The info hub for the hub of global health
Who will you nominate?
The WGHA Global Health Impact Awards shine a spotlight on people and organizations making a big impact in global health. We need your help to learn who should receive the awards this year!
Submit your nominations by 5:00 pm PT on July 8 for these categories:
Rising Star
Luminary Leader
Organizational Impact
Then, join us in October to celebrate the awardees and everyone working tirelessly to improve health outcomes around the world.
A surgical milestone
We’ve talked about the Worldwide Fistula Fund and the new ARENA clinic in Burkina Faso. It provides holistic fistula treatment, prevention education, and economic empowerment programming. Now, Dr. Itengré Ouédraogo and his team have conducted their first fistula surgery in the completed facility.
You can watch their video of this exciting milestone surgery. Don’t worry—it’s not graphic!
Here comes the sun
Power outages in hospitals and health centers are dangerous. In parts of Peru, power outages are a common burden. Partners In Health (or Socios En Salud, as it’s known in Peru) plans to ease that burden by installing solar panels at four health centers across the country. Using solar energy will be more reliable, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective than generators in the long run. The reliable electricity will help build capacity to improve access to health care.
Healthy chickens, healthy kids
We know that healthy food leads to healthier kids, but in some areas, healthy food isn’t easy to come by. The Washington State University Paul G. Allen School for Global Health in collaboration with researchers at the Kenyan Medical Research Institute–Centre for Global Health Research and the University of Nairobi, Kenya, conducted a study on a fairly simple way to improve protein intake for Kenyan kids—vaccinate the chickens.
According to the study, kids in homes where the Newcastle vaccine was given to their chickens were shown to consume 24% more high-protein foods and improve their height and weight for their age groups. Healthier chickens equal healthier kids.
Coping with current life
A lot of us, including kids and teens, have been feeling the weight of heavy situations happening at home and around the world. These WGHA members have tips on how to cope.
Providence shares mental health resources for teens, parents, and educators on its Work2BeWell site.
Seattle Children’s shares tips on helping children cope with scary events and disasters.
International Medical Corps shares practical skills to cope during stressful times.
We wish you all good mental health.
Paving the way for a schistosomiasis vaccine
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute have begun a clinical trial to assess a schistosomiasis vaccine. They are recruiting volunteers in the Seattle area to participate in the study. It could help pave the way for the world’s first vaccine against the disease, offering a safe and cost-effective option to lower its prevalence worldwide and prevent deaths. Healthy people age 18 through 55 years old may be eligible to enroll in the study.
To learn more, email KPWA.vaccine@kp.org with your full name, date of birth, phone number, and the best time to reach you.
Around town
June 21: Join Fred Hutch for a Juneteenth celebration and the unveiling of the first art installation, by artist Mark Modimola, of the Public Art & Community Dialogue Program.
June 23: Come to our Global Learning Community of Practice Convening with VillageReach, Partners In Health, and Washington Department of Health to discuss how global learnings from abroad can be applied in the United States.
June 25: Spread the word about the Chehalis Safe Firearm Storage Education & Giveaway Event hosted by Seattle Children’s, Providence, Swedish, and partners. To reduce the number of firearm injuries and deaths, they are providing free lockboxes and trigger locks along with mental health resources.
June 27: Register for the next session in the Fred Hutch Global Oncology Lecture Series with guest speaker Clement Okello, MBChB, MMed, a hematologist at Uganda Cancer Institute, on CHOP vs. EPOCH in HIV-associated lymphoma.
July 8: Nominations are due for the 2022 Global Health Impact Awards. Nominate a Rising Star, Luminary Leader, or Impactful Organization today!
July 15: Learn about biomedical research on the immune system at Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason’s virtual Science Friday event.