Vector Issue 10 - 2009

More documents

Recommendations

Info

global health in the news Copenhagen Climate Change Summit will be held in December 2009. For the health impacts of climate change, refer to the editorial published by the Lancet and BMJ and University College London in September 2009. http://en.cop15.dk World Diabetes Day 14th November 2009 WHO estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes, according to 2005 figures. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. www.worlddiabetesday.org HIV vaccine? A trial of a vaccine to prevent infection by HIV involving 16,000 participants in Thailand this year has shown modest results with 26% reduction in rates of infection compared to placebo controls. Refer to the October 20th 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. PNG’s Liquid Nitrogen Gas (LNG) Project will officially open in 2010, is expected to double the country’s GDP, and will have a profound impact on trade and health in the Pacific region. Refer to a series by Jo Chandler of The Age published September this year. www.ghn.amsa.org.au Indonesia’s official death toll stands at 650, with a 672 people missing, following the devastation of the recent earthquake. Damage to roads, disruption to electrical power and sources of clean water could make the situation much worse in the coming weeks. There is similar concern in Samoa about the spread of infectious diseases, such as causes of acute watery diarrhoea, typhoid fever and dengue fever following the Tsunami. 2nd November 2009 commemorates renewed efforts to promote pneumonia on the global health agenda by 2011. Wear blue jeans on the 2nd of November (signifying the 2 million deaths of children every year due to pneumonia) and support this cause. www.worldpneumoniaday.org 14 vector november 2009
global health network update Welcome to the GHN A Year in the GHN: Looking back and looking forwards Trung Nghia Ton WakeUp! GHN Officer, University of Newcastle AMSA GHN Chair 2009 - 2010 Tamara Vu AMSA GHN Chair 2008-09 A very warm welcome to you all on behalf of the AMSA Global Health Network Committee! This issue of Vector marks the start of yet another Global Health Calendar year (kicked off by a truly rousing Global Health Conference in Brisbane). We look forward to adding to the monumental efforts of the GHN Committee of 08/09 who have worked tirelessly to bring together students from all over the country to collaborate in common interests in global health awareness and action. This culminated in the very first GHN National project, the Red Party concept, which raised national funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS, and was a huge success. This is a tangible example of how our efforts at a local level can be part of a global impact. Additionally, The GHN began its first national advocacy movements, further highlighting the GHN’s increasing ability to inform, represent and advocate for medical students in matters of global health. I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations and thanks to the outgoing GHN Committee for their successes this last 12 months. It is without a doubt that their efforts have made a real and tangible difference, and has set up a national framework for us to continue to grow and mature as an organisation. Their efforts continue to reflect on the new committee as they mentor us through a very steep learning curve. With much enthusiasm, the newly elected GHN committee for 09/10 are getting right onto the task. Realising this year’s GHN National project, the South East Asian Libraries Project, will be a challenging undertaking but with the experience and motivation of each global health group (GHG) we hope to exploit the growing momentum and make a longstanding impact by helping our fellow medicos in the developing world (watch this space!). We also hope to strengthen our collective voices and to bring truly pressing global health advocacy issues to the fore in our chosen active advocacy campaigns, especially in regards to the crucial Millennium Development Goals, and the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. The GHN remains an avenue for medical students to bring ideas, issues and action to a national level, but it is vitally important for us all to look at developing our own Global Health Groups (GHG) and individual initiatives – there are so many opportunities available to bring grass roots ideas and projects to fruition and collaborate on a local, regional and national level. I invite you all to become active members of your local GHG as they grow into dynamic student organisations. It is incredibly exciting to see the initiatives of GHGs around the country in 09/10 and I look forward to working with an exceptional and motivated GHN Committee and witness medical students making a real difference in our global community. As the outgoing Chair of the Global Health Network (GHN), I am delighted to report on our successful year of global health group development and support; our wildly successful National Project, the Red Party, which raised over $88 022 for HIV/AIDS support and research; and our advocacy working party, which developed the Millennium Development Goals policy that in February became AMSA’s first-ever global health-based policy document. It’s been a great year for medical students in global health, with new and exciting work happening in global health groups, in the GHN, at GHC09, and at AMSA level. It has been my privilege to serve as GHN Chair during the last twelve months. Along with the other outgoing GHN Representatives and officers, I am delighted to be handing over the reigns to a new committee, as I know Trung and his team will be dedicated and enthusiastic in promoting and supporting global health activities around Australia. And, looking back on the various global health events of the past year, I look forward to seeing what the next twelve months will bring. november 2009 vector15 www.ghn.amsa.org.au
Page 1 and 2: vector The Official Student Publica
Page 3 and 4: editor’s note “ Kruthika Naraya
Page 5 and 6: Heart disease and stroke threaten d
Page 7 and 8: Right: Influences on the energy equ
Page 9 and 10: Many of you may recognise the paint
Page 11 and 12: Mental Health Crisis in China Words
Page 13: Stories from Cambodia Behind these
Page 17 and 18: Student Involvement Helping VSAP to
Page 19 and 20: This morning, with thanks to the Au

Vector Issue 10 - 2009

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?