Vector Issue 10 - 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