The info hub for the hub of global health
Max milestone
A partnership between The Max Foundation and Pfizer reached a major milestone—1,000 patients and their families around the world have received access to cancer treatments and support. Starting as a small pilot project just 5 years ago with a focus on low- and middle-income countries, Max Access Solutions has now helped patients in over 30 countries gain access to Pfizer’s cancer treatments at no cost to them. Here’s to 1,000 real life success stories.
Water please, hold the lead
Another partnership, the Georgia Department of Education and RTI International, formed to work with schools that might have lead in their drinking or cooking water. In some places, lead is still getting into the water through old pipes and plumbing, and kids exposed to it can have permanent cognitive and behavioral deficits.
Up to 800 schools can now enroll in the Clean Water for Georgia Kids program to have their water tested, and if lead is found, they will be provided with no- or low-cost solutions to reduce exposure and protect their students.
Sharing the vax
Up to 220 million residents in the African Union will be able to roll up their sleeves for a COVID vaccine. On a mission to ensure global equitable access to the vaccine and reduce the spread of COVID-19, UNICEF signed an agreement to supply the doses throughout all 55 member states by the end of next year. No one is safe until everyone is safe, so we need all hands on deck until everyone has access to a COVID vaccine.
Historic alliance
Four powerhouse organizations in cancer care are restructuring their alliance to form a historic cancer partnership. Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and Seattle Children’s plan to establish both adult and pediatric oncology programs that advance innovative cancer research and treatments both in the community and around the world. This could be a game-changer in cancer care as the partnership works to “shorten the timeline between discovery and use of the newest treatments.”
Kid vibes
Being sick in a hospital can be scary, especially for kids. But, with Adara’s support, there’s a new 10-bed children’s ward in Ghyangfedi, Nepal. It was specifically designed for kids, with bright colors, cartoons, and even a play area. Hopefully, the new kid-friendly space will bring more smiles while they get the care they need.
Solving a mystery
What if you were allergic to almost every food? For people with eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE), that’s not just a what if, it’s reality. EOE is a mysterious illness and not much is known about the causes or best treatments—and it’s becoming more common.
Researchers at Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are using a cutting-edge research method to figure out what causes such severe reactions, how to advance detection without biopsies, and which alternative treatment options could help.
Summer break
August is the annual summer recess for Field Notes. Watch WGHA’s events calendar, careers page, and social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin) for updates in the meantime! We’ll be back in your inbox in September.
People on the move
Elana Lopez is the senior vice president and chief people officer at Americares.
Lutz Hegemann joined the board of directors at PATH.
Zoomin’ around town
July 26: Join the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce for the latest in the Elevate NW series: Balancing Your Dual Energies in Business.
July 30: Participate in Science Friday—a virtual event offering a firsthand look at biomedical research focused on the immune system with Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason.
Aug. 4: Attend a virtual info session to learn more about the Global Leadership Forum Mid-Career, Emerging Leaders Cohort. Applications are being accepted now for the cohort launch on October 1.
Aug. 19: Come together (in person!) to celebrate PNW life science achievements at the Life Science Washington summer social.
Aug. 31: Save the date for our WGHA Member Roundtable: Equitable Access to Health.
Anytime
Check out What Working in Crisis Mode Teaches Us About Collaboration and Impact, published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, by Panorama’s Gabrielle Fitzgerald.
Listen to the latest Bloodworks Northwest podcast A Matter of Life & Death featuring University of Washington Hospital and Seattle Children’s.
Learn 5 ways to decolonize global health from Devex.
Read Kati Collective‘s guest blog post for Global Washington, Gender Equity Is Not an Add-on.
“The reason why I love working in global health is that we’re able to demonstrate the benefit to populations that we work with. Benefit and impact are slightly different. Impact, to me, is neutral because it can go either way, but if you focus yourself on prioritizing benefit, then you’re really thinking about those values of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-colonialism, anti-racism, because you’re driving towards that positive outcome.”
–Claire Gwayi-Chore, speaking at the Women in Global Health Seattle Q2 gathering on decolonizing global health