Synergy Online – February 2007
  Also available on the web: >>http://www.csih.org/synergy/synergy.html
  In this issue:
  * Canadian International Immunization Initiative (CIII) Overseas Opportunities 
* Director, Centre for International Child Health
* 2007 Summer Institute of Population Health - Call For Applications 
* Neurological disorders affect millions globally says WHO report
* Médecins Sans Frontières brings aid to displaced people in Mozambique 
* World Health Day Challenge Today 
* St. Paul’s University Conference on Conflict and Health - The Imperative for Response and Prevention 
* CSIH invited to Harper Government’s announcement of funding for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Research
* Canadian Conference on International Health 2007
  
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  Canadian International Immunization Initiative (CIII) Overseas Opportunities: 
The Canadian International Immunization Initiative (CIII) is seeking public health nurses, physicians, epidemiologists and data managers with extensive experience in the areas of immunization, disease surveillance, epidemiology, and data management. CIII offers the opportunity to work overseas (Africa and Asia) on polio eradication and/or routine immunization programs for three months, starting May 2006. The ability to work in French and other languages with intercultural experiences are strong assets. For the selected professionals CIII will cover all related expenses. These opportunities are considered on the voluntary basis. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.  For more information and to apply, visit http://www.cpha.ca/programs/ciii/en/index.html or send your CV with three references at [log in to unmask]
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  Director, Centre for International Child Health:
The Centre for International Child Health (CICH) at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) was established in 2003 in collaboration with the University of British Columbia.  The Centre is committed to contributing globally to improve health outcomes for children and youth through engaging the faculty, staff and trainees in international training programs, innovative clinical programs and research collaborations. CICH is committed to lasting partnerships of mutual benefit that build on opportunity and that strengthen the infrastructure that supports the health and well-being of children and youth. An outstanding opportunity exists for a leader in international child health to demonstrate vision and commitment in building outstanding programs focused on global child health.  The successful candidate will have senior level experience in the international child health community and a strong research and educational background.  Interested applicants should send a covering letter, CV and
 names and contact information for 3 references by March 31, 2007 to PHSA Specialty Recruitment, Suite 800 - 1441 Creekside Drive, Vancouver, B.C.  V6J 4S7, [log in to unmask] or call 1-866-744-7363.
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  2007 Summer Institute of Population Health - Call For Applications: 
We are pleased to announce the 6th annual Summer Institute to be hosted by the Population Health Intervention Research Centre of the University of Calgary. The major funders of the Summer Institute are the Institute of Population and Public Health and the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, along with the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Dr Penny Hawe, the Director of the Population Health Intervention Research Centre, is the chair of planning committee.  We invite applications from students in graduate training and post-doctoral fellows in health services and policy or population and public health research. The deadline for applications is March 20, 2007. For more information, please visit the CIHR website at http://www.cihr-rsc.gc.ca/e/33460.html.
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  Neurological disorders affect millions globally says WHO report:
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that neurological disorders, ranging from epilepsy to Alzheimer disease, from stroke to headache, affect up to one billion people worldwide. Neurological disorders also include brain injuries, neuroinfections, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease.  The report, Neurological disorders: Public health challenges, reveals that of the one billion people affected worldwide, 50 million suffer from epilepsy and 24 million from Alzheimer and other dementias. Neurological disorders affect people in all countries, irrespective of age, sex, education or income.  An estimated 6.8 million people die every year as a result of neurological disorders. Access to appropriate care is difficult for many people with neurological disorders, their families and caregivers. WHO advocates for the integration of neurological care into primary health care. For many people, primary health care is the only access to medical care they have. In
 these settings, doctors can use low-technology interventions. Community-based rehabilitation is also an option.  As the global population ages, the impact of neurological disorders will be felt both in developed and developing countries. The report recommends a series of simple but effective actions. It argues for greater commitment from decision makers, increased social and professional awareness, strategies that address stigma and discrimination, national capacity building and international collaboration.  For more information on the report, see www.who.int.
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  Médecins Sans Frontières brings aid to displaced people in Mozambique: 
The extent of the floods this year in Mozambique is larger due to the heavy rainfall in neighbouring countries. The dams are not coping well with the volume of water and are discharging excessively into the Zambeze basin.  Preparedness plans are apparently efficient; local and provincial capacity exists but is reaching its limits due to the number of sites where internally displaced persons are gathered.  The main objective of MSF operations is to provide basic assistance for a period of one to two months to the population displaced by the floods. MSF Hill provide clean and drinkable water to the displaced, distribute plastic sheeting to build temporary shelters, and provide much needed items such as bucket kits (including jerry cans, kitchen and hygiene items, blankets and bed nets) to guarantee minimal hygienic conditions in the camps.  MSF will also set up a surveillance system in the health posts to detect malnutrition and epidemic diseases like measles and diarrhea
 related diseases including cholera.  For more information on these initiatives, see www.msf.ca. 
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  World Health Day Challenge:
Last World Health Day, on April 7th, 2006, more than 60 physicians and health practitioners across Canada demonstrated their commitment to overcoming poverty in Africa by donating part or all of their day’s income to Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief’s (CPAR’s) first annual World Health Day Challenge.  This year the organization is hoping to see at least 100 physicians take the Challenge. The World Health Day Challenge has not only garnered the support of physicians, but a wide variety of health practitioners ranging from social workers, to nurses are also participating in the Challenge because they believe that the global community has a part to play in supporting health and development beyond the geographic boundaries of their communities – especially in rural Africa.  CPAR’s World Health Day Challenge is partly inspired by the efforts of Dr. N. Kevin Wade, a Vancouver-based ophthalmologist who donated an entire day of his medical service payment plans to CPAR in
 September 2002 and again in September 2005. CPAR works with local rural African communities to develop primary health care, income generating, natural resource management and peace building programs in support of a vision where ‘health’ is created and sustained by the environmental, economic and social well-being of a community. Founded in 1984, CPAR works in partnership with vulnerable communities and diverse organizations to overcome poverty and build healthy communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.  For more information, see www.cpar.ca.
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  St Paul University Conference on Conflict and Health - The Imperative for Response & Prevention: 
This one day conference will provide a unique opportunity to exchange insights from clinical experience in a highly interactive forum, learn effective strategies to break down communication barriers with patients affected by war and conflict, and acquire practical skills to allow more effective clinical care of these patients. It will be of interest to physicians of all disciplines working with immigrants, refugees, military members, those with interests in development, public health, international and community health, and those interested in providing effective advocacy in response to conflict.  The conference will take place at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa on March 30, 2007.  For information, see [log in to unmask]
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  CSIH invited to Harper Government’s announcement of funding for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Research:
On Tuesday, February 20th, Prime Minister Harper announced that they would be collaborating with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI), a new effort to accelerate the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine and address critical research gaps identified by the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise.  Prime Minister Harper and Bill Gates invited a group of approximately 40 Government representatives, academia and NGOs to witness the announcement made on Parliament Hill.  The Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) was one of the selected few development agencies working in the field of global health and HIV/AIDS who were invited to participate in this announcement. Lori Jones, Director of Special Projects, represented CSIH at this exclusive event.  Canada’s Government is committing up to $111 million to the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative, and the Gates Foundation will provide up to $28 million. The initiative will support
 Canadian researchers and institutions to work with collaborators around the world, including in developing countries, on a range of HIV vaccine research activities.  CSIH applauds the Federal Government in its commitment to accelerating the development of a vaccine and contributing to the global effort of providing safe, effective and affordable solutions for the millions of HIV/AIDS sufferers around the world. 
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  Canadian Conference on International Health 2007: 
The 2007 Canadian Conference on International health will be held from November 4-7, 2007 at the Marriott Hotel, Ottawa, Canada.  The conference, entitled Global Change and Health: Who Are the Vulnerable? will focus on threats to health from these changes, factors increasing vulnerability, and ways of responding to challenges, and their results.  There is increasing recognition that the impact of human activity is reshaping our world: 
o Ecological systems that support life and have evolved over millennia are being dramatically affected by increases in greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, extreme weather events, and the loss of ecological biodiversity with potentially dramatic implications for global health. 
o Changes in land use, deforestation, use and transnational dumping of toxic substances and antimicrobials are introducing new health risks. 
o Social systems that support equitable distribution are being undermined by the globalized economy. Government’s role in providing essential health and education services and infrastructure is being diminished while growing populations face increasing poverty. 
o Poverty has grown, and the disparity between the poor and the few with unprecedented wealth leaves an increasingly marginalized middle class and accelerates transnational and national inequalities with implications for social determinants of health and emerging epidemics. 
o Global Governance must address these challenges with policies and programs even as global health funding is increasingly derived from private philanthropy that is essentially outside of publicly accountable governance structures. 
The call for abstracts will be available by March 2nd, 2007 at www.csih.org or email [log in to unmask] . The deadline is May 30th, 2007. 
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