Talks and Events
March 23, 2015
Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli of WHO Presents at Global WACh
Categories: Research, Talks and Events
Tags: adolescent health
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This week we were pleased to have Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli here at Global WACh for an amazing presentation on adolescent and sexual reproductive health.
Since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 there have been tremendous changes made throughout the world in which adolescents live. Lowered infant mortality, a decrease in poverty, and better access to clean drinking water are just a few examples of things that have improved. Progress where it comes to adolescent sexual health however hasn’t been quite as successful, and often inadequate commitment, discomfort, or limited funding and resources stand in the way of such changes.
“When you have huge fires burning like childhood or maternal mortality, or HIV, adolescent sexual and reproductive health is talked about as one of the many priorities but is not given the attention it needs.”
Dr. Chandra-Mouli works in the World Health Organization’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research and seeks to create evidence based policy changes and programs. You can view his entire presentation below.
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December 12, 2014
Global WACh’s Launch of Special Supplement of the Journal of Adolescent Health
Categories: Research, Talks and Events
Tags: adolescent health, ICPD
There are 1.8 billion adolescents in the world today. That’s a tremendous number of youth that are at a crucial point of transition in their lives. 1.4 million adolescents die each year from causes such as early pregnancy, sexual violence, unsafe abortions, and HIV and other STIs. Yet adolescence is often overlooked in policy making, particularly in low income, high risk settings, and the global health of adolescents is not improving at the rate it should.
Last night Global WACh was proud to sponsor the launch of a Special Supplement of the Journal of Adolescent Health. This marks the 20th anniversary of the the landmark Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
We had some truly amazing speakers on hand to have a conversation on ways of improving the health and well-being of adolescents globally. The speakers and a tremendous student panel shared their experiences and discussed how investing in adolescent friendly health services, comprehensive sex education, supportive environments, violence prevention, and youth participation can help adolescents transition into happy and healthy adults.
If you missed our livestream of the event, you can go to the following link and watch the recorded version. Thanks to all our speakers, students, and attendees that helped make this launch a great success!
November 21, 2014
Two Great Back to Back Adolescent Lectures
Categories: Talks and Events
Tags: adolescent health
Please join Global WACh for two fantastic events focusing on the health of adolescents and women.
Journal of Adolescent Health Special Issue Launch
With Drs. Donna Denno, Annie Hoopes, Grace John-Stewart, and Judy Wasserheit.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Event | 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Reception
W.H. Foege Building | Room N130
3720 15th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105
Join authors Drs. Donna Denno and Annie Hoopes, along with Global WACh Director Dr. Grace John-Stewart and UW’s Department of Global Health Chair Dr. Judy Wasserheit, for a discussion about the global status of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. The event will include a series of presentations and a panel of global health professionals with first-hand experience discussing the realities in settings around the world, followed by a short reception.
Migration/Mobility and Early Sex Exchange as Social Determinants of Marginalized Women and Adolescents’ Health
With Dr. Shira Goldenberg
Tuesday, December 16th
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Harborview Ninth and Jefferson Building | 13th floor | Room 1360
325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
This lecture will illustrate the critical roles of early sex exchange and migration/mobility patterns in shaping health inequalities related to HIV/STIs, substance use, and access to care for marginalized women and adolescents. Drawing on evidence from epidemiological and qualitative studies conducted with women and adolescents involved in the sex industry in Mexico, Guatemala, and Canada, this lecture will highlight the need for policy changes and multi-level interventions to promote the health of migrant/mobile women and adolescents who exchange sex.
November 3, 2014
Birth Defects in Iraq: The Consequences of War
Categories: Talks and Events
Tags: birth defects, Iraq
On October 27th, Global WACh co-sponsored a series of presentations entitled: “Birth Defects in Iraq: The Consequences of War.” Dr. Muhsin Al-Sabbak, an obstetrician at Basra Maternity Hospital and Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, an environmental toxicologist, shared their knowledge of the devastating effects of war on the children of Iraq.
Dr. Al-Sabbak began by describing his experiences as a physician in Iraq, followed by statistics and figures to help the audience understand the gravity of the situation. One of the more impactful statistics was the rate of birth defects, which in 1995 stood at 1.37 per 1,000 births and in 2003 had risen to 23 per 1,000 births. There has been an estimated increase of 60% in the last decade. He shared pictures and stories from his hospital about the children born there with life threatening defects. “I have thousands of these pictures,” he said, later revealing his own personal tragedy of his young nephew who had died from Leukemia, likely as a result of the environmental poisoning.
Mozhgan Savabieasfahani spoke next, explaining the causes of the environmental pollution in more detail. The main issue, she says is the waste from weapons, explosives, and munitions left by the US military in “burn pits” the size of football fields. Iraqi citizens are exposed to chemicals and toxins, often distributed by dust storms in the area, and the effects may be shown for generations to come.
Iraqi mothers and children are not the only ones in danger. Many U.S. soldiers came home with ailments directly related to the negligence associated with these burn pits, and some are even seeking justice. This gives Savabieasfahani hope that one day accountability will drive cleanup efforts.
“We will keep reaching out to people like you,” she said, emphasizing the need for word to spread. Both Al-Sabbak and Savabieasfahani have been on a speaking tour in the U.S. in hope that the issue will gain more attention.
The two also spoke at an event at UW on October 24th entitled “Environmental Poisoning of Iraq: Why Academics Must Speak Out.” Here is the video.
October 29, 2014
Global WACh’s Technical Symposium on Strengthening the Nutrition Continuum
Categories: Nutrition, Talks and Events
Tags: malnutrition, nutrition
There are 7 billion people in the world and nearly 2 billion are undernourished and 2 billion are overweight or obese. Last week, the team at Global WACh held a fascinating and informative learning symposium at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Experts from The University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital, PATH, and 1,000 Days came together for a full day of discussion and presentation on the global burdens of malnutrition.
There were three main sessions throughout the day: Basic Science and Discovery; Implementation; and National Systems Building, each including impactful presentations with quite a few staggering facts and figures. Throughout the day we were presented with new ideas, innovative techniques for testing, all with a healthy air of hopeful idealism. To see the presentations, you can view the slides on our Nutrition Think Tank webpage. It was wonderful to have a day to discuss what we can do to help ensure healthy, happy, and nourished lives around the world.
Thanks to all of our speakers and to the Gates Foundation for hosting!
October 8, 2014
Birth Defects in Iraq: The Consequences of War
Categories: Talks and Events
Tags: Discovery Series, Iraq, maternal health
Global WACh is proud to co-sponsor the next Washington Global Health Alliance Discovery Series highlighting the effects of war on Iraqi mothers and infants. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, an environmental toxicologist from the University of Michigan will be giving a talk Friday, October 24th at 12:30pm entitled “Environmental Poisoning of Iraq: Why Academics Must Speak Out.” Dr. Muhsin Al-Sabbak who is an obstetrician at Basrah Maternity Hospital will speak on Monday, October 27th on “The Epidemic of Birth Defects in Iraq: Conversations with an Iraqi Doctor.”
Monday’s event is open to the public with a reception starting at 5:30pm. Dr. Al-Sabbak will speak at 6:00 at University Temple United Methodist Church (1415 NE 43rd St. Seattle). Please join us for this very important and enlightening event. For more information, you can email ghrc@uw.edu.
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