Dear friends and colleagues,
We are proud to share with you the latest issue of our newsletter, Section Connection. Please click here to access our latest issue of Section Connection: http://bit.ly/SectionConnection17
We hope you continue to stay connected and involved with our section,
Jean Armas, Heather de Vries McClintock, and Sarah Edmonds
The IH Section Communications Team
Politics & Policies
On 8-10 November 2021, Dr. Naveen Rao, Senior Vice President, Health and other senior representatives from The Rockefeller Foundation joined World Health Organization (WHO) representatives to review the strategic directions of collaboration between the two Organizations.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal next week to discuss security issues and other topics, the State Department said Thursday, November 13th.
When it comes to health policy, “as Medicare goes, so goes the nation.” Unfortunately, burdensome federal regulations prevented Medicare from delivering virtual care to millions of seniors around the country — until the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Francis S. Collins has announced he will end his tenure as NIH director by the end of the year. Collins is the longest serving presidentially appointed NIH director, having served in three administrations. During his 12-year leadership, NIH’s budget grew by 38%, from $30 billion in 2009 to $41.3 billion in 2021.
The World Health Organization’s current director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is the only candidate proposed to lead the organization over the next five years, the agency said in a press release Friday. Tedros has served in the role since 2017, when he became the first person from the African continent to lead the agency.
Programs, Grants & Awards
The WHO Evidence-to-Policy (E2P) Summit provides a forum to capitalize on the lessons learned in evidence-informed policy-making in times of COVID-19. The event offers a platform for researchers, policymakers, health actors, civil society organizations and media representatives to spark new collaborations across the evidence ecosystem.
CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, announced the first funding awards under its $200m programme to advance the development of vaccines that provide broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants and other betacoronaviruses.
Research
Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are leading a new collaborative effort to increase training opportunities in data science research in five African countries.
Diseases & Disasters
Philippine health authorities reported 1,894 coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started to 2.8 million.
A substantial decrease in measles incidence and associated mortality occurred worldwide during 2000–2016, followed by a global resurgence during 2017–2019, then an apparent decline in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this decline, millions more children were susceptible to measles at the end of 2020 than in 2019.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 250.4 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths has now passed 5.05 million. More than 7.28 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.
The Taliban seizure of power in Afghanistan has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis. Although media attention has been focused on the evacuation from Kabul’s international airport, the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government and the Taliban advance have brought about a public health catastrophe.
In 2019, nearly 7 million Angolans contracted malaria and 13.6 thousand died from this preventable and curable disease . In the 16 years since Angola became one of the first U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) focus countries, these numbers have seen steady improvement . Yet, standing water left behind by the rainy season leads to spikes in malaria cases in Lunda-sul Province.
Refugees in Indonesia, many of whom have fled Afghanistan’s mounting crises, have lagged far behind the rest of the population when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations. The UN is helping to reverse this trend.
The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, November 1st, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care system.
Technology
“In Benin, there are many regions that are quite isolated, particularly in certain periods of the year,” explained Djawad Ramanou, a UNFPA representative and lead on the drone project. “In Firou, for example, there’s a small bridge that connects Firou to other communes, and during the rainy season the water levels rise and completely cut off Firou from other villages. But with a drone we can reach the maternity ward there. Until now, if it rained, the hospital was cut off and patients weren’t able to get the care they needed.”
Unlike the relatively new technologies that the mRNA and viral-vector COVID-19 shots are based on, protein vaccines have been used for decades to protect people from hepatitis, shingles and other viral infections. To elicit a protective immune response, these shots deliver proteins, along with immunity-stimulating adjuvants, directly to a person’s cells, rather than a fragment of genetic code that the cells must read to synthesize the proteins themselves.
In November, drugmaker Pfizer announced its new oral antiviral treatment significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Results from the company’s phase 2 and 3 clinical trials found the drug, called Paxlovid, was nearly 90 percent effective at preventing severe disease symptoms when given to high-risk study participants.
Environmental Health
Doctors have said the best way to prevent spiraling public health dangers is to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The island nation of Tuvalu is seeking to keep ownership of its maritime zones and to gain recognition as a state even if the Pacific island nation is completely submerged due to the climate crisis.
Pishu village was on the brink of abandonment. Located deep in the Himalayas in India’s Zanskar Valley, at 3,600 meters it is one of the highest places on earth inhabited by humans. It is also experiencing some of the most dramatic impacts from climate change.
Climate change has ascertained over and over again the need to have robust and resilient health systems. Now, a group of 47 countries have committed to develop climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Equity & Disparities
A century after insulin was discovered, it still remains out of reach for many people living with diabetes, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report published on November 12th to commemorate the milestone anniversary.
At the Global COVID-19 Summit before the United Nations Assembly in September, world leaders set targets to close the gap by fully vaccinating 40% of the globe by the end of 2021 and 70% by mid-2022. Increased vaccine production and commitments from wealthy countries to share vaccines are expected to improve the flow of doses to low- and middle-income countries.
Women, Maternal, Neonatal & Child
Compared with its peers,’ the United States’ trajectory in maternal health has been shameful. Solving this worsening problem requires looking not just at the quality of care a woman receives but the entire environment around her — from her access to health care to the availability of food in her community.
The National Institutes of Health will support a four-year study on the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. The study will periodically assess about 4,100 patients with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy who gave birth at hospitals in NIH’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit Network; their offspring will be evaluated for neurologic symptoms and cardiovascular conditions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, M.D., on November 3rd, accepted the recommendation of her agency’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to administer Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children between the ages of five and 11.
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among Black women, claiming thousands of lives each year. Compared with white women, Black women may be more often diagnosed in later stages of the disease, when it’s tougher to fight. As a result, Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Among women younger than 50, the racial disparity is even greater.
In response to a congressional request to address NIH efforts related to women’s health research, the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health (ACRWH), hosted an event on October 20, 2021, titled “Advancing NIH Research on the Health of Women: A 2021 Conference.”
The Global Health Mentoring Program is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2022 cohort, which runs January 2022 – September 2022.
Please visit the link below to learn more about the Mentoring Program and how to apply. Applications are due: Friday December 10, 2021 at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time.
For any questions please email ih.gh.mentoring@gmail.com
Brianne Riggin-Pathak
IH Section Mentoring Committee Chair
Sent on behalf of our IH Section Chair, Dr. Padmini Murthy
Dear friends and colleagues,
I hope you are doing fine and it’s unbelievable that this is our 2nd annual meeting after the onset of the COVID pandemic – one of the most challenging and devastating public health crises of our times. This year the annual meeting is a hybrid one and I look forward to interacting with you at our IH Section Business Meeting on Sunday, October 24th from 8:30 am – 9:15 am MST followed by the Open House. All members are welcome to attend the Business Meeting even if you aren’t registered for the meeting. For the Zoom link, check your APHA IH section list-serv email or log-in to our list-serv email at http://connect.apha.org/welcome.htm
Even though these events are virtual, this provides us an opportunity to connect with each other. We have our IH Networking awards and reception virtually as well on Monday, October 25th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm MST. Please attend the reception and network with your peers and congratulate the section award winners.
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64607
We also have an amazing IH luncheon speaker – Dr Kristi Ebi from University Of Washington on Wednesday, October 27 from 12 pm – 2 pm MST
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64609
Our program chairs Theresa Majeski and Samer Jabbour have organized an excellent and robust scientific program and I strongly encourage you to attend as many programs as possible.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the chairs / co-chairs of the IH committees and working groups, the governing councilors, section councilors, past president, chair elect, secretary, (both incoming and outgoing), Vina Hulamm – APHA’s global health manger and the IH section liaison, our treasurer and the section historian for their dedication and commitment to the IH section and APHA.
I would like to congratulate all the newly elected section and governing councilors and look forward to working with you all.
Finally, kudos to all the IH members who have been working in their communities in the US and globally who have contributed to the COVID-19 response and relief work with commitment and dedication. The section leadership and members have also been at the forefront in bringing to the attention of the APHA leadership the various ongoing global public health crises.
Thank you for your great work and look forward to working with you in the year to come!
In Health, Human Rights and Peace
Padmini Murthy MD, MPH
IH Section Chair
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APHA Annual Meeting 2021
International Health Program Highlights
Community-Based Primary Health Care (CBPHC) Working Group Pre-Conference Event –
Diverse Partnerships Transform Community Health – Partnership Planning for Scalable Solutions
Saturday, October 23, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm MT
Register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diverse-partnerships-transform-health-participative-planning-tickets-163495903649
Global Maternal and Child Health Network Business Meeting
Saturday, October 23, 2021
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM MT
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64602
International Health Advocacy and Policy Committee Business Meeting
Saturday, October 23, 2021
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM MT
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64603
International Health Section Open House
Sunday, October 24, 2021
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM MT
Please join us for a chance to get to know more about our section, and hear about opportunities to get involved in section activities.
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64604
International Health Section Business Meeting
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM MT
For the Zoom link, check your APHA IH section list-serv email or log-in to our list-serv email at http://connect.apha.org/welcome.htm
Climate Change and Health Working Group Business Meeting
Sunday, October 24, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM MT
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64605
International Abortion Working Group
Sunday, October 24, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64606
International Health Student Committee Meet and Greet / Coffee Hour
Sunday, October 24, 2021
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/65135
International Health Section Virtual Social and Awards Reception
Monday, October 25, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM MT
Join us for a fun night of networking and a short awards ceremony to recognize outstanding members who have contributed in an important way to global health and our section. https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64607
Palestine Health Justice Working Group Meeting
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64608
International Health Virtual Luncheon
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Session/64609
View the entire International Health program here: https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Program/2084
The Community-based Primary Health Care Working Group presents a workshop every year just ahead of the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. It will be virtual this year and includes people in the field in the US and internationally working in and with communities. It is very student friendly. You do not have to be a member of the APHA or attending the meeting. We hope your will take this opportunity learn and share about diverse partnerships in community health.
Diverse Partnerships Transform Community Health
Partnership Planning for Scalable Solutions
Saturday, October 23, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm ET/9:00 am – 1:00 pm MT
Overview
Solutions for complex community health challenges are most powerful and relevant when they are designed with input from many complementary partners. Join us for this year’s Community-Based Primary Health Care pre-conference workshop as we explore promising practices for strategically involving many diverse voices in the community-based transformation process. We will learn from powerful global partnerships that transformed community health with the input of many voices, stakeholders and partners with an emphasis on the active involvement of the most important partners- community members.
Objectives
Design
4 hours
Online, Pre-Recorded keynotes with post-session interaction
Skills-based working groups targeted to CBPHC skill-level and/or career stage
Agenda
(Eastern Time, MST in parenthesis)
11:00 am ET (9:00 MST)
Welcome – Reflection
11:20 am (9:20 MST)
Partnership, Products and Impact (Keynote)
Sustained Impact of Liberia’s Community Health Assistant Model
Last Mile Health (Lisha McCormick)
12:10 pm (10:10 MST)
Skill Session: Sustained Community Impact (Keynote)
CHA skills for: Base camp, Climbing, Summiting
12:40 (10:40 MST)
Break
12:50 pm (10.50 MST)
Critical Reflections Health Partnerships: engaging those most affected
1:35 pm (11:35 MST)
Break
1:45 pm (11:45 MST)
Skill Session: Partnering with those most affected
Partnership skills: Base camp, Climbing, Summiting
2:30 pm (12:30 MST)
Piloting Testing Partner Ideas: Guatemala
Guatemalan Birthing Centers: From Villages to Government
Mario Valdez (Spanish translation)
Safe + Natal: Anthropology and MHealth
Rachel Hall-Clifford (Anthropology)
2:50 pm (12:50 MST)
Feedback & Follow-Up and Closing Remarks
To Register:
IH CONNECT 