Synergy Online – September 11, 2003

 

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

 

In this issue:

-THE NORTH-SOUTH INSTITUTE AT WTO MEETINGS IN CANCUN

-NSI RELEASES REPORT AT WTO MEETINGS IN CANCUN

-CANADIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW CEO 

-WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL CALLS FOR URGENT TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS IN
AFRICA

–10TH CCIH: SIGN UP NOW FOR EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION RATES!

- JOIN THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGISTRY!

 

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THE NORTH-SOUTH INSTITUTE AT WTO MEETINGS IN CANCUN

Trade Researchers from The North-South Institute are on-site in Cancun
to monitor and provide analysis of the meetings and to launch several
new publications which highlight key issues of the World Trade
Organization (WTO) negotiations.

View the entire release at:
http://www.nsi-ins.ca/ensi/news_views/news54.html

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NSI RELEASES REPORT AT WTO MEETINGS IN CANCUN

The Reality of Trade, a report edited by Chantal Blouin, NSI Researcher
on Trade and Development, is being launched during a Roundtable in
Cancun. In The Reality of Trade report, contributors from the South and
the North document and evaluate the impact of the trade agreements which
came out of the last round of trade negotiations. View the document in
pdf at:

http://www.nsi-ins.ca/ensi/pdf/Reality_of_Trade.pdf

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CANADIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION APPOINTS NEW CEO 

After 30 years as CEO of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA),
Gerry Dafoe is leaving the position at the end of December this year.
He hopes is to continue to work in the health sector and particularly in
public health. He will be succeeded by Dr. Elinor Wilson, currently with
the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, who will take over the CEO's
responsibilities at CPHA on December 1, 2003. Dr. Wilson's appointment
will be posted on the CPHA website (http://www.cpha.ca) shortly. 

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WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL CALLS FOR URGENT TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS IN
AFRICA

HIV/AIDS is a “catastrophe” and people affected need urgent access to
treatment, said Dr LEE Jong-Wook, Director-General of the World Health
Organization (WHO) in a recent speech in Johannesburg, South Africa, to
health ministers from the WHO African Region (AFRO).  Dr. Lee was giving
his first address to the WHO African Regional Committee, which meets
annually to review and set public health policy directions for the 46
countries in the AFRO Region.

“The greatest challenge facing us now is the challenge of HIV/AIDS. In
the African Region, more than 30 million people are HIV-positive. People
are dying every day. They urgently need treatment,” said Dr Lee. He
stressed that treatment must be offered as part of a strategy which
includes prevention and care. Dr Lee emphasized WHO’s “3 by 5” plan --
to provide three million people living with AIDS with antiretroviral
medicines by the end of 2005. Countries in Africa would be major
partners in this effort. “Overall success will require the commitment of
civil society, United Nations agencies, the private sector and Member
States.”

Dr Lee also stressed the need to ensure that women can give birth
safely. “Protection during pregnancy, childbearing and motherhood forms
the core of the health system. Half a million women die every year
giving birth. Skilled attendants are needed in pregnancy and childbirth,
with access to emergency obstetric care when complications arise.”

Child survival is also a major priority. “Despite the struggle of
parents for their children's survival, 10 million children in low- and
middle-income countries die every year before reaching the age of five,”
said Dr Lee. “Seven million of those deaths are from five preventable
and treatable conditions: pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, measles and
malnutrition.”

“Malaria is the number one killer of children under five years old on
the African continent. It remains a titanic health problem, and we have
to do much more,” said Dr Lee. Malaria kills an estimated 3,000 children
on the African continent every day.

Dr Lee emphasized that as disease control efforts are scaled-up, health
systems must be strengthened. He noted that doctors, nurses, laboratory
technicians and other health workers were crucial to this effort. “We
face big challenges, particularly in this Region which, on top of
everything else, suffers heavy losses to the brain drain. It is, above
all, good staff that will enable us to reach "3 by 5", and achieve the
Millennium Development Goals, and everyone is short of human resources.”

“We will be working closely with countries on innovative methods to
train, deploy and supervise health workers, with particular emphasis on
the community and primary health care level. That is where we can make
the swiftest progress in getting results, but we cannot neglect the
needs of hospitals and laboratories in the process.” 

Overall, WHO vows to support countries in strengthening their public
health efforts.  Dr Lee is pledging more resources for the WHO country
offices, including more specialists. “Strengthening our work in
countries is by far the most effective way to achieve our goals.”

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JOIN THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGISTRY!

Join the Canadian Society for International Health's on-line Canadian
International Health Registry! Professionals seeking employment and
volunteer opportunities in health and development can let CSIH's
contacts work for them.  At the request of potential employers
(organizations, institutions and private firms), CSIH carries out a
search of the directory for an expert with specific knowledge or skills.
Let us help you connect! http://209.87.224.165/csih-reg/eReg1.asp 

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10TH CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTH: SIGN UP NOW FOR
EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION RATES!

The 10th Canadian Conference on International Health (CCIH) will be held
in Ottawa October 26-29, 2003.  The theme of this year's conference is
"The Right to Health: Influencing the Global Agenda.  How Research,
Advocacy and Action Can Shape Our Future."  Register now for early-bird
rates! Reduced pre-registration dates end September 19, 2003!  Visit:
http://www.csih.org/what/conferences2003.html

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