Synergy Online -- July 31, 2003

Synergy Online is also available on the Web!
http://www.csih.org/synergy/synergy.html

In this issue:
-ATTENTION CSIH MEMBERS: ELECTION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
-WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL STEPS UP GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION EFFORT
-UNICEF DIRECTOR GENERAL VISITS POLIO’S LAST STAND IN AFRICA
-UN LAUNCHES $530 MILLION APPEAL TO SAVE 6.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN
AFRICA
-CANADA BOOSTS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO LIBERIA AND NEIGHBOURING
COUNTRIES
-JOB OPPORTUNITY: NATIONAL PROGRAMS CONSULTANT, CANADIAN AIDS SOCIETY
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ATTENTION CSIH MEMBERS: ELECTION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Every two years, the Canadian Society for International Health holds
elections for the Board of Directors. This is an exciting opportunity
for members to become involved in providing leadership and overall
direction to the society.  Board members need to be dedicated to
international health and development, have the time to attend at least
four Board meetings a year [some by teleconference], and sit on the
Society's various sub-committees and task forces.

Persons nominated should be prepared to serve for a two-year term and
participate in the next meeting of the Board, which will be held October
24-25, 2003, in Ottawa, just prior to the 10th Canadian Conference on
International Health.  The Society covers all expenses related to
participation in Board meetings.

Board members are responsible for:
•       establishing policies and strategic directions for the Society;
•       safeguarding the Society's assets;
•       serving as a contact with the membership of the Society;
•       representing the Society to policy makers and others interested
in international health;
•       participating in, and chairing when necessary, committees of the
Society;
•       assisting in the recruitment and retention of members;
•       participating in all Board meetings - two face-to-face meetings
each year, usually on weekends in June and October, and two one-to-two
hour teleconference meetings, usually in March and September.

The call for nominations and nomination forms for the Board elections
are presently in the mail to you.  Please watch your mail for this
documentation or you may visit our website at www.csih.org.  All
nominees and their nominators must be members in good standing of CSIH.
Deadline for receiving completed nomination forms is 5:00 p.m. EDT,
Friday, September 5th, 2003.   Faxed or e-mailed forms will be accepted.
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WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL STEPS UP GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION EFFORT

New WHO Director-General Dr Jong-Wook Lee has announced plans to rapidly
step up the global effort to eradicate polio as the program enters a
critical phase. From the end of August to December, the key endemic
countries will conduct mass immunization campaigns aimed at reaching a
total of 175 million children. Success in eradicating polio depends on
the success of these campaigns in India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Egypt.
“Polio eradication is a top priority," Dr. Lee says. "I want to see this
disease gone once and for all. We have eliminated it from almost every
country in the world. Now is the time to boost our action and resolve,
and wipe it out everywhere.” For the full press release, visit:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/pr60/en/
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UNICEF DIRECTOR GENERAL VISITS POLIO’S LAST STAND IN AFRICA

Last week, UNICEF’s Executive Director Carol Bellamy told the Nigerian
government that the eradication of polio in Africa is close, but still
hangs in the balance in Nigeria’s northern states.  Nigeria, Africa’s
most populous nation, is the epicentre of the last battle to eradicate
polio from the African continent.  It is one of only four countries in
Africa, and one of only seven in the world, where the poliovirus
continues to circulate.  Over 90 per cent of all cases of polio in
Africa are now reported in Nigeria.  An intense vaccination program,
supported by the Nigerian government, UNICEF and its partners in the
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (Rotary International, the U.S.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO), has seen the disease
confined to the north of the country.  There, however, it maintains a
tenacious grip, causing importations into other countries and
threatening the whole of West Africa.  For further details, visit:
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_12203.html
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UN LAUNCHES $530 MILLION APPEAL TO SAVE 6.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN
AFRICA

The United Nations has launched an appeal for more than half a billion
dollars for southern Africa to provide life-saving assistance for 6.5
million people severely weakened by consecutive failed harvests, extreme
poverty and HIV/AIDS. The 2003-2004 Regional Consolidated Appeal (CAP),
bringing together eight UN agencies with NGOs and the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC), is seeking $530 million – $320 million for
food and $210 million for other aid – for 6.5 million vulnerable people
in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In
addition to food aid, the 12-month appeal also seeks to fund water and
sanitation, agriculture, education and health projects. For the press
release, visit:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=7854&Cr=southern&Cr1=africa

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CANADA BOOSTS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO LIBERIA AND NEIGHBOURING
COUNTRIES

Canada will contribute an additional $1.75 million in humanitarian
assistance to Liberia and neighbouring countries, bringing the total
Canadian contribution to the region since last year to over $8.4
million. The funding will be provided through the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA), and will contribute to initiatives to assist
internally displaced persons and refugees. For further information,
visit:
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/dccfe1952450f552852568db00555b47
/ecfbbb01bb5475b385256d71006fbb44?OpenDocument
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JOB OPPORTUNITY: NATIONAL PROGRAMS CONSULTANT, CANADIAN AIDS SOCIETY

The Canadian AIDS Society is seeking a National Programs Consultant
(bilingual preferred) for a 7-month contract position with a possibility
of extension at its national office in Ottawa.  The consultant's primary
responsibility will be to undertake research and policy development and
implement national initiatives in advocacy, community development and
member group support. Work priorities and activities will be determined
by the strategic areas in the annual workplan and in consultation with
the Director of Programs. Specific responsibilities will include
preparing briefs and reports, consulting with member groups and other
stakeholders, liaising with government representatives and representing
the Canadian AIDS Society on national committees and at meetings. The
application deadline is August 8, 2003. For further details, visit:
http://www.charityvillage.com/applicant/jobs.asp?fn=view&g_varID=12283&l
ang=EN
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