Category: APHA IH Section

APHA Climate Changes Health, Pre-Conference Summit, November 4

by ihsection, posted in APHA IH Section, Climate Change and Environment, Events and Webinars
Climate Changes Health: Ensuring Environmental Justice Underlies Public Health’s Climate Change Work
A Pre-Conference Summit of the APHA Environment Section
November 4, 2017
9am-5pm
Spelman College
Atlanta, GA
This event is free, but space is limited. Registration is required.

This pre-conference workshop is an opportunity for approximately 100 leading EJ leaders and public health practitioners, scholars, and students to advance work towards climate justice. The day will include: 1) storytelling from environmental justice (EJ) leaders about lessons learned in their climate change work, 2) lightning talks to share data, tools, approaches, and resources, 3) facilitated roundtable networking to inform local climate planning efforts in ways that prioritize EJ issues, and 4) a reception and poster session to end the day.

– If you are also interested in presenting a lightning talk or poster, please see additional details and complete this call for presentations here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctZ65klGc9iVegfLIUtQ7chBkF3ZWSbhFXYUBoD_YXuwvRNA/viewform?usp=sf_link

– We have funding for six $500 scholarships for students from backgrounds that are historically disadvantaged or underrepresented in college. If you are interested in attending the pre-conference summit and APHA’s annual meeting with this support, please see additional details and apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePaBZUd6IhLIWYk5tZ-QaY8QGcgv_woC7YwoFf5M5Wo71vcA/viewform?usp=sf_link

This event is possible due to the generous support of the Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan and the Turner Foundation.

Improving LGBT Health Education in South Africa: Addressing the Gap

by kimberly levitt, posted in APHA IH Section, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights

I first became interested in the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health care and health education while working as a country lead for the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). During my time there I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa and understand their community and health care system a bit better, with an emphasis on their HIV/AIDS epidemic. This post focuses on the LGBT history in South Africa, recent developments, addressing that there is a gap between homophobia and non-judgmental care, and the importance of health care workers understanding LGBT health education.

More and more countries around the world are opening their arms to welcome and embrace LGBT pride. South Africa has one of the world’s more progressive constitutions which legally protects LGBT people from discrimination, although current research indicates that they continue to face discrimination and homophobia in many different facets of life. The most recent milestone occurred in 2006 when the country passed a law to recognize same-sex marriages. Nevertheless, LGBT South Africans particularly those outside of the major cities, continue to face some challenges including conservative attitudes, violence, and high rates of disease. As the country continues to grow there seems to be an increase in LGBT representation (with approximately 4,900,000 people identifying as LGBT) whether it is through activism, tourism, the media and society or support from religious groups. So, what about LGBT health education? Continue reading “Improving LGBT Health Education in South Africa: Addressing the Gap” →

CUGH Webinar: Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), August 8

by ihsection, posted in APHA IH Section, Events and Webinars

Consortium of Universities for Global Health is pleased to present:

GLOBAL HEALTH AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)

Tuesday, August 8, 2017
11:30am to 12:30pm ET

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8256491582660799489

WEBINAR | Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Disease knows no borders. CDC's global activities protect Americans from major health threats such as Ebola, Zika, and pandemic influenza and adverse economic impact. CDC detects and controls outbreaks at their source, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. As importantly, CDC helps other countries build capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats through its work. The knowledge and lessons learned from CDC's work abroad are critical to our public health efforts at home, and to protecting Americans.

CDC works in more than 60 countries, working with ministries of health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and many other partners on the front lines where outbreaks may occur. It addresses global health crises that can extend beyond the health sector to contribute to creating more stable societies, including the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Join Dr. Hamid Jafari, CDC Center for Global Health Principal Deputy Director, as he walks us through the structure and activities of CDC's global health center in the United States and abroad. Dr. Jafari's presentation will be followed by a moderated audience Q&A session.

Space is limited so please register now.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8256491582660799489

|  Speaker  |
Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Hamid Jafari, MD
Principal Deputy Director, Center for Global Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Dr. Jafari is currently serving as the Principal Deputy Director, Center for Global Health, at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

Until February, 2016, Dr. Jafari was the Director of Global Polio Eradication at World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva and the overall leader of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Before this appointment, Dr. Jafari served as the Project Manager of World Health Organization's National Polio Surveillance Project in India (2007-2012). As Project Manager of NPSP, he was the main technical advisor to the Government of India in the implementation of the nation's large scale polio eradication, measles control and routine immunization activities and directed WHO's extensive network of more than 2000 field staff.

Previously, Dr. Jafari has served as Director of the Global Immunization Division at the CDC, Atlanta, USA. He has also served as the Medical Officer for Polio Eradication in the Regional Office of WHO for Eastern Mediterranean in Egypt on assignment from CDC.

Dr. Jafari is a graduate of CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program, Class of 1992.  He obtained his MBBS degree from Sind Medical College, Karachi University. He completed his residency training in Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School and his Pediatric Infectious Disease fellowship training at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. Dr. Jafari completed a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He has been certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in the sub-specialty of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.  Dr. Jafari has published more than 70 scientific papers and book chapters on pathogenesis of infectious diseases, polio eradication and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

|  Moderator  |
Global Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Hon. Keith Martin, MD, PC
Executive Director, Consortium of Universities for Global Health

Dr. Martin is a physician who, since Sept. 2012, has served as the founding Executive Director of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) based in Washington, DC.

Between 1993-2011, Dr. Martin served as a Member of Parliament in Canada's House of Commons representing a riding on Vancouver Island. During that time he held shadow ministerial portfolios in foreign affairs, international development, and health. He also served as Canada's Parliamentary Secretary for Defense.  In 2004, he was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. His main areas of focus are in global health, foreign policy, security, international development, conservation and the environment.

Dr. Martin has been on numerous diplomatic missions to areas in crisis. He served as a physician in South Africa on the Mozambique border during that country's civil war. He has travelled widely in Africa, visiting the continent 27 times. Dr. Martin is the author of more than 160 published editorial pieces, has appeared frequently as a political and social commentator on television and radio and has spoken at conferences around the world. He is a board member of the Global Health Council, Jane Goodall Institute and Annals of Global Health.  He is an advisor for the Int'l Cancer Expert Corps, Global Sepsis Alliance and McGill University's Global Health Program and a member of the Lancet-ISMMS Commission on Pollution and Health.

WFPHA Global Climate Change and Health Policy Survey Report

by ihsection, posted in APHA IH Section, Climate Change and Environment

A report from a global survey to evaluate how nations are responding to the health impacts of climate change shows Australia is well behind other industrialised nations in protecting its citizen from the major health risks associated with global warming.

The report from the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) outlines responses from 35 countries in the first-ever global benchmarking survey of national climate and health policy.

The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) led the project working group, which includes experts from the WFPHA Environment Working Group/University of Illinois Chicago, Public Health Association of Australia, University of NSW, University of Notre Dame, and Health Care Without Harm.

The report is available at: https://noharm-global.org/sites/default/files/documents-files/3598/WFPHA-Global-Climate-Healthy-Policy-Survey.FINAL_.pdf

Learn more about APHA’s Year of Climate Change and Health and the health impacts of climate change.

And don’t forget to register for this year’s Annual Meeting. Creating the Healthiest Nation: Climate Changes Health.

 

Global News Round Up

by abbhirami, posted in APHA IH Section, News

Politics & Policies

Only 2 out of the 28 International Sports Federations identified prevention of chronic diseases on their list of priorities. As gatekeepers of physical activity, federations can and must do more to combat this global epidemic.

There is growing concern that the Trump budget would set back the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

A task force organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies has recommended that it would be better to fix the US foreign aid program rather than cutting back on it.

Programs, Grants & Awards

Five Kenyan girls who invented the I-Cut App to end female genital mutilation are headed to Google headquarters with the hope of winning the $15,000 Technovation competition prize.

Experts from the CDC’s Division of Global HIV & TB participated at the 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science held in Paris.

Research

Early results from a Thai campaign (based on the liver fluke control model by Banchob Sripa and others) rolled out in 2016 to control liver fluke infestation are promising. The human infection rates in the worst-hit areas of the Lawa lake region are down to below 10%.

A new report finds that only 23 countries have exclusive breastfeeding rates greater than 60% and that less than half of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed. The scorecard is available here.

Despite the decrease in the number of people with visual impairments globally, a new study predicts that number of blind people will triple in the next four decades.

Diseases & Disasters

Pakistan and Egypt bear 80% of hepatitis C disease burden within the Eastern Mediterranean region which has been the most affected region in the world.

An UNICEF supported mobile health clinics fill the gap in Aleppo where years of violence have destroyed the public health centers and where families have little cash to seek private health care.

Technology

According to the authors of a review paper, recent technological advances in measuring adherence to ART and PrEP will help us gain insights into adherence behavior.

A mobile health intervention that included frequent emails or texts improved adherence to infant safe sleep practices.

Environmental Health

A new study of chickens from 18 poultry farms in Northern India reveal alarmingly high rates of antibiotic usage.  

A new study has found that only 6 countries have completed the two evaluations of readiness to face pandemics; one for human diseases and the other for animal outbreaks.

By analyzing India’s reported suicides in 32 states between 1967 and 2013, along with statistics on India’s crop yields, and high-resolution climate data, researcher in UC Berkeley has shown that climate change is linked to more than 59,000 suicides in India.

Equity & Disparities

People are still reeling from the repercussions of the Greek debt crisis and subsequent budget cuts and tax increases.

Ghana, country that has long relied on community health workers (CHW) to deliver health care services, has now begun to pay the CHWs.

Maternal, Neonatal & Children’s Health

According to a new report, 64 of 195 countries haven’t been able to meet the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccination goals.  

In northern regions of Cameroon, babies born with HIV often die before their blood results come back. Now the government is planning to launch a program that will allow expectant mothers can get tested in an effort to reduce/prevent deaths among babies.

The foreign assistance bill proposed by the House Appropriations Committee will most likely undermine global health priorities and put women’s lives at risk.