July 2005

July 11:

World Population Day
Equality Empowers is the theme for this year's World Population Day, sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Its goal is to promote gender equality in the world's nations, allowing women full participation in society and equal access to opportunities. By allowing women full participation, societies can achieve far beyond what they can with only half of their adult population.

More information can be found at the UNFPA website: www.unfpa.org/wpd/

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August 2005

August:

National Immunization Awareness Month
As parents prepare children to go back to school and the medical community gets ready for the winter flu season, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) in August is an opportune time to increase awareness of the value of immunization amongst young and old. Local, grassroots immunization initiatives are highlighted this month in addition to national efforts.

For more information, please go to the National Partnership for Immunization website at www.partnersforimmunization.org/niam.html.

August 1-6:

World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is an outreach vehicle for the breastfeeding movement led by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. Celebrated in over 120 countries, it is an opportunity to increase understanding of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months, and to create ways to enable mothers to do it. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, founded in 1991, acts on the Innocenti Declaration, and works in liaison with UNICEF.

For more information, visit www.waba.org.my/wbw/wbw04/wbw2004.html.

August 5:

WGVU Kids Day at the John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids, MI
Join WGVU at John Ball Park Zoo, Grand Rapids, Michigan for a free Kids Day at the Zoo from 10am-5pm. This annual event attracts between 10,000-12,000 children and their families. WGVU will highlight their local participation in Rx for Child Survival with an informational booth featuring photos of children from West Michigan and Nicaragua who will engage in shared reading about the project. Kids and their families will also be able to explore a simple yet effective water filtration/purification system which is currently a model project in the Dominican Republic by project partner, Grand Rapids Rotary East.

For more information, visit http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wgvu/events.eventsmain? action=showEvent&eventID=299984

August 11:

Creative Discovery Museum Free Night, Chattanooga, TN
Learn about the local and global health issues at the Rx for Child Survival booth. Try your hand at a number of games and have fun learning about the importance of good health.

For more information, call 423-756-2738.

August 13:

Rolling Thunder Democracy Festival, Seattle, WA
Learn about the local and global health issues at the Rx for Child Survival table. Try your hand at a number of games and explore PATH's show and tell kit.

For more information about the festival at Magnuson Park from 12pm to 8pm, go to http://www.seattlethunder.net/

August 20:

Yakima Health Fair, Seattle, WA
JThe Yakima Health Fair event will offer physicals and back to school immunizations for children as well as information about health and dental hygiene. The event will be staffed by personnel from the Red Cross and a local hospital and begin at 10am on Saturday, August 20th at the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. At the Rx for Child Survival booth, attendees can learn about the local and global health issues, try their hand at a number of games, and explore PATH's show and tell kit.

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September 2005

September 8:

Creative Discovery Museum Free Night, Chattanooga, TN
Learn about the local and global health issues at the Rx for Child Survival booth. Try your hand at a number of games and have fun learning about the importance of good health.

For more information, call 423-756-2738.

September 10-13:

CityMatCH Annual Urban Maternal and Child Health Leadership Conference, Fort Worth, Texas
The 15th Annual CityMatCH Urban Maternal and Child Health Leadership Conference aims to disseminate science and information for improving urban MCH and explore public health values and affirm a shared vision for urban MCH leaders. CityMatCH works to improve the health and well-being of urban women, children and families by strengthening the public health organizations and leaders in their communities.

September 15-17:

President Bill Clinton's Global Initiative Summit, NYC
President Clinton's first annual gathering of world and business leaders known as the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) will take place on September 15-17, 2005 in New York City. CGI's goal is to address global challenges in areas such as poverty, religion, climate change, and governance.

September 29 - October 2

Childhood Obesity: New Insights and Consequences, Vienna, Austria
The European Childhood Obesity Group has organized a conference in Vienna, Austria to discuss type 2 diabetes mellitus in children (sometimes called adult onset diabetes), appropriate treatment for it, and prevention of one of its major risk factors, obesity.

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October 2005

October:

Trick or Treat for UNICEF
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, a Halloween tradition beloved by generations, is one of America's longest-running youth volunteer activities. Often a child's first experience with helping others, this activity enables kids to raise funds that help save and improve the lives of their most vulnerable peers around the globe.

Find out more and order boxes at http://www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat

October:

Child Health Month
Child Health Month covers a range of topics involved in children's health such as illness, education, safety, preventing risky behaviors, and reducing environmental hazards. Many U.S. government agencies are involved in Child Health Month and are organized by the President's Task Force on Environment Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children. This website offers a calendar of tips to protect children: www.childrenshealth.gov/calendar.html.

October:

Campaign for Healthier Babies Month
Since 1990, the Campaign for Healthier Babies has worked to increase prenatal care for and awareness of healthy lifestyle choices among pregnant women. The campaign has been conducted by the Communications Group, a marketing/advertising/public relations firm. Focused in Kentucky and Tennessee, the campaign involves television and radio spots, a toll-free hotline, Happy Birthday Baby Books with prenatal care information, and bringing nationally recognized prenatal experts to 10 rural hospitals. Many agencies sponsor this campaign, including the March of Dimes, the Arkansas and Tennessee departments of public health, and various hospitals and medical centers.

For more information, you can view the Communications Group website at www.comgroup.com/CHB.html.

October:

Month of prayer for child survival
During the month of October, religious groups of all faiths and denominations will observe a month of Prayer for Child Survival. To download for free religious materials for use during the month of prayer, please visit www.globalhealth.org/rx_for_child_survival/month_of_prayer.php

For more information about how to join, contact the Global Health Council Community and Faith-Based Organization program at pmuchina at globalhealth.org or 202-833-5900, ext. 3231.

October 3:

National Child Health Day
National Child Health Day is a day to highlight the goal of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to "promote comprehensive, community-based health care that combines public and private resources and promotes health environments where healthy behaviors can develop."

For more information about child health and news about the bureau, visit their website at www.mchb.hrsa.gov/.

October 6-9:

Infectious Disease Society of America's Annual Meeting, San Francisco
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) represents physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases. IDSA's purpose is to improve the health of individuals, communities, and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases.

For more information, visit www.idsociety.org

October 8-11:

American Academy of Pediatrics' National Conference, Washington, DC
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

Some of the sessions offered this year will include: New Insights Into Obesity: Pathophysiology, Top 10 Practical Strategies for Making Care Safer in Pediatric Settings and Urgent/Emergent Infectious Disease Cases.

For more information, visit s12.a2zinc.net/clients/aap2005/aap2005/public/enter.aspx

October 16:

World Food Day
World Food Day is a commemoration of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on October 16, 1945 in Quebec City, Canada. The day was established in 1979 at the organization's 20th General Conference. The mission of FAO is to coordinate efforts and information among the world's nations in order to defeat hunger. The theme for World Food Day 2005 is Agriculture and Intercultural Dialogue.

Further information on this year's World Food Day will soon be available at www.fao.org/wfd/index_en.asp.

October 16-19:

National Public Health Information Coalition's Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA
The National Public Health Information Coalition is an independent organization of professionals sought after to improve America's health through public health communications.

www.nphic.org/conf/welcome.asp

October 18:

Launch of Global Health Online Lecture Series
From clean water to nutrition, the experts involved with Rx For Survival showcase key milestones in public health — past and present. Listen or watch lectures and discussions with these experts and others to learn more about global health issues and how they effect you.

Available via the WGBH Forum Network at: forum.wgbh.org/wgbh/forum.php?lecture_id=0173

October 20:

Rx for Survival: Why We Must Rise to the Challenge of Global Health, by Philip J. Hilts, The Penguin Press released.
Prize-winning journalist and author Philip J. Hilts' companion book follows the documentary trail of the Rx for Survival series. The book, Rx for Survival: Why We Must Rise to the Global Health Challenge, will be available in October 2005.

October 20-22:

13th Annual HIV/AIDS Update Conference/Border Health Summit
Taking place at South Padre Island, Texas, this conference will be a global arena for discussion of the future of HIV/AIDS. Training for health professionals and care givers will also be offered. The conference is organized by the Valley AIDS Council.

Visit www.valleyaids.org/education_outreach.htm for more information.

October 24:

United Nations Day
On the day the United Nations' charter was ratified in 1945, United Nations Day celebrates the aims, purposes, and achievements of the United Nations, reminding the world of its significance.

For more information, visit www.un.org/events/unday/.

October 25-28:

Pan Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS Conference
An international conference in Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand that is organized by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. It will focus on the issues of engaging different communities, strengthening leadership to affect policy and human rights, building knowledge, and improving care.

For more information visit www.panpacific-hivaids05.net.nz/.

October 31:

TIME Magazine and TIME Magazine International Global Health Issue published.
TIME magazine will publish a special report on global health, which will be available on newsstands October 31. The international edition of TIME will also publish a special global health issue that week.

November 2005

November 1:

Boston.com Live Discussion with Philip J. Hilts
12pm ET: Discuss global health issues with Philip J. Hilts, accomplished health and medical journalist and author of Rx for Survival: Why We Must Rise to the Global Health Challenge.

Read the transcript: www.boston.com/yourlife/chats/rxforsurvival/

November 1-3:

Rx for Survival — A Global Health Challenge, series premiere 9 p.m. — 11 p.m., PBS

November 1-3:

TIME Magazine Summit on Global Health, New York, NY
Coinciding with the Rx for Survival broadcast, the TIME Global Health Summit will bring together influential international leaders from governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations and the field of public health to address the world's health situation.

November 2:

WashingtonPost.com Live Discussion with Philip J. Hilts
1pm ET: Discuss questions raised by the first two episodes and other global health issues with Philip J. Hilts, accomplished health and medical journalist and author of Rx for Survival: Why We Must Rise to the Global Health Challenge.

Read the transcript: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/ 10/28/DI2005102801152.html

November 2-4

Global Health Histories
Global Health Histories is the 2005 symposium of the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Workshops, panels, and multimedia presentations by academics, activists, and public health administrators will take a global perspective on the history of medicine and health care.

Visit the website of the Global Health Council for more information at www.globalhealth.org/news/article/5864.

November 3:

WashingtonPost.com Live Discussion with Andrea and Barry Coleman
2pm ET: Discuss questions raised by Wednesday's episodes and other global health issues with Andrea and Barry Coleman, Joint Chief Executives of Riders for Health.

Read the transcript: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/ 10/28/DI2005102801240.html

November 4:

WashingtonPost.com Live Discussion with Alfred Sommer
2pm ET: Discuss questions raised by Thursday's episodes and other global health issues with Alfred Sommer, Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health from 1990-2005 and researcher focusing on the consequences and control of vitamin A deficiency and related micronutrients.

Read the transcript: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/ 10/28/DI2005102801322.html

November 4:

Now Special "Global Health: America's Response" airs on PBS
Friday, November 4, 2005 at 8:30 P.M. on PBS (check local listings). Building on the three-night groundbreaking PBS special Rx for Survival — A Global Health Challenge, NOW presents a two-part broadcast on Friday, November 4, at 8:30 P.M. on PBS (check local listings), that looks at U.S. global health policy to assess where it has been and what the future holds. In part one, NOW's David Brancaccio takes on the latest news about global health issues in a long-form interview with former President Jimmy Carter. In part two, airing at 9:00 P.M (check local listings), NOW examines the U.S.'s HIV/AIDS policy from its beginning in the early 1980s through President Bush's historic plan, announced in 2003, to spend $15 billion treating people with HIV/AIDS around the world.

For more information, visit http://pbs.org/now/

November 5-9:

American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
The theme for the 133rd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association is Evidence-based Policy and Practice. It emphasizes improving health outcomes by basing public policies and health communication on systematic research. The meeting examines current trends in public health, what has worked, and what has not. It offers scientific sessions, networking opportunities, and a public health organization expo.

The organization's meeting website is www.apha.org/meetings/.

November 5-12:

American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health.

The APHA Annual Meeting is the premier platform to share successes and failures, discover exceptional best practices and learn from expert colleagues and the latest research in the field.

For more information, visit www.apha.org

November 13-18:

The 4th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference
In Yaounde, Cameroon, the Secretariat of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria has organized one of the largest conferences on malaria in the world. Scientists from different disciplines who work on malaria will meet to discuss their research and form new partnerships. The conference is hosted by Stockholm University and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in collaboration with the Biotechnology Centre of University of Yaounde I in Cameroon.

The conference website is www.mim.su.se/conference2005.

November 14:

World Diabetes Day
The International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) 190 member associations in 150 countries will be commemorating the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first had the idea that led to discovery of insulin in 1922. Supported by the World Heath Organization, the IDF, along with other organizations and associations, will raise awareness about diabetes and its growing incidence. This year the focus will be Diabetes and Food Care. Activities will include press conferences, sporting events, poster and leaflet campaigns, radio and television programs, free screenings for diabetes and its complications, and workshops.

For more information, check out www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=355.

November 20:

Universal Children's Day
Universal Children's Day was established in 1954 by the United Nations General Assembly as a day to promote understanding and togetherness among children all over the world. It also involves activities that promote child welfare. Visit www.un.org/depts/dhl/children_day/ for more information.

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December 2005

December 1:

World AIDS Day
The theme of World AIDS Day 2005, Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise, reminds people that HIV is still a problem requiring combined effort, dedication, and solutions. Since the first one in 1988, World AIDS Day has been a tool for raising money, education, and awareness, while fighting prejudice against people with this democratic disease. UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, is the organization behind World AIDS Day.

Check out their website for more information: www.unaids.org/en/default.asp.

Or you can visit: www.avert.org/worldaid.htm

December 5:

International Volunteers Day
International Volunteers Day provides visibility to the efforts of volunteers who work toward the social and economic development of local communities and nations. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 1985.

Visit www.worldvolunteerweb.org for more information.

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January 2006

January 22-25:

Arab Health 2006, The International Hospital, Medical Equipment & Services Exhibition, Dubai
Arab Health is a gateway into one of the world's most important and fastest growing healthcare markets. New hospitals and medical centers are constantly being developed as the demands for high quality healthcare expand. With a 31-year history, Arab Health has led the way with healthcare exhibitions and conferences in the Middle East, and Arab Health 2006 continues to meet the needs of the region.

For more information, visit: www.arabhealthonline.com/

January 25-29:

Annual Meeting 2006 of the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland
The Annual Meeting brings together leaders from business, government, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, universities and other significant communities. The aim is to assist participants in moving the Global Agenda forward in a positive and constructive fashion.

This year's title, Mastering our Future, aims to draw focus on adequately appreciating changes in values, society and technology and attempting to be better equipped to address the key global challenges, the geopolitical, economic and environmental dilemmas.

For more information, visit: www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Annual+Meeting+2006

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February 2006

February 12-16:

Third International Conference on the Impact of Global Issues on Women and Children, Dhaka, Bangladesh
This conference is for individuals (anthropologists, basic scientists, ecologists, environmentalists, economists, health economists, historians, human rights activists, information technologists, lawyers, midwives, nurses, nutritionists, physicians, politicians, sociologists, social workers) from all parts of the world. The conference (February 12-16) offers participants the opportunity to come together and collectively share their knowledge, expertise and experience on issues relevant to effects of globalization (positive and negative) on children and women.

For more information, visit: www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/slru/ic2006/main.html

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March 2006

March:

American Red Cross Month
Since 1943, each president of the United States has proclaimed March to be "Red Cross Month." This annual tradition, started by Franklin D. Roosevelt, serves to publicly recognize the humanitarian services and accomplishments of the American Red Cross. Although the Red Cross is not a government organization, the U.S. president serves as its honorary chairman.

For more information, visit: www.redcross.org

March 22:

World Water Day
The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. March 22, 2005 marked the start of a new UN International Decade for Action on water. The Water for Life Decade 2005-2015 will give a high profile to implementing water-related programs and the participation of women. Water and sanitation are critical factors to alleviate poverty and hunger, for sustainable development, for environmental integrity, and for human health.

For more information, visit: www.worldwaterday.org

March 24:

World Tuberculosis Day
Designated by the World Health Organization to focus public and media attention on rising rates of tuberculosis around the world and on the crisis of multi-drug resistant strains of the diseases.

For more information, visit: www.who.int/tb/en/

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April 2006

April 3-9:

National Public Health Week
The American Public Health Association (APHA) and its partners will celebrate the 11th National Public Health Week (April 3-9) this year, which was first proclaimed in 1995 by then President William Jefferson Clinton. This year's focus will be on children's health and the built environment with a theme of "Designing Healthy Communities, Raising Healthy Kids", and will concentrate on the ways that well-built communities — with healthy homes, walkable streets and safe neighborhoods — can improve the health of children.

For more information, visit: www.apha.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=event&eventid=1445

April 7:

World Health Day
In 2006, World Health Day will be devoted to the health workforce crisis. On this day around the globe, hundreds of organizations will host events to draw attention to the global health workforce crisis and celebrate the dignity and value of working for health. In addition, the day will coincide with the launch of the 'World Health Report 2006: Working for Health' and the launch of the Health Workforce Decade (2006-2015).

For more information, visit www.who.int/world-health-day/2006/en/

April 22-29:

National Infant Immunization Week
National Infant Immunization Week (April 22-29), sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Immunization Program, annually highlights the importance of immunizing infants against 12 diseases before 2 years of age. It will be held in conjunction with Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) in 2006.

For more information, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niiw/

April 23-29:

National Volunteer Week
Sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, National Volunteer Week (April 23-29) is about thanking one of America's most valuable assets — our volunteers — and calling the public's attention to all that they do to improve our communities.

For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/

April 25:

World Malaria Day/Africa Malaria Day
This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Abuja Declaration and Plan of Action when Heads of State or senior representatives from 44 malaria-afflicted countries in Africa agreed to a series of interim goals to be attained by 2005 and to a halving of the world's malaria burden by 2010

For more information, visit the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Web site rbm.who.int

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May 2006

May 11:

Global Health Council's Avian Influenza Technical Update
The global threat of Avian Influenza is increasing every day and many in the NGO community, on Capitol Hill and in private industry have begun discussions about what can be done. The Global Health Council will be holding an event this May for interested parties in order to provide an update on USAID program activities and produce a discussion of future needs and key messaging regarding how the potential pandemic will affect long-standing global health programming.

For more information, visit the Global Health Council's website at: www.globalhealth.org/news/article/7419

May 22-27:

59th World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly is the chief governing body of the World Health Organization. The Assembly meets every year in May in Geneva, Switzerland, and brings together ministers of health and other health leaders from WHO Member States throughout the world. The world's highest health policy setting body, its main functions are to approve the WHO program and budget for the following two-year period, and to decide major policy questions. This year will mark the 59th anniversary of the Assembly.

For more information, visit: www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2006/wha59/wha59/en/index.html

May 29 - June1:

Global Health Council's 33rd Annual International Conference
This May, Global Health Council will be holding its 33rd Annual International Conference, which has for the past three decades convened the community of global health practitioners, researchers, advocates, policy-makers, and leaders. Held in Washington D.C., the Conference will feature such participants and exhibitors as Save the Children, Rotary, and CORE among many others.  In addition it will boast featured speakers such as Paul Farmer, MD, MPH of Partners In Health and President Jimmy Carter.

For more information, visit www.globalhealth.org/conference/

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June 2006

June 16-17:

12th International Congress on Infectious Diseases
The International Congress on Infectious Diseases was established in 1983 by the International Society for Infectious Diseases as a scientific assembly for the exchange of research and clinical information in infectious diseases open to any interested individual. This year marks the 12th coming-together of the Congress and will take place in Lisbon, Portugal.  

For more information, visit: wwww.isid.org/12th_icid/

June 21-23:

14th International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases
Born from the work of a group of French physicians involved in HIV care since the beginning of the epidemic, the International Symposium is an opportunity to present original and sometimes unpublished work in the fields of HIV infection, viral hepatitis and emerging infectious diseases. Aside from prestigious guest speakers and poster exhibits, the program includes symposia presented by the pharmaceutical industry as well as interactive sessions, with the aim of reinforcing the link between theory and practice.

Over the years, the meeting has increased in size and audience, making it a regular date in the calendar of HIV/AIDS and infectious disease specialists from all around the world. The Symposium is an opportunity for these specialists to meet key opinion leaders and share their expertise in the field.

This year marks the 14th International Symposium and will take place in Toulon, France.

For more information, visit www.isheid.com/

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