Vector Volume 11 Issue 2 - 2017

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about its devastating mental health effects. I could not believe that this was happening in our country and that our government was knowingly subjecting vulnerable people to institutionalised torture. After a small period of feeling hopeless, I began to get angry. It was this seed of anger that has fuelled my passion for health inequalities more broadly since then and I think this is a reason why I am up here today. But it is not enough to be inspired. There is too much to be done. We do not have the luxury of apathy and you cannot afford to waste time thinking that you are too small to make a difference. However, if you had told me then that four years from now, I would have been able to learn about global health research with the George Institute in Oxford, I would have been fortunate enough to spend 6 weeks being inspired by global health babe, Sandro Demaio at the WHO in Geneva, and that I would eventually publish an article with Julian Burnside in the Lancet calling for immediate action on refugee and asylum seeker health, I would not have believed you. But it all started at GHC. have the luxury of apathy and you cannot afford to waste time thinking that you are too small to make a difference. I encourage all of you to leave here and be productive with the seed of inspiration that has been planted this week. Continue to challenge yourself to make change and always foster inquisitiveness and love of global health. Ensure that you it, watch it grow and share its fruit with those around you. This might be something as simple as starting a conversation with someone using some of the knowledge you gained, it could be putting pen to paper and recording your ideas to share with others, it could be joining a local advocacy group doing great work that you are passionate about in your community, or it could be joining an organisation like AMSA Global Health. Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. Photo credit Karl Asmussen, Vienna Tran Correspondance liz.bennett@amsa.org.au And so I would to thank Holly and her amazing team for this fantastic event. Since that first GHC in Hobart, this conference has gone from strength to strength and it would not be possible without individuals like you. This conference has given us the ability to challenge ourselves in many different areas. We have been provided with an opportunity to realise our strengths, as well as our faults and imperfections. But it is not enough to be inspired. There is too much to be done. We do not 53
Where to now? - Vector Journal & GHC Writing Competition Helena Qian Helena is a 3rd year medical student at the University of Newcastle with a keen interest in improving global health and aiding underserved communities. She hopes to work with WHO and MSF in the future as a collaborative researcher, advocate, field doctor and volunteer. What: “We are resolved to free the human race within this generation from the tyranny of poverty and want, and to heal and secure our planet for the present and for future generations.” – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Society is at a critical juncture in world history whereby a fragile balance exists between global health, effects of modern-life, social constructs, politics and economy.[1] The 2003 SARS epidemic encapsulates how unprecedented population growth and adverse living conditions have facilitated cross-species shift of organisms.[1] Despite incredible medical advances, our exponential increase in knowledge has not matched public health progress as seen with the re-emergence of polio in conflict-affected areas.[2] Why: “If we see injustice, why can’t we make a change right now?” – Mr Kon Karapanagiotidis GHC 2017 From conversing with Dr Stewart Condon, poor application of knowledge due to differing political/ financial agendas have largely been to blame. These stem from a failure of stakeholders/society to appreciate the ‘complex links between social and economic aspects’ [1] of disease and address health at a world-population level. Contrary to popular belief, there is no shortage of resources to improve global health,[3] only a lack of moral imagination and political will to change long-standing, inefficient healthcare systems and implement strategies to broaden attitudes towards health. Where to now? “The world is coming to recognise more and more that problems in one country reverberate in another...this is why it is so important to make the most of our collective strengths.” - Ban Ki Moon As privileged medical students with access to platforms that engage our community, we can challenge the complacency of those who don’t fully comprehend the magnitude of impact every individual has on others less fortunate. As future doctors, we should endeavour to couple excellent care of individual patients to public health programs that more efficiently disseminates information and healthcare. Although the way forward is challenging, it’s not impossible with positive steps such as the creation of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) aiming to efficiently develop new vaccines to prevent epidemics. “It is because it is so dark that we need to burn the brightest right now.”- Mr Kon Karapanagiotidis GHC 2017 Conflicts of Interest None declared Correspondance helena.qian@uon.edu.au References 1. Solomon R Benatar Global Health: Where to Now? Retrieved 2017, August 19; Last Updated Unknown; Global Health Governance, 2009;11;2 Available from: 2. Akil L, Ahmad HA. The recent outbreaks and reemergence of poliovirus in war and conflict-affected areas. Retrieved 2017, August 19; Last Updated 2016; International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. 2016;49:40-46. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2016.05.025. 3. Benatar, Daar, and Singer, “Global health ethics: the rationale for mutual caring”; Benatar, Gill and Bakker, “Making progress in global health: the need for new paradigms.” Retrieved 2017, August 21; Last Updated Unknown Moving forward, societal introspection are shifting from a narrow, monetised view of global health to a multifaceted appreciation for an interdependent world that can drive forces for change. Greater emphasis should be placed on collaboration to address health inequalities and social determinants of health. 54
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Contents Editor’s Note: Turning U
Page 5 and 6: Non-Health for Non-Persons: Rohingy
Page 7 and 8: Rohingyan regions of Myanmar. Force
Page 9 and 10: Individual and interpersonal While
Page 11 and 12: LGBTQIA+ individuals is topical. LG
Page 13 and 14: Commercial surrogacy in Australia:
Page 15 and 16: with an uncertain future.[11] Anoth
Page 17 and 18: school, were from middle income ear
Page 19 and 20: foreign policy motives has undermin
Page 21 and 22: Western institutions including Brow
Page 23 and 24: Key messages • Fossil fuel divest
Page 25 and 26: Coal combustion affects the water a
Page 27 and 28: is questionable. The Northern Austr
Page 29 and 30: Paddling upstream: Experiences from
Page 31 and 32: Similar to the obstetric department
Page 33 and 34: iced tea and coffee, and lemonade.
Page 35 and 36: eformulation targets, health star r
Page 37 and 38: Drug Control in Australia: Where to
Page 39 and 40: and substance use programs).[9] Cri
Page 41 and 42: Dengue in the Pacific Islands [Revi
Page 43 and 44: public health problem, showed that
Page 45 and 46: et al. Concurrent outbreaks of deng
Page 47 and 48: Family, Unity and Success - Austral
Page 49 and 50: should start talking about the idea
Page 51 and 52: Ultimately, the conference epitomis
Page 53 and 54: Welfare cuts to refugees, AMSA Glob
Page 55: Start where you are, use what you h
Page 59 and 60: major hurdle. As detainee 982 (name
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