Synergy Online – May 2, 2002

In this issue:
-JOIN THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGISTRY!
-9TH ANNUAL CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: DEADLINE FOR
ABSTRACTS MAY 15TH!
-PROFILE: LÉOPOLD NTEZURUBANZA AND THE PRESERVATION OF RWANDA’S
MEDICINAL PLANTS
-ANGOLAN CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN HUMANITARIAN ‘GREY ZONES’
-UNICEF HAILS GLOBAL PROGRESS TOWARDS ELIMINATION OF MATERNAL AND
NEO-NATAL TETANUS
-NORTH AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK:
MAY 5-11, 2002
-NEW INTERNET INITIATIVE FOR POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
-PREVENTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE: A COMPENDIUM OF
BEST PRACTICES
-INFORMATION ON TUBERCULOSIS FROM THE LUNG ASSOCIATION
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

JOIN THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGISTRY!

The Canadian International Health Registry, maintained by CSIH, is a
database of health professionals seeking employment and volunteer
opportunities in health and development.  The Registry can be accessed
only by CSIH.  At the request of potential employers (organizations,
institutions and private firms), CSIH will carry out a search of the
directory for an expert with specific knowledge or skills.  Join today!
http://209.87.224.165/CSIH-Reg/ihregEnroll-e1.asp
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

9TH ANNUAL CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: DEADLINE FOR
ABSTRACTS MAY 15TH!

The deadline for submitting abstracts for the 9th Annual Canadian
Conference on International Health is May 15th!  The conference will be
held in Ottawa, October 27-30th, and is organized and hosted each year
by the Canadian Society for International Health.  This year the theme
is “Poverty, Health & Equity: From Global Challenges to Innovative
Solutions”.  Submission forms and guidelines can be found in the Call
for Abstracts PDF document, now available at:
http://www.csih.org/what/FINALcallforabstracts9thCCIH.pdf.

Conference information is listed on the CSIH website:
http://www.csih.org/what/conferences.html.  For more information, please
contact CSIH at [log in to unmask]
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

PROFILE: LÉOPOLD NTEZURUBANZA AND THE PRESERVATION OF RWANDA’S MEDICINAL
PLANTS

The Karisoke Research Centre, located in Rwanda's Volcano National Park,
has long specialized in the study and protection of mountain gorillas.
It was there, in 1974, that Léopold Ntezurubanza first became interested
in the astonishing properties of medicinal plants. Working side by side
with renowned primatologist Dian Fossey, the young professor of natural
history carried out his field work on the slopes of the Visoke volcano.
Fascinated by the fact that gorillas turn instinctively to medicinal
plants for their healing, he went on to study the Impunyu Pygmies living
in the Gishwati natural forest; they rely so heavily on medicinal plants
that some stocks are now threatened with extinction. Léopold
Ntezurubanza had found his path: he proceeded to turn his passion for
medicinal plants, nature, and traditional therapies into a career that
would address problems linked to conservation and biodiversity.
http://www.idrc.ca/reports/read_article_english.cfm?article_num=1063
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

ANGOLAN CIVILIANS CAUGHT IN HUMANITARIAN ‘GREY ZONES’

Over the last few weeks, teams from the international medical aid agency
Médecins Sans Frontières have come across thousands of starving and sick
people in regions of Angola that have been denied humanitarian
assistance for many years. Thousands of civilians have been trapped in
some 30 of these so-called 'grey zones', without any assistance from
relief agencies or the UN. These people have been caught up in a series
of fierce wars, and many have been forced from their homes, often
because their villages have been destroyed. The mines, attacks and
retaliations have prevented them from cultivating their crops, leaving
the population destitute and extremely vulnerable.  For the full
article, visit: http://www.msf.ca/
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

UNICEF HAILS GLOBAL PROGRESS TOWARDS ELIMINATION OF MATERNAL AND
NEO-NATAL TETANUS

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced that 15,000
newborn deaths from tetanus were averted last year. The number of
neonatal tetanus deaths that occurred last year was 200,000, reduced
from 215,000 in 1999.  Progress is largely due to the implementation of
accelerated activities to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus in
several countries, and the result of an effective partnership between
health ministries, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA and other partners. Neonatal
tetanus, which was eliminated in the industrialized world as far back as
the 1950s, is still a major killer of infants in the developing world;
it is responsible for no less than 200,000 infant deaths every year and
accounts for eight percent of all neonatal deaths. Unlike smallpox and
polio, complete eradication of tetanus is not possible - the tetanus
spores can survive for a long time outside the human body, in dirt and
in the stools of infected people and animals. The disease can be
transmitted without any human contact. The goal is to eliminate maternal
and neonatal tetanus by 2005.
http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr17tetanus.htm
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

NORTH AMERICAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK:
MAY 5-11, 2002

From May 5 to May 11, 2002, workers from Canada, Mexico and the United
States will observe North American Occupational Health & Safety Week.
This year's theme is "Prevention is the Cure." The focus aim is to
increase awareness of current health and workplace safety issues among
employees, employers and the general public and prevent injury in the
workplace as well as the home. The Canadian Women’s Health Network has
information on North American Occupational Safety and Health Week on its
website: http://www.cwhn.ca/indexeng.html.
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

NEW INTERNET INITIATIVE FOR POPULATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Development Gateway
Foundation have launched the POP/RH Portal, an Internet initiative
focusing on population and reproductive health.  The Portal will provide
a community-built database of shared population information, including
data, research, projects, ideas and dialogue.  Visit the Portal by
clicking on the link above.
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

PREVENTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE: A COMPENDIUM OF
BEST PRACTICES

The Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA) has posted “Preventing
Substance Use Problems Among Young People: A Compendium of Best
Practices” on its website.  The report, coordinated by CCSA for the
Office of Canada’s Drug Strategy at Health Canada, can be viewed in PDF
format at:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/cds-sca/cds/pdf/substanceyoungpeople.pdf.
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

INFORMATION ON TUBERCULOSIS FROM THE LUNG ASSOCIATION

The Lung Association offers information on tuberculosis in a number of
languages.  Information is presented in an easy-to-read question and
answer format.  Access the information sheets at the Lung Association’s
Website at: http://www.lung.ca/tb/notenglish/.
@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!

To unsubscribe from CANCHID send: unsubscribe CANCHID to: [log in to unmask]  -  for help see http://listserv.yorku.ca