Vector Issue 5 - 2007

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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
g l o b a l h e a l t h q u i z 2. 1. Globally, 10.7 million children die every year mainly due to preventable diseases. Which of the following are the third most common causes for under-five deaths (after pneumonia and Neonatal deaths)? a. HIV-AIDS b. Injuries c. Measles d. Diarrhoea 2. From an ancient Chinese herbal medicine, what is the backbone of a combination therapy most effective for the widespread chloroquine-resistant malaria parasites? a. Quinine b. Artemesenin c. Erythromycin d. Doxycycline 4. 86%: More than half of the 800,000 are from the age group between 15 and 44, with the highest suicide rates found among men in Eastern European countries. Mental disorders are one of the most significant and preventable causes of suicide. Visit the mental health facts file on http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/ mental_health/en/index.html for a glimpse on global mental health. 5. False: Through a 69 pages working paper exploring the linkage between corruption and conflict (http://www.eldis.org/go/topics/resource-guides/ conflict-and-security&id=33053&type=Document), the author pointed out that past study (http://globalpolicy.gmu.edu/pitf/PITFglobal.pdf) has shown otherwise. IMR seems to be a better indicator of standard of living in a region and therefore better in indicating potential political instability. p r i z e s for prose competition he AMSA Global Health Network (GHN) and TVector magazine would like to extend a very warm congratulations to the winners of this edition’s prizes for prose competition: Bae Corlette, Anthea Lindquist, and Jake Parker! These three budding writers have each won sensational prizes from Wakefield Press for their contributions to this edition of Vector magazine: books packed with info about global health. The GHN’s Vector magazine will continue its prizes for prose competition next edition. So get your pens scribbling! If you would like to be part of the writers pool for next edition, please email vectormag@gmail.com. GHN Publicity Officer Nadine Ata publicity.ghn@amsa.org.au Editors Nicola Sandler & Cara Fox vectormag@gmail.com Crop eradication is the one effective policy in tackling illicit drug usage without causing any potential harm to other communities. True or false? 3. On average 800,000 of world population commit suicide every year, how many percentages of them are from middle and low income countries? a. 74% b. 86% c. 53% d. 24% 5. According to a new study published on Eldis, Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/ capita has a higher significance than infant mortality rate in determining the likelihood of political instability. True or False? compiled by kong university of melbourne answers 1. d) Diarrhoea: According to WHO estimation, Diarrhoea causes 17% of under five deaths (Measles 4%, HIV-AIDS 3%, Injuries 3%). Source: Bryce J, Boschi- Pinto C, Shibuya K, Black RE. WHO estimates of the causes of death in children. Lancet, 2005, 365:1147–1152 2. b) Artemesenin: According to a seminar paper on Malaria published on the Lancet (Vol 365 April 23, 2005), few regiments of Artemesenin based combination therapy (ACT) has shown great efficacy in some part of Asia and Africa. Visit www.thelancet.com to access this article. 3. False: According to Id21 insight health issue #10, without complementary development initiatives, crop eradication programmes can exacerbate poverty among farmers, accelerate deforestation, and worsen armed conflict. Find out more on: http://www.id21.org/insights/insights-h10/art00.html Design & Layout Vanessa Fitzgerald orangebutterflyness@hotmail.com credits... Photo © dima v, www.sxc.hu Photo © Flaviu Lupoian, www.sxc.hu page 5 indigenous health issues — real people and real lives at risk Lending a Hand: the Aid Issue
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