2008 Woodie Awards
FAS tackles international epidemics
Issue date: 3/27/08
Four public health experts from around the world gathered in the Glass Pavilion on Wednesday to present their own work on global epidemics and to tout the need for continued dialogue and action on AIDS and malaria as part of the Foreign Affairs Symposium (FAS).
Randall Packard presented first on the prevalence of malaria and the challenges in combating globally. The focus of his presentation was the feasibility of eradicating malaria. Packard is the William H. Welch Professor of History of Medicine at the School of Public Health and specializes in the social history of health and disease in Africa as well as the history of international health.
"Malaria breeds in conditions of poverty, warfare, social dislocation, deteriorating health services and disease that remain a part of daily life in much of Africa," he said.
"Conditions in Africa make it unlikely we can completely eradicate malaria. Getting it under control is possible. Not a very optimistic viewpoint, but it leaves us open to discuss what can be done."
He cited increases in funding and better technologies, such as pesticidal bed nettings, as changes that have been and will continue to be important in fighting the disease.
Nizam Ahmed, the director of the HIV/AIDS program and South Asia program advisor of Save the Children, a non-governmental organization, presented on the successes of fighting AIDS in Bangladesh. Save the Children's aggressive education and prevention efforts have kept AIDS in check in Bangladesh, a country surrounded by nations with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
"The problem was identified in a timely manner, recognized bygovernment and action has been facilitated by NGOs," he said in explaining the success of his program.
Save the Children has taken a multi-faceted approach in fighting the disease, covering everything from mass media advertising to creating awareness to getting religious leaders on board with "declaring war on HIV/AIDS," Ahmed said.
Randall Packard presented first on the prevalence of malaria and the challenges in combating globally. The focus of his presentation was the feasibility of eradicating malaria. Packard is the William H. Welch Professor of History of Medicine at the School of Public Health and specializes in the social history of health and disease in Africa as well as the history of international health.
"Malaria breeds in conditions of poverty, warfare, social dislocation, deteriorating health services and disease that remain a part of daily life in much of Africa," he said.
"Conditions in Africa make it unlikely we can completely eradicate malaria. Getting it under control is possible. Not a very optimistic viewpoint, but it leaves us open to discuss what can be done."
He cited increases in funding and better technologies, such as pesticidal bed nettings, as changes that have been and will continue to be important in fighting the disease.
Nizam Ahmed, the director of the HIV/AIDS program and South Asia program advisor of Save the Children, a non-governmental organization, presented on the successes of fighting AIDS in Bangladesh. Save the Children's aggressive education and prevention efforts have kept AIDS in check in Bangladesh, a country surrounded by nations with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.
"The problem was identified in a timely manner, recognized bygovernment and action has been facilitated by NGOs," he said in explaining the success of his program.
Save the Children has taken a multi-faceted approach in fighting the disease, covering everything from mass media advertising to creating awareness to getting religious leaders on board with "declaring war on HIV/AIDS," Ahmed said.
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