Note from the Editor: Detailed description, accomplishments and future work plans for each of the Membership Committees and Working Groups have been presented in earlier issues of the APHA-IH Section Newsletters and as such are not repeated here. Only new information is included in this issue. Readers are encouraged to see earlier issues of the Newsletter at:
www.apha-ih.org
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Chair: Paul Freeman, freeman.p.a@att.net
Assistant-Chair: Padmini (Mini) Murthy, minimurthy@aol.com
Members: H Azzam, T Baker, G Berggren, M Bryant, E Coates, M Forzley, N Pielemeier, W Reinke, G Sankaran, R Schneider, L Smith, C Swezy
Each year, the International Health Section of APHA recognizes outstanding contributions of its members through several awards. The 2010 year awardees, to be presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting, are:
• Carl Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award in International Health: Dr. Dory Storms
• Mid-Career Award in International Health: Dr. Matthew R Anderson
• Distinguished Section Service Awards: Dr. Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd and Dr. Jirair Ratevosian
• Certificate of Recognition for their Dedicated Service in Support of the International Health Section: Morgan Taylor & Vina Hulamm
• Gordon-Wyon Award: Dr. Rajanikant Arole
• Posthumous Gordon Wyon Award from the Community Based Primary Health Care Working Group: Dr. Carl Taylor
• Student Award: To be determined
--Paul Freeman, freeman.p.a@att.net
BORDER INITIATIVE
In December 2009, the executive director of the United-States-Mexico Border Health Association (USMBHA), Dr. Fernando Gonzalez, called an emergency meeting of the Association's Executive Committee to propose the closing of the 67-year Binational Border Association. Due to a debt of approximately $70,000, their legal council recommended several courses of action. One was to declare bankruptcy, which carried an approximate cost of $25,000, and the other was to close the Association for business and declare it dormant.
The executive director as well as other employees including Project Administrator Mr. Chacon and Project Technical Director Rebeca Ramos urged the Executive Committee to close the Association and leave it dormant for four years. During this time, the employees informed the Executive Committee that anyone could pay the debt and reopen the Association for business. Otherwise, after the four years the debt would be dissolved and a new Association could be formed.
The Executive Committee, President Calixto Seca, First Vice President Dr. Raymundo Lopez Vucovich, Second Vice President Ronald Dutton, Secretary Dr. Elisa Aguilar and Treasurer Dr. Mario Holguin, seemed to be in favor of this decision. However, urged by Ex Officio members, who have a voice but not a vote, they convened the Directing Council of the Association to review a proposal made by the Pan American Health Organization to financially support the Association in order to avoid the closing of this long-standing and important Border institution. This offer was contingent on an independent audit of the debt situation. The Directing Council was formed by the Executive Committee as well as the co-presidents of the Binational Health Councils (there were 16 BHC involving the U.S. Mexico Border sister cities), and the co-presidents of the University Conference and other Groups of local and state health authorities.
Unfortunately, on January 2010 the Directing Council gave a majority vote to close the Association and declare it dormant.
--Maria Teresa Cerqueira, PhD, cerqueim@fep.paho.org
--Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd, PhD, ippolitoshepherdj@yahoo.com
COMMUNITY-BASED PRIMARY CARE WORKING GROUP
Chair: Paul Freeman, freeman.p.a@att.net
Co-Chair: Malcolm Bryant, bryantm@bu.edu
Past Chair: Henry Perry
Secretary: Yana Sigal
List Server Administrator: K. Chitnis
Members: T.Hall, I. Aitken, R. Martin, L. Altobelli, J. Capps, A Hershberger, S. Hoar, E. Kleinau,
S Lamstein, R Mataya, J Mouch, E. Peca, S. Ruiz, Williams, P.Ulrich, C. Teller, T.Reichel, J.Mukair, J.Dettinger, D.Barry, C.McLaughlin. We also have many additional members through our List server.
Other Executive Members: Emily Lavallo, Monica Dyer
Ketan Chitnis (List Server Administrator), H. Perry (Past Chair)
Connie Gates (Administrator of learning resources for CBPHC) Connie@jamkhed.org
Objectives for 2010:
1. To complete and disseminate the results of our research titled The Effectiveness of Community-Based Primary Health Care in Improving Child Health: A Review of the Evidence and Findings from the Field.
2. To improve our promotion of CBPHC.
3. To aid in the re-establishment and administration of the APHA/IH Section Award Program, sponsored by the Colgate-Palmolive Company.
4. To establish a subgroup to develop new policy on CBPHC for submission to APHA.
5. To administer the Gordon-Wyon Award for Community-Oriented Public Health, Epidemiology and Practice.
Progress as of May 2010 - The Effectiveness of Community-Based Primary Health Care in Improving Child Health: A Review of the Evidence
A journal supplement is currently in the process of being prepared for the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. Henry Perry and Paul Freeman are currently polishing the comprehensive tabulation of over 400 articles included in the Review.
Promotion of CBPHC is being followed through small group work. Our resources for CBPHC collection is being maintained by Connie Gates.
This year we heard the bad news that the negotiations by the APHA administration with the Colgate-Palmolive Company, that previously funded small grants for young researchers program in community-based personal hygiene, have stalled over issues of product promotion. As a matter of policy APHA does not endorse any commercial product.
The subgroup to promote CBPHC policy for APHA was established under the leadership of Laura Altobelli and is working toward development of this policy.
This year the Gordon-Wyon Award for Community-Oriented Public Health, Epidemiology and Practice will be awarded to Rajanikant Arole. Rajanikant and Mabelle Arole were the founders of the Jamkhed Comprehensive Rural Health Project. A posthumous Gordon-Wyon Award will also be given to Carl Taylor.
Plans for the remainder of the year
(1) Planning is already progressing towards our pre-APHA Annual Meeting workshop. This year Dr. Henry Taylor and Dr. Henry Perry will lead the workshop focusing on the legacy of Carl Taylor’s lifetime commitment to primary health care, including CBPHC. During the Scientific Sessions of the APHA Annual Meeting there will also be two invited sessions focusing on work flowing from Carl’s leadership. This year is also the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Jamkhed Comprehensive Rural Health Project. Rajanikant and Mabelle Arole, the founders of this project, were students of Carl Taylor. One of the scientific sessions will also focus on the achievements at Jamkhed. Promotion of networking and consultation – especially by young professionals with regards to work in CBPHC - will also be a feature of our workshop and subsequent dinner and meetings during the APHA Annual Meeting.
(2) It is planned to complete the journal supplement for the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition by the end of this year.
(3) Our Working Group on Funding, Research, Programs and Training will continue to make progress on developing an agenda under the title Connecting Partners and Priorities for CBPHC to promote CBPHC.
(4) The subgroup to promote CBPHC policy for APHA will continue working toward development of this policy.
(5) The Gordon-Wyon Awards will be presented at the Section’s Annual Award evening.
--Paul Freeman, freeman.p.a@att.net
GLOBAL HEALTH CONNECTIONS COMMITTEE
Chair: Gopal Sankaran (gsankaran@wcupa.edu) (610-436-2300)
Co-chairs: Hala Azzam (hala_azzam@yahoo.com) and Padmini Murthy (minimurthy@aol.com)
Members: The list is extensive and is available from the Chair
The Global Health Connections Committee (GHCC) thanks all volunteers who kindly provided their valuable time to staff the first ever Welcome Booth for International Attendees of the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting in Philadelphia in November 2009. The GHCC also thanks Georges Benjamin, Executive Director, T. J. McCabe, Director, Convention Services, Morgan Taylor, Global Health Manager, and Vina HuLamm, Global Health Coordinator for making the Welcome Booth a reality at last year’s Annual Meeting. The Welcome Booth provided the volunteers and international attendees with an excellent opportunity to network and form new friendships.
GHCC Goals (2009-2010)
1. Continue to promote collaboration between IH Section and other Sections, SPIGs, Caucuses, Forums and Student Assembly within APHA.
2. Promote collaboration between IH Section and State Affiliates within APHA.
3. Collaborate with other units within APHA to facilitate joint sessions at the Annual Meeting.
4. Continue to keep GHCC members stay connected.
5. Continue to host the International Welcome Desk at the Annual Meeting.
GHCC Conference Calls in 2010
Wednesday, March 24 Noon-1.00pm*
Wednesday, May 5 Noon-1.00pm*
Wednesday, July 7 Noon-1.00pm*
Wednesday, September 1 Noon-1.00pm*
Wednesday, November 3 Noon-1.00pm*
*All Eastern Standard Time/Eastern Daylight Saving Time
--Gopal Sankaran, gsankaran@wcupa.edu
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair: Rose Schneider, rschneider@jhu.edu
Co-Chair: Alison Gernand, agernand@jhsph.edu
Member: Curtiss Swezy
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Chair: Mary Anne Mercer
Members: A Hagopian, M Fort, S Shannon, M Labbok, C Prophete
The 2010 APHA elections for the IH Section included a number of candidates who were new to Section activities and eager to become involved. A total of 10 possible Section Council candidates had to be reduced to a smaller number for the election of only two new Section Council members. However the Governing Council representation from the IH Section has increased this year, from seven members to eight, so a total of five Governing Council members will be elected to take office at the end of the 2010 Annual Meeting. The chair-elect, a very important position for the Section, will also be elected this year. Nominations were due as of the end of February, and the online election was held in May.
Serving as an officer in the IH Section is a great way to get to know other members of the Section and become involved in the Section activities. The Nominations Committee solicits candidates for office and presents them to the administration of APHA, which organizes an election of officers every spring. The goals for the APHA IH Nominations Committee include selecting qualified, well-matched candidates for the routine elections.
--Mary Anne Mercer, mamercer@u.washington.edu
PHARMACEUTICALS WORKING GROUP
Chair: Maggie Huff-Rousselle, mhuffrousselle@ssds.net
Vice-Chair: Annette De Mattos, ademattos@ssds.net
The APHA Rx Interest/Working group (formed within the IH Section) and the Drug Policy and Pharmacy Services (DPPS) Committee (formed within the Medical Care Section) collaborated by reaching out to other sections within the APHA last year especially, Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs, Gerontological Health, and the Trade & Health Forum. A flier was developed and distributed listing various Section presentations at the Annual Meeting that had a focus on pharmaceuticals. The goal was to provide a comprehensive listing of Rx related sessions to all those interested in pharmaceutical issues, ranging from trade agreements to the effects of pharmaceuticals specifically and the pharmaceutical industry generally on public health. We listed all the relevant posters and illustrative sessions included “Global Pharmaceutical Issues” by APHA Rx (IH Section), “Public Health Strategies to address Trade and Trade Policy” by the Trade and Health Forum and “Evidence Based Prescribing and Conflicts of Interest in Drug Policy & Pharmacy Services” by DPPS.
The current leadership of APHA Rx includes Maggie Huff-Rousselle, President of Social Sectors Development Strategies, and Robert Eilers, Medical Director, Dept. of Human Services, State of New Jersey, as co-chairs, and both are active members of the DPPS within the Medical Care section.
The primary goals of both APHA Rx and DPPS are collaboration and communication in aid of bringing issues of pharmaceuticals and public health pharmacy to the entire Association. Both APHA Rx and DPP S will continue to work with other sections for the 2010 Annual Meeting to bring together researchers, professionals and administrators with common interests in areas such as national drug policies (domestic & international), international trade & health, industry structure and politics, and biomedical ethics.
--Maggie Huff-Rousselle, mhuffrousselle@ssds.net
--Annette De Mattos, ademattos@ssds.net
POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Chair: Jirair Ratevosian <jratevosian@gmail.com>
The year 2010 has been a busy time already for the IH Section’s advocacy efforts. The IH Section solicited and summarized input from the full Section membership on a Consultation Document for President Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI). Through the GHI, the administration proposes to shape a new, comprehensive global health strategy by partnering with host countries to improve health outcomes through strengthened health systems – “with a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children through programs including infectious disease, nutrition, maternal and child health, and safe water.” On Feb. 22, with the guidance of the IH Section Advocacy/Policy Committee, APHA submitted comments and policy recommendation from IH members on the GHI blueprint. Implementation of the GHI is expected in early April, and the Advocacy/Policy Committee will be working to ensure its effective and equitable rollout.
Additionally, the IH Section endorsed two policy paper resolutions being proposed for APHA adoption at the Denver Annual Meeting. MPH students at the University of Washington produced these papers after studying nuclear waste production and transportation policy in the United States. The students worked with the Environmental Health and Occupational Health & Safety sections, along with our own, to move the resolutions forward. Both papers recognize the substantial roles of Indian nations in these issues (see summaries below).
-Interstate Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel is a Public Health Concern - This 13-page paper (citing 65 references) begins by briefly describing the history of APHA's positions on nuclear issues, and summarizes the policy positions: APHA should call for 1) Eliminating the transport of spent nuclear fuel (SNF); 2) Minimizing the transport of SNF; 3) Ensuring, when necessary, that transport of SNF is conducted safely.
-The Role of Public Health Practitioners, Academics and Advocates in Ensuring Health and Safety at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation - This 16-page paper (citing 41 references) aims to guide APHA on the issue of hazardous waste cleanup at Hanford. The last APHA position paper on nuclear waste cleanup was adopted in 1989, and this paper provides an update, while providing the scientific basis and justification for ensuring cleanup at Hanford is done in a timely manner and with adequate oversight.
-- Jirair Ratevosian <jratevosian@gmail.com>
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Chair: Omar Khan, okhan.jhsph@jhu.edu
Co-Chair: Mike Bailey, mbailey@jhuccp.org
Committee Members:
Carlos Castillo-Salgado ccastill@jhsph.edu
Elvira Berocachea Elvira@midego.com
Malcolm Bryant bryantm@bu.edu
Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd ippolitoshepherdj@yahoo.com
Dory Storms dstorms@jhsph.edu
We received 407 abstracts for review.
Our program comprises:
• Nine poster sessions (10 posters each = 90 posters)
• Forty-one paper sessions (4-5 papers each = approx. 175 papers)
• IH Business meetings, two sub-group working group meetings, 1 workshop, 1 social, 1 lunch
• IH film festival (usually three full sessions)
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
111.0 Workshop on Community-Based Primary Health Care
Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
231.0 Global Health Connections Business Meeting (Gopal Sankaran)
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
251.0 International Health Business Meeting 1
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
2064.0 Poster Session 1: Innovations in International Health
Monday, Nov. 8, 2010
6:30 a.m.-8:00 a.m.
303.0 International Health Business Meeting 2
8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
3042.0 Health Workers in Conflict: The role of health workers in conflict and post-conflict settings
3043.0 Gedenkschrift for Carl Taylor: His Contributions to Social Justice through the Promotion of Primary Health Care
3044.0 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Quality Improvement
3045.0 Nutrition and Malnutrition
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
3099.0 The Right to Development and the Millennium Development Goals
3130.0 Advocacy in Action: Mobilizing an International Public Health Campaign
3131.0 International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) : Lessons Learned
3131.2 Social Justice in health and health care delivery: International Perspectives
3131.3 International Perspectives in Occupational and Environmental Health (organized by IH, OH and ENV Sections)
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
3159.0 International Human Rights Committee Student Poster Session
12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
3220.0 Innovations in International Health
3221.0 International Environmental Health Issues
3222.0 Reproductive Health & Family Planning 1
3223.0 Building Partnerships and Coalitions for better International Programs
2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
3322.0 Emerging Infectious Diseases including Avian & Pandemic Influenza
3323.0 International Health Communication/ Behavior Change Communication
3324.0 Child Survival & Child Health 1
3325.0 Strengthening Health Systems in Developing Settings 1
3326.0 Act Global, Think Local: Domestic applications of international health lessons
3327.0 Displaced Populations & Refugee Health
4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
3405.0 HIV/AIDS 1
3406.0 MDGs At 2015 and Beyond : Lessons For the Future
6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
333.0 International Health Section Awards & Social Event
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010
8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
4040.0 Student Practicums in International Health - Experiences, Results, and Reflections
4041.0 Neglected Tropical Diseases / Neglected Zoonoses (organized jointly by International Health and the Veterinary SPIG)
4042.0 Leading innovations in Afghanistan's health system architecture
4043.0 Global Pharmaceutical issues
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
4104.0 Best practices: Strengthening the public sector and integrating care to improve health in low-income countries
4105.0 Student Panel
4106.0 Aid Effectiveness: Accounting and Measuring Effectiveness
12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
4197.0 International Health Programs & Policy
4198.0 Creating Social Justice and Addressing the Right to Health through Translational Research in Reproductive Health
4199.0 Child Survival & Child Health 2
2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
4285.0 Carl Taylor Memorial Session 2: SEED-SCALE Methodology
4286.0 Community Based Primary Health Care
4287.0 Careers in Global Health
4288.0 HIV/AIDS 2
3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
4324.0 Poster Session 2: Social Justice in International Health
4325.0 Poster Session 3: IH Partnerships & Coalitions
4326.0 Poster Session 4: HIV/AIDS
4327.0 Poster Session 5: IH Programs & Policy
4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
421.0 Community-Based Primary Health Care Working Group
6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
427.0 International Health Business Meeting 3
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
5013.0 Poster Session 6: RH & FP
5014.0 Poster Session 8: Women’s Health
5015.0 Poster Session 9: Innovations in International Health 2
5016.0 Poster Session 7: Health Systems
8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
5054.0 Strengthening Health Systems in Developing Settings 2
5055.0 Systems Thinking
5056.0 Women’s Health
5057.0 Malaria & Vector-Borne Diseases
5058.0 Health Promotion in the Academic Setting: International Experiences
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
5114.0 Tuberculosis (including joint TB/HIV programs)
5115.0 Training, human resource development and workforce issues
5116.0 Reproductive Health & Family Planning 2
5117.0 International Health & Human Rights
12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
5167.0 International Health Luncheon
View the 2010 APHA/IH Program at: http://apha.confex.com/apha/138am/webprogram/IH.html
-- Omar Khan and Mike Bailey ih.apha@gmail.com
TRADE AND HEALTH LIAISON WORKING GROUP
Chair: Mary Anne Mercer, mamercer@u.washington.edu
The Forum on Trade and Health was created because of widespread interest and concern regarding the adverse impact of international trade agreements (such as NAFTA, CAFTA, and GATS) on public health, both internationally and within the United States. As a Forum, we work to educate APHA members about the impact of trade issues on public health, and to protect public health priorities in international trade policy. Our goal is to develop and promote policies that advance economic development while sustaining life, healthy societies and the environment, and to advocate for policies that improve access to affordable, accountable vital human services, including health care, water and sanitation, education and energy.
The interests and concerns of Forum members include the impact of free trade agreements on access to medicines and intellectual property rules, tobacco control policies, the migration of health care professionals, corporate social responsibility, occupational health and safety, and the role of states, localities and public health advocates in trade policy making. Activities of the past year have focused on advocating for strong public health representation on the U.S. Trade Representative’s advisory committees. A Forum officer, Ellen Shaffer, testified before Congress on the need for a public health presence on all three tiers of trade advisory committees, given that health-related industries are so robustly represented on the trade advisory committees, including pharmaceuticals, tobacco, health insurance, processed foods, and alcohol beverages). She also advocated for pending legislation that would establish a Public Health Advisory Committee on Trade (PHACT). That testimony can be read online at: http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/shaffer.pdf
Other forum interests, activities and publications this past year have included working conditions in the global electronics industry, access to medicines as a result of CAFTA, and the effects of intellectual property rules on access to medicines.
The Forum holds a quarterly teleconference call that includes an informational presentation as well as discussion of business. Maggie Huff-Rouselle was one of the quarterly presenters, speaking on access to medicines as a trade issue. The Forum welcomes new participants from any Section.
--Mary Anne Mercer, mamercer@u.washington.edu