APHA has a long-standing commitment to global health and was one of the first U.S. non-governmental organizations to become involved in this field.
Since the early 1970s, APHA has had its own program in global health and has collaborated with other organizations to promote better health in other countries around the world. For more information on the history of global health at APHA, please see the published booklet entitled Growth of International Health: An Analysis and History.
As the leading professional association that promotes and protects the health of all people, our diverse membership includes representation from over 100 countries!
Across the association, APHA promotes global health through various programs, activities, and partnerships.
International Human Rights Committee (IHRC)
The International Human Rights Committee is a 10-member group reporting to the Executive Board of the American Public Health Association (APHA), focusing on issues around international health and human rights. The purpose of the Committee is to provide a forum to convene health professionals, lawyers, scholars, students, and others in the field to come together to discuss and act on human rights issues impacting public health.
For more information about the committee, visit: http://www.apha.org/about/gov/humanrightscom/
International Health Section
The International Health Section, an active community of 1,600 international health professionals based in the U.S. and overseas, was founded in 1976 to provide leadership and a focus on international public health issues within APHA. It is one of APHA’s 29 discipline-based Sections. Members can connect with the Section by visiting their web page.
International Trade and Health Forum
The forum convenes members with an interest and concern regarding the adverse impacts from international trade agreements (such as NAFTA, CAFTA, and GATS) on public health, both internationally and within the United States. Additionally, the Forum works to educate APHA members about the impact of trade issues on public health, and to protect public health priorities in international trade policy. Learn more about the forum.
Partners
APHA works collaboratively with its key partners in global health including: the Pan-American Health Organization, Global Health Council, United Nations Council of Organizations, and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Global Health Events and Webinars:
MDG Achievement Fund and Latin America from Thursday, May 18th, 2013
An event focusing on the development of Latin American nations through their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how they have made many achievements with and MDG fund was met with great praise at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Ambassador of Peru, Harold Forsyth, boasted many great achievements over a 10 year period in Peru as part of the MDGs:
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Reduction of poverty from 54.8% to 27.8% over 10 years
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Child malnutrition falling from 25.4% to 15.2%
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Maternity mortality falling from 265 to 93 deaths per 100,000
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76% of clean drinking water accessible in 2011
Ambassador Forsyth gave a wealth of information as to the amazing progress Peru has had over the past decade through the MDGs, highlighting facts such as having one of the lowest rates of inflation in Latin America, a budget growth of 13.5% and a literacy rate of 96-98% in ages 15-24.
“There was this feeling we were not progressing fast enough so we needed to do something,” said Bruno Moro, Director of the MDGF in reference to a gap between the creation of the MDGs and tangible results. The fund, he said “[forced] the actors to work together,” avoiding any overlap and increasing coordination, and producing great results.
Over the past 10-15 years, great developmental success has taken place in the Latin American region. The event sought to highlight the effort taken by the people of Latin America, and bring wide spread development to their region. Questions were asked on topics such as innovative financing and methods and even the issue of transparency in the Latin American region. It was clear that with all of the accomplishments made, there is still work to be done. However, the session left with a feeling of optimism for the future.
Full audio and video of the event.
International Travel Opportunities
The American Public Health Association, in consultation with a travel vendor, annually organizes research delegations to Cuba for health professionals as well as graduate students working towards an advanced degree in public health. Participants must be active members of APHA. We recently completed a visit in December 2012. For a summary, click here.
We invite you to join the next delegation to research Cuba’s healthcare system in December 2013. Generally, the specific meetings and topics for discussion are determined based on the composition and research interests of the teams. Trips are also planned for other countries throughout the year. For questions, more information, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact Vina HuLamm: vina.hulamm(at)apha.org.
Pan American Health Organization's Internship and Practicum Program (IPP)
While building human capacity of mid career to senior professionals, PAHO recognizes the importance of a new generation of public health leaders who have an understanding of global health issues and the role of international organizations in achieving the MDGs and other health initiatives. To this end, in summer 2006, PAHO launched the Internship and Practicum Program (IPP). The program trains young and energetic individuals entering the public health field and interested in providing services to the Organization on a voluntary basis, also known as internships/practicum; provides the Organization with young, energetic, skilled human resources; and increases PAHO’s visibility with Universities in the Americas region.
PAHO Interns/volunteers are a diverse group of senior undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students from diverse universities; coming from the U.S., Canada and other countries. They are matched with appropriate technical programs based upon the individual’s interests and skills. Placements are in the PAHO offices or Pan American Centers in the Region.
For more information, please go to: www.paho.org/internships.