put all that you've learned to the test! This activity requires a deeper application of argumentation techniques, critical thinking, and systems thinking skills in the complex realm of mandatory public health interventions.

Step 1: Select, Research, and Prepare

Select one of the following topics that align with your interest. Then, extensively research your chosen topic, identifying key debates, contradictions, extant research, and potential future developments.

• Opt-in versus opt-out for syphilis screening for pregnant women or mandatory treatment of newborns
• Presumptive treatment of malaria in pregnant women
• Symptom-based treatment of pneumonia by community health workers for children under five (5)
• The recall of the first Rotavirus vaccine in the US versus Africa.
• Blanket versus targeted supplemental nutrition in LMICs with high childhood malnutrition rates
• LMICs investing in tertiary care versus a basic package of healthcare with a focus on prevention.

Step 2: Synthesize, Apply, and Debate

Compose a 600-800 word report that goes beyond merely defending your stance. Instead, focus on critically and systemically examining your chosen topic. Your discussion should be well-structured, evidence-based, and critically analyze your chosen topic's broader implications and potential consequences. It should encapsulate the following:

• Position argument: Clearly state your stance and the main arguments supporting that stance. Provide concrete evidence or examples to justify your position.
• Counter-arguments: Acknowledge at least two strong counter-arguments to your position. How would you rebut these counter-arguments using your critical and systemic thinking skills?
• Systemic implications: Discuss the broader systemic implications of your chosen topic. How might your stance impact larger public health systems and structures, especially considering diverse demographics and socio-economic statuses?
• Future impact: Speculate on potential future developments for your chosen topic, drawing on your systemic and critical thinking.

Step 3: Share

Submit your discussion for peer review. To share your work, click on the “reply” button at the bottom of this post. Once your contribution is complete, click on “Post to forum.” Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property (references are excluded from word counts).

OPTIONAL Step 4: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”