Synergy Online -- June 20, 2002

In this issue:
-KEYNOTE TOPICS AT THE 9TH ANNUAL CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL
HEALTH
-LARGEST PEDIATRIC CLINICAL TRIAL IN CANADA TO FOCUS ON TYPE 1 DIABETES
-JUNE IS STROKE MONTH
-THE BATTLE AGAINST CHILDHOOD OBESITY
-INDIA LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE TO VACCINATE CHILDREN AGAINST HEPATITIS B
-PAHO 2003 TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
-MEASLES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN KENYA
-DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS CANADA 2001 ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE
-NEXT WEEK'S SYNERGY ONLINE WILL BE SENT OUT ON TUESDAY!
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KEYNOTE TOPICS AT THE 9TH ANNUAL CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL
HEALTH

The theme for this year's Canadian Conference on International Health
(CCIH) is "Poverty, Health & Equity: From Global Challenges to
Innovative Solutions."  The conference will feature 9 keynote speakers
addressing the topics: Challenges, Research, and Innovation and Action.
Participants and speakers will tackle a new topic each day in the
plenary session.  The 9th Annual CCIH will be held in Ottawa, October
27-30th, 2002.  Further conference details will be published in Synergy
Online in the weeks to come. For more information, visit the CSIH
website, http://www.csih.org/what/conferences.html, or contact
[log in to unmask]
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LARGEST PEDIATRIC CLINICAL TRIAL IN CANADA TO FOCUS ON TYPE 1 DIABETES

Earlier this month, the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health,
and Dr. Alan Bernstein, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research, launched the Canadian component of a multinational clinical
trial aimed at reducing the incidence of Type 1 diabetes, which occurs
mainly in children. Type 1 diabetes is caused by abnormal autoimmunity
that destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is an
essential hormone that regulates energy production from sugar and fat.
Approximately 200,000 Canadians have Type I diabetes and require daily
insulin injections. Type 1 diabetes hardens small blood vessels and is
the leading cause of blindness, heart and kidney disease, stroke and
loss of limbs.  For the full press release, visit:
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/news/press_releases/2002/pr-0218_e.shtml.
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JUNE IS STROKE MONTH

June is Stroke Month and several websites are featuring articles that
raise awareness about the disease. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of
Canada is focusing on "Women and Stroke," while also advising caregivers
of stroke survivors to take their stress quiz - visit the Foundation at:
http://ww1.heartandstroke.ca/.  The Canadian Women's Health Network and
the Canadian Health Network also have information available at
http://www.cwhn.ca/indexeng.html and
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/html/newnotable/events_e.html#A
respectively.
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THE BATTLE AGAINST CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Twenty-five per cent of Canadian children are considered obese, and that
number is growing. The Canadian Paediatric Society has called on
physicians to educate and counsel parents and the community about the
importance of healthy active living in combating obesity. The leading
causes of childhood obesity are physical inactivity and poor nutrition.
More than half of Canada's children and youth are not active enough for
optimal growth and development. While physical activity rates have
decreased, time spent on sedentary activities—watching television, using
computers and playing video games—has increased. With a rise in the
prevalence of childhood obesity comes an increased risk for
cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and
several other chronic conditions.
http://www.cps.ca/english/publications/ReleasesAdvisories/JournalHighlig
hts/MayJune2002/MediaReleaseBackgrounder.htm
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INDIA LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE TO VACCINATE CHILDREN AGAINST HEPATITIS B

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India launched a new initiative
earlier this month that will bring the hepatitis B vaccine to children
in slum areas in 15 cities and 32 rural districts. The pilot project
will initially provide hepatitis B vaccination to about two million
eligible infants. The project is to be expanded in a phased manner
during the Tenth Five-Year Plan, so that hepatitis B vaccination can be
integrated into the routine immunization services and strengthen them.
India will receive 4.1 million (US) dollars in assistance over the next
two years from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)
and the Vaccine Fund. Hepatitis B is a significant public health concern
in India. It is estimated that 60% of liver diseases are due to
hepatitis B infection and 80% of liver cancer cases in India are due to
hepatitis B. The challenge of hepatitis B, like AIDS, is that it is
"hidden" and its debilitating impact takes a long time to emerge. The
difference is that there is an effective vaccine for hepatitis B. For
more information, visit: http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr35gavi.htm.
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PAHO 2003 TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

Health professionals in the Americas, who have leadership skills as well
as an intense interest in the international dimensions of health, are
invited to apply for the Pan American Health Organization's 17th
Training Program in International Health (TPIH-2003). The training
process involves participants in a work-study format at PAHO for a
period of 11 months starting January 27, 2003.

Canadian residents can request an application form and a complete
information package via electronic mail to the following address:
[log in to unmask] The duly completed application form must be sent
care of: María-Victoría Palacio, CSIH-PAHO Liaison Assistant, Canadian
Society for International Health, One Nicholas Street, Suite 1105,
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7B7. Deadline for submission of applications: July
31, 2002.

For more information, visit:
http://www.paho.org/English/HSP/HSR/pfsiabout.htm.
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MEASLES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN KENYA

In an effort to prevent 18,000 infant and child deaths this year alone,
Kenya will conduct its first countrywide mass measles vaccination
campaign June 17-23, 2002. The Kenya campaign, with support from the
partners in the Measles Initiative, aims to vaccinate nearly 14 million
children between the ages of nine months and 14 years, about 40 percent
of the country's population. The campaign will result in the prevention
of approximately 18,000 measles deaths annually if all children are
reached. Measles, a highly contagious disease, can quickly spread
through an inadequately vaccinated community. The disease can kill
children directly, or, more often by weakening their immune systems,
making them susceptible to a host of other infections. Globally, measles
kills nearly 1 million children each year, with 450,000 in African
countries alone.  For the full article, visit:
http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr37measles.htm.
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DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS CANADA 2001 ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE

The 2001 Annual Report of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Canada is now
available online.  To read about MSF activities in 2001, visit:
http://www.msf.ca/.
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NEXT WEEK'S SYNERGY ONLINE WILL BE SENT OUT ON TUESDAY!

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