How should we mobilize communities toward better health, life and ultimately the world?

This week’s topic took me back to the class I was enrolled in last semester: “ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITIES FOR GLOBAL HEALTH” taught by Dr. Garbanati and Dr. Metz.
It was a great class, butt I wish I had taken it this semester, which is my last semester, rather than the first one.
When I first started MPH program I was lost; however, now when I look back, I realize how everything has come together and makes sense.
Masters in Public Health has totally opened my eyes toward the field of health care; I have now understand my passion (real career interest) and, most importantly, my own personal relationship to medicine. I will miss everyone here, and I hope we all stay in touch via email, blog or skype.

This week I would like to write about my ideas toward mobilizing communities, rather than asking for solutions from my classmate; at the same time I would appreciate your thoughts/ inputs.

In order to mobilize communities, we should first focus on evaluating various initiatives that employ community-based health promotion, community empowerment, public-private partnership models to see what has worked and what has not worked within that population in the past.
In order to come up with a more successful outcome, we should examine asset-based community techniques that focus on the strengths of communities, while acknowledging socioeconomic, educational and religious barriers/beliefs.
Understanding the context of people’s lives for health promotion and disease prevention can be a very important aspect of evaluation. By exploring issues of cultural competence, while working with community groups and community readiness for change, will make a difference in a long run.
Also, in order to maximize the outcome, we should move beyond traditional public health interventions to look at non-traditional partners and engaging communities via various channels. By examining new and innovative points of interventions, giving community residents a critical determining role in the health of their families and communities, we can make a difference. Working locally, but thinking and stepping forward globally, will explore challenges and lessons learned for community organizing and mobilizing toward healthier quality-based lifestyles, both locally and globally.

Through study and research, I am now certain that mobilizing communities is the MAIN key toward ACTION to make a better world.

There is no RIGHT ANSWER for "ETHIHCS"

Now a days living well is like putting money in a savings account. By most estimates, lifestyle accounts for 70 percent of our life span. Lifestyle is nothing but the end result of the hundreds of decisions -- large and small -- that we make every day of our lives. Our genes are responsible for the rest.
What is the simple key to a long, healthy life, living long and staying young?
It's human nature to want an easy solution, but there isn't one. Life is complicated.
Since I remember I have always tried to eat better, aiming for at least different colored, especially green, foods per day. Growing up I did my best to stay away from my Mom’s delicious, high carb and fat content Persian food, therefore, trying to reduce the stress in my life. I've also tried to get back to Yoga and make it a norm of my life style.

One thing I've learned, during exercise physiology course in my undergrad, is how important weight lifting and strengthening balance can be in avoiding broken bones later in life, while improving weight control, potency and posture now.
I've also become aware of how attitude can have a profound effect on our health and longevity. A positive outlook means a healthier body, more often than not. A sense of worth, of family, of joy -- all these can have profound and positive effects on your physical well-being.
The Stem cell research in the United States remains a sensitive debated political issue which is illegal in most countries, but claims of body rejuvenation and mind reanimation are compelling to those wishing to find a virtual fountain of youth.
Using human embryos for any purpose other than to create a baby is highly controversial.
For some people, destroying a human embryo to provide a cure for a disease or staying young is completely unacceptable. For others it is acceptable if the embryo is young enough and the disease serious enough.
To form a law, which bans or permits the use of embryos in medical research, law makers must debate all the issues with scientists, religious leaders, bio-ethicists, pressure groups and members of the public.

I know that this is a touchy topic but as a scientist or/and public health professional I would like to know your thoughts on this matter. Do you agree to use stem cell research to have our parents, grandparents stay young and live longer? Or help a paralyzed child to obtain the ability to walk?

Private Parties and Taking Advantages

The meaning of our self is not to be found in its separateness from God and others, but in the ceaseless realisation of yoga, of union; not on the side of the canvas where it is blank, but on the side where the picture is being painted.

“ALEISTER CROWLEY”

Yogi Wares Prada was an interesting presentation by our classmate Alexis Munoz, which brought a different aspect of private sector to my attention.
When I started practicing Yoga, I fell in love with the spiritual feeling of it, how yoga could present me with the fine well-rounded body movement as well as connecting my mind, body and sole together.
In class we discussed about various cultural, religion and traditional prospect of Yoga and how relevant/famous this exercise is becoming in the western world.
Some thought that there are people in America, which are taking advantage of spirituality, healthy routine and some thought we should not invade a holy enriching practices of other cultures.
So now that we know about various positive effects of this exercise, which is a great complement to our hectic life style, what recommendations do you have to reduce the behavior of private segments that are taking advantage of this great practice?
What do you suggest to enhance the promotion of structured, relaxing and consistent out look of Yoga?

Health Care Spending: Large Differences, Unequal Results

As we have been learning all through of our public health education and last week’ lecture, we know that Global inequality in health care spending is large.

According to global GDP in 2003 America’s health statement in that year was 15.2 percent of GDP; this is equal to $1.7 trillion. Dr. Shahi once mentioned, “less than 5% of the world population live in United States” and we are reporting about half of the world's health spending money.
With that said this would be assumed that America’s health care stands somewhere between scale of 1-5 globally.

So what do you think are the reasons behind the fact that “U.S health system is ranked # 37th in the world?”

This is a real big issue, with an improved/access to technology, developments which we have, our country is still ranked 37.

Rapid Response Capabilities

The topic of last week is a one of the main challenges that field of public health faces during the man made and natural disasters.
Therefore Cori completed the concept of the “rapid response” by addressing the theory of “Triage.”
To refresh your memory;
“Triage is a system used by medical or emergency personnel to ration limited medical resources when the number of injured needing care exceeds the resources available to perform care so as to treat those patients in most need of treatment who are able to benefit first.” Wikipedia
We know that we as soon to be public health professionals are leaders of crisis situations and should be able to over come stressful, traumatic conditions by using the first-class guidance and leadership skills. According to Dr. Calderon we are leaders of catastrophes and there will be peoples that may not to follow leaders!
How do you think Public health professionals should react to disobedience individuals during hardships, wars, difficult times and disasters?

Business & Health

What is Technology Innovation?

Technology is a broad concept of new ideas that deals with a usage of knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects ability to control and adapt to its environment. In human society, it is a consequence of science and engineering, although several technological advances predate the two concepts.

Last class’ topic was comprised of a broad concept of BioBusiness, BioInnovation, Public-Private Partnership and Technology Assessments.
While I got to expose to a vast amount of information it was interesting for me to look at PUBLIC HEALTH from a business perspective.
I learned that in order to achieve success in a system, besides providing good infrastructure, facilities, policies in a business; we need to have the criteria’s listed below:
Smart People
Smart Ideas
Smart Money
Smart Alliances and Partnerships
Within the field of preventive medicine for better health result we should come up with new and different Innovation methods.
How would you incorporate these facts in promoting health in disadvantage pockets of our society and developing countries?

Having Clean Water is Everyone's Right

This week’s topic pin pointed one of the major challenges that many countries are dealing with. Approximately more than 2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation facilities and over one billion people still use unsafe drinking water sources.
Women and Children are denied their right to education because they are busy fetching water!!!
All of us have seen videos like the assigned ones for last week; pipes funnel through loads of human’s dirt and the poor down the way drinking from these filthy channels.
As a result, thousands of children die every day from diarrhea and other water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases and many more suffer and are weakened by illness.
Poor farmers and wage earners are less productive due to illness, and national economies suffer. Without safe water and sanitation, sustainable development is impossible.
According to UNICEF report on water, sanitation and environment:
Meeting the MDG targets on water and sanitation would cost approximately an additional US$11.3 billion each year. A cost-benefit analysis undertaken by the World Health Organization found that every $1 invested in achieving the Millennium Development targets on water and sanitation would yield returns between $3-$34 depending on the region.
Since we know this issue is relevant in growing countries, what ideas would you offer to minimize the cost and maximize the outcome for cleaning water? Whose responsibility is this issue?