The theme of this year’s Public Health Week, held April 4-10, sponsored by the American Public Health Association is “Safety’s No Accident.” I came across this video on texting and driving, Your Last Text Message, which I feel fits well with the theme. Please keep this in mind when you are on the road.
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References:
American Public Health Association. (2011). National Public Health Week. Retrieved February 12, 2011 from http://www.nphw.org/nphw11/first1.htm
I sometimes find public health in what I think are unexpected places, as I did today.
This is from “Grin and Bear It”, which appeared in the Sunday comics today.
A few days ago I came across this in Metroland, an “alternative” newspaper in the Albany area full of social events, news, etc. :
This appeared in the section with “adult” ads, right behind the back cover, which I caught when flipping through the pages. Certainly an appropriate place for this kind of public health message, but still a surprise to me. My biggest question is who sponsored this ad…I would like to thank them!
Bill Gates, one of the most well-known advocates for global health issues, is calling upon the global community for an end to polio, according to an article in The New York Times, “Gates Calls for a Final Push to Eradicate Polio,” by Donald McNeil Jr. Despite critics who say the fight against polio may be a lost cause, as cases continue to develop outside the borders of endemic countries, Gates is adamant that polio eradication needs to remain be a priority.
Globalization remains a key challenge to the global eradication campaign. As people move across borders to live, work or travel, the disease is transmitted by carriers who do not display any symptoms, but later infect individuals in non-endemic countries, which may no longer actively vaccinate against polio. This had led to outbreaks in thirteen different countries over the past year, areas where polio was previously deemed “eradicated.”
The spread of ideas has also proven to be a challenge. One of the more difficult rumors to tackle is that Westerners are using the vaccine to sterilize children. This is currently a problem in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and was in issue in the past decade in Nigeria. These three countries, along with India, make up the group of remaining endemic countries. Ideology has threatened vaccinators as well; in Pakistan, members of the Pakistan Taliban have killed individuals working on polio vaccination teams.
Globalization and ideology are challenges for humanitarian aid in general in 2011, and are incredibly difficult to manage. Gates’ approach however tackles yet another key challenge: financing. Eradication efforts cost approximately $1 billion annually. In addition to donating $50 million toward the cause, Gates recently solicited increased donations from world leaders, including United Arab Emirites’ Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who donated $50 million. Continued financial support from individuals, nongovernmental organizations and governments around the world, coupled with dedication from committed parties, will make the final eradication challenges a little easier to manage, and in time may lead to full global eradication of the disease.
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References: McNeil Jr., D. G. (31 January, 2011). Gates falls for a final push to eradicate polio. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/health/01polio.html?_r=1&nl=health&emc=healthupdateema2
On January 24th Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. was confirmed by the State Senate as the State Commissioner of Health for New York. Shah’s vision for New York is “a state where every resident has access to affordable health insurance coverage, high quality care, and early screening and other services to prevent chronic disease and improve overall health.” I am personally impressed by his vision and goals for the state, as these are current issues, and sometimes overlooked or underfunded, which can be the case with chronic disease prevention and early screening. Further, I find it comforting that Shah holds both an M.D. and M.P.H., and has experience in both clinical and public health practice. It is my hope with this experience Shah will have a better understanding of the health needs of the state, and can use skills from both disciplines to develop solutions to these pressing health issues.
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References:
New York State Department of Health. (2011). Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. Retrieved 6 February 2011 from http://www.health.state.ny.us/commissioner/bio/
The Times Union in Albany, NY yesterday ran an article entitled “Buried in Trash” about the local Rapp Road Landfill, which is expected to run out of room in less than 10 years. At first glance it might not seem like a public health issue, but given the history of waste management at this site and in Albany, it is a pressing health concern. In the past trash was burned at the state-run ANSWERS plant in Albany, as a dual plan to reduce the amount of waste and heat the massive Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. While this seemed like a wonderful plan in the 1980s, it was shut down in the 1990s when it was discovered that toxins were being released into the air and harming residents of inner-city neighborhoods.
Waste management in Albany hit another speed bump when the Rapp Road expansion could not be completed to the extent planned because it borders a nature preserve. First the citizens were threatened, and then wildlife, most notably the endangered Karner blue butterfly. While these parties have since been protected from encroachment by waste management projects, there is still the issue of what to do so we don’t run out of space for our trash?
Although a group of public authorities are working on developing a plan, I am skeptical that a sustainable solution can be achieved without the engagement of more stakeholders. As a public health student, I would suggest practitioners from the public health field for starters, who could identify environmental hazards for each suggested solution. I would suggest involvement from local nonprofits, who would represent a group of civic-minded people. Consider community garden groups for example, who could perhaps develop a program for collection of food waste for compost. This would save a significant amount of waste from ending up in the landfill, and would be beneficial to community members in a way that the bottom-dollar profit is not. Perhaps engagement from local charities as well, to encourage community collection days where durable goods could be saved from spending eternity in a landfill, and could instead benefit population groups in need. Regardless of the solution that is reached for waste management in the Capitol Region, it is important that input comes from a variety of sources to avoid a repeat of past plans that caused more harm than good.
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References:
Carleo-Evangelist, J. (30 January, 2011). Buried in Trash. Times Union. Retrieved from: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Buried-in-trash-985672.php
Public Health Perspectives 