Newsletter 184

Contents

Action of the Week

Stop AIDS UK Strategy URGENT Week of Action: May 4th- 9th!

Brief Background: The UK government will be launching their new 3 year Strategy for tackling HIV in the developing world on 19th May. Many Medsin and Stop AIDS students have been campaigning all year to try and influence this as the strategy will have a huge influence on the global response to HIV, and ultimately the lives of millions of people affected by the virus.

With 2 weeks until this strategy is launched it is not looking good. Despite the UK government leading the other G8 countries in 2005 to sign a pledge of providing Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2010, they now look set to abandon this promise!

The most crucial issue is whether or not the strategy will include a spending target. At this stage it does not! A strategy without a spending target would be a real catastrophe, as it would not only mean the UK's abandonment of the promise of Universal Access, but it would send a worrying single to other governments around the world to follow suit. The impact this will have on communities affected by AIDS is very real and very worrying.

Take Action TODAY, there is less than 2 weeks until this strategy is launched. The strategy is still not completely finalised: this week the final decisions will be made so this is our last chance to influence it. By taking the simple actions below targeting the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for International development we can change this situation and secure the funding promise!

What you can do to change this:

If you can spare 30 minutes:

  • Print out the attached scorecard (A4 or A3 versions), get a group of people together and take a photo of yourselves holding this up next to a prominent landmark in your town.
  • If you haven't got access to a printer than find a piece of card and write out one of the following statements to hold up: "Gordon Brown, Don't break your promises on AIDS", or "No spending target = Broken Promises on AIDS"
  • Print 2 copies of the photo off and either fax or post it directly to Gordon Brown and Douglas Alexander separately (addresses below) with a signed copy of the attached letter. The more signatures the better, but we literally have about a week to do this so anything is better than nothing!
  • Email Katy so she can keep a count of all the actions taken: Katy.athersuch@spw.org

If you only have 5 minutes in total take these 2 actions:

  • Email Gillian Merron and Douglas Alexander the Secretary of State for International Development asking them to include the spending target of £2.5 billion in the strategy: http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=25&ea.campaign.id=689 (print out the letter and post if possible)
  • Take this Super badger action on Facebook and promote it to ALL your facebook friends and networks. To install the applications visit: apps.facebook.com/superbadger

Gordon Brown sneakily escapes email actions by refusing to have a public email address. The only way to get noticed by his office is if we have a mass fax and letter writing campaign. Please spread the word. For better of worse this government Strategy will have a massive impact on the lives of millions of people affected by AIDS. Act Now!

Addresses:

The Prime Minister: Fax: 020 7925 0918 Post to Gordon Brown: The Prime Minister, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA.

Douglas Alexander the Secretary of State for international Development: Fax: 01355 84 3632 Post: 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE

National News and Events

Anything Else

Website and News

The website is for YOUR events being held by YOUR branches, projects and campaigns. It is really, really easy to submit events and news, so please do, and let everyone know what wonderful things you are up to! Join in Medsin discussions at http://www.medsin.org/discuss

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National News and Events

Secretary Needed

Unfortunately my time as secretary will come to an end this summer, and Medsin Needs You to fill the role! Please send your statement of motivation to committee@medsin.org by midnight Friday 16th May. If you'd like more information on the role, please get in touch! (secretary@medsin.org) and I'll answer the questions as best I can. Gemma

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StopAids Co-ordinator

Congratulations to Sheffield student Faye Tierney, who was elected StopAids Co-ordinator at the SGA. She'll take over from Rafi in August.

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SGA News

Project report forms have now been compiled and uploaded onto the website.

Minutes and presentations are available on the website. If you'd like anything else to go up there, please ask.

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Pharma Debate Results

I'm very pleased to tell you that the pharma debate went brilliantly up here in Leeds. Great turn-out, excellent debate... and lots to mull over!

Full write up here

If anyone wants to put on anything similar, please do get in touch - we've got loads of things to share!

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UKPHA Meeting on Alcohol and Violence

Interested in attending a UKPHA working group meeting on Alcohol and Violence on behalf of the IFMSA? Contact president@medsin.org

(UK Public Health Association - known by the initials UKPHA - is an independent voluntary organisation, formed by the coming together of three organisations in 1999 to unite the public health movement in the UK.

As a multidisciplinary membership organisation, the UKPHA brings together individuals and organisations from all sectors who share a common commitment to promoting the public’s health.)

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Activities Board Newsletter

The Activities Board newsletter, Global Health Conference Edition, is now up in pdf format, at http://www.medsin.org/activitiesboard/newsletter.

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Health Systems External Meetings

25-27 June 2008 European ministerial conference on health systems

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Anything Else?

The following aren't officially affilliated with Medsin, but we thought you might be interested.

RSTHM Careers Talk

CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH A meeting aimed at postgraduate researchers and students who would like to learn more about possible research careers in the areas of tropical medicine and international health. Date 22nd May 2008 Venue ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 (entrance in Exhibition Road ) Register Please contact the Society (mail@rstmh.org) to book a place by 15th May at the latest.

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Bulgaria European Youth & Reproductive Health Conference

Dear friends,

The Association of Medical Students in Bulgaria is very proud to present to you the Action 4.3 Training course "European Youth & Reproductive Health". It is a project within the EU "Youth in Action" programme and will take place in Sofia, from 13th – 18th Oct 2008.

Our effort is to create a platform of meeting, discussion and cooperation for European youth interested in the field of sexual health issues and HIV/AIDS prevention. The participants will receive essential information about HIV prevention, contraception, abortion and young maternity, they will have trainings on project planning and peer education.

More detailed information is attached to this mail, also if you need any further information we would be happy to provide it.

If you would like to be part of our project, please fill, sign and fax the Part 3 document to:

fax: +35929440218 and send the original to: Boris Mladenov AMSB "I. Geshov" blvd. N15, fl 1, room 35 Sofia, Bulgaria

Deadline is 15.may (Thursday)!!!

We need 1 to 3 participants from each organization. There will be 20-25 participants in total.

Only EU member countries (EU programme countries) are eligible.

Food, accommodation and 70% of the travel costs will be covered!

Please make your decision regarding participation immediately, because the sooner you apply the more chance you will have :)

Best wishes,

The Organizing Committee

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Domestic violence: A medical issue

Wednesday 11 June 2008

Venue: The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE organised by the Royal Society of Medicine and Epidemiology & Public Health Section

Domestic violence is experienced by 28% of women in England and Wales, and costs the NHS £1.2billion. Those working within the medical profession often find themselves dealing with the physical and psychological injuries, which result. It can commence or worsen during pregnancy. There is greater likelihood that women in violent relationships will be admitted to hospital and issued with prescriptions. Given the far-reaching medical effects, domestic violence is indeed a healthcare issue.

This event will comprise of a series of talks, by those with expertise of working in the field. It will provide an opportunity to identify examples of good practice, and discussion as to how the medical profession can offer a better response

http://www.rsm.ac.uk/students/ste10c.php

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RSM "One World, One Disease" Conference

RSM are holding a conference entitled "One World, One Disease", to be held in-house on Tuesday 24 June 2008.

This conference aims to examine some of the effects of climate change on patterns of animal health and the impact on this for humans. The meeting will provide an understanding of the complexity of the global changes that we face, and will work towards the integrated approach needed to manage the serious problems that threaten animal and human health.

Please see the attached programme for further information, or alternatively, refer to the following link:

http://www.rsm.ac.uk/academ/e10-oneworld.php

Student places are £50.

Many thanks,

Chloe Waite

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YouAct Study Session on Sexual Health

Please see YouAct's invitation (see http://www.medsin.org/events/show/150) to the study session "Improving the Health of Young People in Europe Towards a Sexual Health Strategy, which YouAct will organise in Strasbourg in July. This is a great opportunity to learn more on SRHR and interact with other youth activists.

Study Session

"Improving the Health of Young People in Europe Towards a Sexual Health Strategy"

Study Session on the Development of a European Youth Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Duration 6-12 July 2008 - Strasbourg, France

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Update on the Short Course in Global Health

We are quite excited about the Global Health Short Course that is going ahead over five days, Monday 23 June - Friday 27 June 2008 at Imperial, London. It is the first time it is being run, and Professor Alan Fenwick and Dr Helen Ward at Imperial are the course directors. I have attached some more information and an application form (see the website version of this newsletter). There are 50 places on the course and 20 of those have already been filled by Imperial students, and we will be accepting applications from external students from 1 May 2008.

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Careers in Tropical Medicine Talk

At 1.00pm on Thursday 22nd May 2008, The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene will be holding a meeting at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7:

CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH

This meeting will be a lively afternoon of varied and entertaining talks aimed at encouraging scientists and researchers from any related discipline to learn about careers in Tropical Medicine and International Health. The meeting is particularly relevant to post-graduates early in their careers and interested in a range of fields from biological sciences through to health economics, social science and policy.

Talks will be given by a wide range of established scientists and experts on topics such as how new vaccines for the big killer diseases are being tested in developing countries, how we might outwit the mosquito to reduce the terrible mortality caused by malaria and the ups and downs of running a laboratory in a remote field site. Speakers will give examples of their work alongside ideas and advice for those considering such a career. Major funding and development agencies will also be giving an overview of how funding can be sought and what career structures and opportunities exist.

The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene celebrated its centenary in 2007 and this meeting begun as an annual event last year to mark this special anniversary. A central aim of the society is to encourage people into this exciting field and find a career that could truly contribute to improving health in some of the world's poorest countries.

Please register via our website where you can also find out more about the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and see how else you can get involved. Please email; mail@rstmh.org Or visit; www.rstmh.org to register.

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Another Essay Competition!

The Global Forum for Health Research and The Lancet are holding their third joint essay competition for the under-30s on the theme:

Climate change and health: research challenges for the health of vulnerable populations

Rules and guidelines

  • Authors must have been born on or after 1 January 1978.
  • Each author may submit one essay only.
  • Essays may be submitted in English or French and should be 1500 words maximum.
  • Essays must be based on the author's own ideas and not be derived from another source.
  • Essays must not have been previously published.
  • Entries are individual (i.e., the work of a single author).
  • They should include original, even provocative ideas and not be technical or academic texts: tables, charts and figures are probably not necessary; references should be limited.
  • Authors are free to be idealistic, passionate, to take established practices to task, albeit in a constructive fashion.
  • Within the context of research for health, the theme allows authors to include any aspect that interests them particularly – for example, extreme weather, natural disasters, fuels and energy, transport, water management, vectors, food production, demographics, urban planning, security.

Deadlines

  • The deadline for receipt of entries is 30 April 2008.
  • A shortlist will be announced by the end of June. Shortlisted authors will be asked to provide a high quality photograph and to confirm original authorship and date of birth.
  • The winners will be notified by the beginning of August 2008. The judges' decision will be final.

Prizes

  • A selection of shortlisted essays will be published in an anthology as well as on the Global Forum and Lancet websites.
  • Winners will be invited to take part (with all expenses paid) in the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health, which will take place in Bamako, Mali, from 17 to 19 November 2008.
  • Staff members of the Global Forum or of the Lancet or their immediate families are ineligible to enter the competition, as are authors of shortlisted essays published in 2006 and 2007.

For any questions, please contact: Susan Jupp mailto:susan.jupp@globalforumhealth.org

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Seminar on "Global Substantive Health Issues"

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) will hold a seminar on "Global Substantive Health Issues" on 5 and 6 June 2008. The seminar will take place at the University of Warwick.

For more information, click here.

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Last updated on Wednesday 07 May 2008 at 10:02.