Synergy Online – April 4, 2002

In this edition:
-CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: REEBOK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2003
-CANADA FUNDS ABORIGINAL HEALTH RESEARCH INITIATIVE
-JOIN THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGISTRY
-HEALTH CANADA LAUNCHES WEB SITE PROMOTING WORLD HEALTH DAY
-CANADA’S RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE IN AFGHANISTAN
-UN CONDEMNS THE DETENTION OF HEALTH WORKERS IN SUDAN
-NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK
-THE SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING: A WORLD FOR ALL AGES
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: REEBOK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2003

The Reebok Human Rights Award recognizes young people who are in the
forefront of the fight for human rights around the world.  In addition
to a $50,000 grant, the Award brings national and international
attention to the recipient's work, gives moral support to the recipient,
and connects them to a network of 67 past recipients in 35 countries.
Candidates must be 30 years of age or younger, must not advocate
violence or belong to an organization that advocates violence, and must
be actively working, often against great odds, on some aspect of human
rights as defined by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.  Nominations must be received by the Reebok Human Rights Award
Program no later than May 31, 2002.  For nomination information, visit:
http://www.reebok.com/Reebok/US/HumanRights/awards/application2.html
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CANADA FUNDS ABORIGINAL HEALTH RESEARCH INITIATIVE

The Government of Canada will provide $3 million for an Ottawa
Aboriginal training centre.  The centre, one of four centres across
Canada, is part of a program designed to increase the number of
Aboriginal people engaged in health research. "There are great
disparities in the health status of Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals in
Canada," said Mr. Bélanger, MP for Ottawa-Vanier speaking on behalf of
Health Minister Anne McLennan. "Finding solutions to addressing these
serious problems is of the utmost importance, and research, by
Aboriginals for Aboriginals, will be one of the key elements in
developing viable and durable solutions."  The centre will promote the
use of modern epidemiology in the planning and governance of Aboriginal
community health services. It will also build research capacities that
strengthen the role of Aboriginal voices in health planning.
http://www.cihr.ca/news/press_releases/02/pr-0206_e.shtml
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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.  Add your
name today!  http://209.87.224.165/CSIH-Reg/ihregEnroll-e1.asp
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HEALTH CANADA LAUNCHES WEB SITE PROMOTING WORLD HEALTH DAY

Health Canada has launched a new Web site to promote World Health Day on
April 7, 2002.  This new site features many resources that community
leaders can use to plan and promote their celebrations.  The theme of
this year's World Health Day - in recognition of the importance of
physical activity to health - is “Move for Health”.  World Health Day is
celebrated each year on April 7th by the 191 member countries of the
World Health Organization (WHO). Visit the new site at:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/whd/index.html
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CANADA’S RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE IN AFGHANISTAN

Canada will provide $100,000 in emergency assistance to the
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) to come to the aid of victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan.
The IFRC is dispatching an International Field Assessment and
Coordination Team to the affected area and is also providing support to
the Afghan Red Crescent Society, which has two emergency medical units
at the scene of the disaster. Canada's funds are being used to
distribute tents, blankets, plastic sheeting, kitchen sets and jerry
cans.  For further details, visit:
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/852562900065549a85256250006cbb1a
/0bb6c9b436fac0d285256b89007b7fdc?OpenDocument
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UN CONDEMNS THE DETENTION OF HEALTH WORKERS IN SUDAN

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) have condemned the recent detention of fourteen
health workers in Sudan, saying the incident represents a major setback
to the polio eradication effort in Sudan and other countries affected by
conflict. The health workers were conducting vaccination activities in
southern Sudan as part of the global effort to eradicate polio when they
were arrested in Nyingol, near Malakal Town, on 15 March by members of
the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Three of the vaccinators were
assaulted, including a female worker who was badly beaten. All of their
vaccination equipment and personal effects were looted. The detained
health workers were all released on 23 March.
The March 2002 nationwide vaccination campaign in Sudan would have been
the first time, since the polio eradication effort started there in
1994, that polio vaccines would have reached all children throughout the
country within a period of several days. Most regrettably, the detention
of the health workers and an impasse among the warring parties over
access to the Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile State disrupted the
campaign.  For the full story, visit:
http://www.unicef.org/newsline/02pr11a-sudan.htm
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NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

It is National Sleep Awareness Week from April 1-7, 2002.  When sleep is
neglected, people experience sleep debt.  People sleep more on days off
to repay this debt, and chronic sleep deprivation results in health
problems.  Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the airway becomes blocked
and breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. The Canadian Lung
Association warns that the effects of the lack of sleep caused by sleep
apnea can be devastating.  Are you getting enough sleep?  Take a
sleepiness test at the Canadian Lung Association’s Web site to see if
you show symptoms of sleep apnea. Visit http://www.lung.ca/ to take the
test or to learn more about National Sleep Awareness week.
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THE SECOND WORLD ASSEMBLY ON AGEING: BUILDING A SOCIETY FOR ALL AGES

Facing the prospect of momentous demographic changes that may see the
number of people over 60 outnumbering those under 15 within the next
half-century, an upcoming United Nations forum on ageing issues will
look at ways of creating a world hospitable for citizens of all ages.
The Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid, Spain, will take place
from April 8-12, 2002, in recognition of the importance of aging issues.
The first assembly was held over 20 years ago.  This year, there will be
a greater focus during the Assembly on the problems of the developing
countries. In contrast to the developed world, where adjustments in the
economy, health care, housing and social relations to demographic
changes took place over the last 100 years, the developing world will
have to learn to cope with the same transformations in just the next 25
years with far less resources. For more information on the Assembly,
visit: http://www.un.org/ageing/.  For the full article, visit:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=3237&Cr=ageing&Cr1=
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