Vector Issue 5 - 2007

indigenous health issues — real people and real lives at risk
ifmsa august 2007 ga report
Over the past decade, the growing
force of globalisation has facilitated
the unveiling of vast inequities in our
global community. Heralded in part by
the establishment of the United Nation’s
Millennium Development Goals in 1999,
these inequities have started to gain greater
recognition by people around the world
and we have witnessed rising pressure on
governments of developed nations for
increased commitments to foreign aid and
support and worldwide campaigning for
universal improvements in human rights
and quality of life. Despite these efforts,
the state of health of many communities
around the world remains as unacceptable
as ever before.
The responsibility of ensuring that
existing global health needs are adequately
addressed is one shared by governments and
societies worldwide, but especially falls into
the hands of health professionals, including
current doctors and training medical
students. The International Federation of
Medical Students Association (IFMSA)
recognises this responsibility and for the
past 56 years, has hosted a biannual General
Assembly in a collaborative effort to improve
the understanding of, and response towards
global health issues amongst medical
students around the world.
In August this year, the IFMSA GA
was held in Canterbury, England, and
championed the theme ‘Access to Essential
Medicines’. Approximately 1000 medical
students from over 100 different countries
participated in a week-long programme
of seminars, workshops, formal meetings
and a string of memorable social events!
Morning sessions provided an opportunity
for Standing Committee’s of the IFMSA
to meet and share knowledge, project ideas
and enthusiasm. The 16-strong Australian
delegation was dispersed amongst the
Standing Committees that included Public
Health, Human Rights and Peace, Medical
Education, Reproductive Health and AIDS,
Professional Exchange and Research
Exchange. We were all inspired by the work
of medical students in different countries
and gathered a range of exciting ideas for
projects that can be adapted to an Australian
or Asia-Pacific context.
The complex issues relating to ‘Access to
If you have any questions, please feel free to access the IFMSA website
or contact us:
Website: www.ifmsa.org
Email: aclin123@gmail.com or jakeparker@hotmail.com
Essential Medicines’ (AEM), one of Medecins
Sans Frontieres strongest campaigns,
were explored through a pharmaceutical
debate and various small group sessions
hosted by prominent members of the
‘AEM’ campaign. Delegates learnt some
important truths about the negative impact
that unreliable funding, complex logistical
challenges and patents enforced through
global trade agreements has on the equitable
access to essential medicines throughout the
world. We were also given an insight into the
steps that need to be taken by governments,
doctors, allied health workers and medical
students to ensure positive changes are
galvanised in the near future.
The IFMSA GA provided an invaluable
opportunity to meet motivated colleagues
from around the world and be inspired
by their stories and their achievements.
Furthermore, the GA offered an important
reminder of the responsibility of all medical
students to strive towards improving existing
global health inequities and to enthuse
our fellow medical students to share this
commitment.
anthea lindquist
monash university
& jake parker
university of queensland
n e w s r e v i e w
page 4
Photo © Jonathan Hillis,
www.sxc.hu
Photo © Aram Dulyan,
www.wikipedia.org
saving the babies: a victory in africa
Botswana achieves a low mother-to-infant HIV
(MI-HIV) transmission rate of 4% this year, as
compare to the 12% global transmission rate.
Hailed as an “extremely impressive results”,
its efforts in reducing MI-HIV transmission
are cited as model to other African countries
with high HIV burden. To find out more, visit:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_
science/articles/2007/08/27/saving_the_babies_a_victory_in_africa
world facing “arsenic timebomb”
BBC reported that about 140 million people,
mainly in developing countries, are being
poisoned by arsenic in their drinking water. With
a higher rate of developing cancer, long term
consumption arsenic is precipitating a global
“arsenic time bomb”, mainly affecting countries
with the least ability to respond. The full story
at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/
science/nature/6968574.stm
south asia floods
Diseases, deaths, devastation and destitution plague millions of South
Asian Flood victims since the starting of Monsoon this year. Latest death
toll hits 2000. With inadequate relief from local authorities, survivors
are struggling to rebuild their life; while another 145,000 suffer from
diarrhoea and other water-borne illnesses such as typhoid and hepatitis.
Visit: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL201802.html for
more information. In addition, Ian Bray, an Oxfam aid worker, has his
experience in Bihar, India, published on BBC. The full article is on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6941029.stm
Image by Ute Frevert & Margaret Shear,
www.wikipedia.org
Photo © Jim Gathany,
www.wikipedia.org
pre-empting new and old infectious diseases
pandemic: who 2007 health report
39 new pathogens, including HIV, were
identified since 1967. Together with other
worsening centuries-old infectious diseases such
as TB, they are threatening current global public
health security. In response, the new WHO
2007 report recommends upgrading current
surveillance and response to these potential
infectious diseases pandemic. For more details,
visit: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr44/en/
index.html
delivering insecticide-treated mosquito net
(itm): commitment, endowment, assistance?
A recent Kenyan study, according to WHO,
“ends the debate” about how to deliver the
much needed insecticide-treated mosquito net
(ITM) in malaria infested regions. Free mass
distribution of long-lasting net has shown to
dramatically increase ITM coverage and reduce
mortality rate in vulnerable group. News article
on: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/
releases/2007/pr43/en/index.html
compiled by kong
university of melbourne