“Emergence of ecological medicine” 「生態醫學的興起」

On January 07, 2011, within the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, Prof. Bruno WALTHER, Research Fellow, Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute (TESRI) and Assistant Professor for Environmental Science, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University gave a unique lecture entitled “Emergence of ecological medicine” at Taipei Medical University.

This talk presented an introduction to ecological medicine, a discipline which has recently been gaining more and more ground because scientists have realized that interdisciplinary approaches are important in ensuring public health in the emerging environmental age, when globalization, diminishing resources and environmental crises create new and unprecedented challenges to medical research and practice.

Prof. Walther also discussed on new approaches to (1) how human well-being depends on healthy and functional ecosystems, (2) how ecology and evolution can help in understanding and combating emerging diseases and tackle global health issues, and (3) how medical practice can decrease its own environmental footprint.

Finally, he underlined how ecological Medicine invites the biomedical community, ecologists and individuals who are concerned for individual, public and ecosystem health to learn from each other and to embrace a balanced, ecological approach to sustaining health.

Prof. Walther's presentation: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwxiA_OBopmCOGI3MmM3MDMtNTQyMS00OTdmLWIzNjgtZmViMzI0NGI1MGY3&hl=en&authkey=CMyjrsEJ

“Public Health from an International Perspective” 從國際看公共衛生

On December 10, 2010, within the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, Prof. Peter CHANG, Dean, International Office, TMU gave a unique lecture entitled ‘Public Health from an International Perspective" at Taipei Medical University.

Starting from the idea that “every citizen is one global citizen” and that “public health issues have moved to central stage of global issues”, Prof. Peter CHANG presented the main health-related international topics from 2000 to today involving (MDGs announcement in 2000, SARS in 2003 or the Tsunami in 2004).

Then he focused on Millennium Development goals and their achievement so far and gave the audience his own point of view and what are the main challenges before 2015.

Using his own experience of Health attaché, he proposed an assessment of the WHO annual Review and of its main objectives for next year: urban planning essential for health, multi-drug resistance, harmful use of alcohol, health system strengthening, etc…

Finally, he recommended to develop more partnerships between sectors and cross-border, to adopt better approaches and new technologies to improve global health and paraphrased Prof. Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Nobel Laureate in medicine (2008) in saying that “ there is always hope I science and in human being if we can work closely together”.

Prof. Peter CHANG's presentation: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwxiA_OBopmCY2NkMjExZjEtYTY5OC00ODRjLTgxNzEtZjNjM2UxNjNiNzA3&hl=en&authkey=COzN2_YM

Strategy of bridging the health educational gap between Africa and Taiwan 縮短非洲與台灣健康教育落差的策略

On december 24th, 2010, Prof. David CHENG, College of Pharmacy, TMU made a unique lecture on "Strategy of bridging the health educational gap between Africa and Taiwan" .

After an explanation of the situation of phamacy education in Malawi, Prof. Cheng shared his own experience in that country and how he worked to build a sustainable partnershipbetween Taiwan and Malawi in the area of pharmacy education.

He notably explained how he succeeded in enrolling 8 students into pharmacy program in Malawi in 2006 and then how these efforts helped to create what he calls a "Big Pharmacy Family".

He also explained how these Malawian students had the opportunity to join international conferences on pharmacy in Taiwan, how they were able to get internship abroad and to be enrolled in Master degrees at TMU.

Prof. Cheng's presentation: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwxiA_OBopmCYmVjMzljZmUtMjU5Mi00YWM5LWIxZGMtN2MxYjQ1ZGI2NTYz&hl=en&authkey=CLawtvQE

Industrial Diseases: a global health concern工業病：全球衛生關注的議題

On December 17, 2010, we welcomed Dr. Paul Jobin, Director of the French Center for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC in French!), Taipei Office. Dr. Jobin gave a lecture on "Industrial Diseases: A Global health concern".

In his presentation, after having explained what the definition of "industrial diseases" was, Dr. Jobin showed how the activities of industries could have a deep impact on publich health at the local levels.
To illustrate his point, he choose two main examples: 1) Minamata mercury pollution case in Japan, and 2) the Asbestos issue in several countries (Canada, France, China, Russia, India,..).

Underlining what have been -are - the health consequences of these cases, he also underlined how social and labor movements were key actors able to put these issues on the national and global agenda and how they acted to defend the victims of these industrial diseases.

Please see Dr. Paul Jobin's presentation at TMU here: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BwxiA_OBopmCNGMzNzEyZmItZDhhNS00NTYzLTg1OTItZmRkODc1OTI2YzYw&hl=en&authkey=COzmrLMC

Links: CEFC: http://www.cefc.com.hk/rubrique.php?id=102

Nutrition impact on Global Health營養在全球衛生的影響

On December 10. 2010, Prof. Jane Chao from the College of Public Health and Nutrition (TMU) gave a very inspiring lecture on "Nutrition impact on global health" in the framework of our forums.

In her presentation, Prof. Chao underlined two main issues: malnutrition and obesity around the world. First, after giving a short presentation of the definitions of malnutrition, mild / moderate /severe malnutrition and famine, she reminded to the audience composed of local and international students and faculties that 925 million people were still hunger people in 2010. With very telling maps she then underlined the geographical distribution of this situation around the world and highlighted how the international organizations, governments and NGOs were dealing with this issue.

Then, Prof. Chao presented the situation of obesity around the world, ranked the US., Mexico and the UK among the first three countries in terms of obesity and talked about a "globesity" crisis.

Finally, Prof Chao explained how malnutrition as well as obesity had a tremendous impact on health at the global, regional, national and individual levels.

To see Prof. Chao's presentation at TMU, please click here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwxiA_OBopmCNzYyZTliYmItNTY0MS00NDNkLTk1ZGYtNzFkOTc2MjQ4OTNh&hl=en&authkey=COOwwcgH

Missionaries and the improvement of access to health 傳教士與促進改善衛生

On November 26, 2010, within the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, Fr. Pierrot ANTHONY, St Joseph Hospital, Huwei, Taiwan gave a unique lecture entitled ‘Missionaries and the improvement of access to health " at Taipei Medical University.

Medical work is part of religion’s marching order to “love our neighbor,” Father Anthony began his talk, which was richly illustrated by photographic slides. His mission site for 56 of his 80 years has grown from a half-finished factory building to a massive complex of 700 staff and almost 600 beds to provide care. Yunlin was a rather isolated area in central Taiwan when he arrived, with no paved roads for the farmers and fishermen who lived there. Industry in the area was limited to sugar, cement and fertilizer factories. The buffalo were the true engines of commerce, the priest said, and after school the farm kids had to take them to where they could graze. Even the mission’s movies and projector travelled by buffalo cart! Water was pumped by hand, and young girls had to care for younger siblings, with even small girls carrying babies tied on their backs as they tried to get away from the housework to play like the boys did.“Planting rice is hard work,” Father Anthony said, showing photos of the hand planting and threshing, which was accomplished by vigorously shaking sheaves of rice in a barrel till the grains fell off.

For the full story, please go to: http://www.tmu.edu.tw/english/app/news.php?Sn=51

Cultural competence and Literacy 文化地位和素養

On November 19, 2010, within the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, Prof. Val CRAWFORD, Visiting Professor, TMU gave a unique lecture entitled ‘Cultural competence and Literacy, " at Taipei Medical University.

In her presentation, Prof. Crawford underlined what we need to learn from cultural incompetence and illiteracy and remind that cultural competence and literacy meant performing adequately in one’s linguistic environment. She notably explained how we need to be humbled in communicative contexts to understand and teach others who are illiterate in our professional worlds.

Finally she advised Taiwan to have better English if it wants to serve as Asia’s Switzerland: a place where the region’s business gets done smoothly, safely and reliably in several global languages.

She then opened the floor to the audience to let the participants share about their own situation in terms of linguistic environment challenges and to make comments and ask questions.

Prof. Val Crawford's lecture: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwxiA_OBopmCMDJkNDY4MWQtMWZjMC00MDZlLWIwN2YtNmIyYjcwYjgxYjc1&hl=en&authkey=CJXc6-QK

Reaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in HIV/AIDS: Experience from Malawi. 千禧年發展目標—對抗愛滋病毒/愛滋病 馬拉威的經歷

On November 12, 2010, within the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, Dr. Solomon CHEN from Pingtung Christian Hospital gave a unique lecture entitled ‘Reaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in HIV/AIDS: Experience from Malawi " at Taipei Medical University.

After presenting the MDGs and notably those related to health and short presentation of the socio-political situation of Malawi, he gave to the audience an overview of the HIV/AIDS situation in that country: 930,000 people infected, 10,000 new orphans every year and 200,000 people who need ART. He then presented the role of the Pingtung hospital and the Taiwanese team in Malawi and notably the Rainbow ARV clinic situated in Mzuzu Hospital, HIV nutrition program and the Traditional Birth attendance project.

He also used the opportunity to present his research on “Risk factors for early mortality in children on adult-fixed dose combination ART in Malawi” and “the true outcomes for patients on ART who are ‘lost to follow-up’ in Malawi”.
Finally, he presented a new project of identification of health facilities with GPS

Dr. Solomon CHEN's lecture: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwxiA_OBopmCZTRkYzA3MjQtN2U4Ny00NTQxLTk3ZWUtMWRlZWE0ZDUwZDQ0&hl=en&authkey=CPuvlfcB

Experiences from south of the equator: Australian clinical indicator analysis, reporting and systems theory-based improvement 南半球經驗:澳洲臨床指示劑分析及報告與系統理論基

In the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, on November 05, 2010, Prof. Peter Howley from the University of Newcastle, Australia gave a lecture entitled "Experiences from south of the equator: Australian clinical indicator analysis, reporting and systems theory-based improvement" at Taipei Medical University.

In his lecture, he explained how Bayesian hierarchical modeling could be used to foster quality improvement activity in health care, through the creation of improved methods for analysis and reporting of clinical indicator data.

He then underlined'performance measures' in the health care field.

Finally, he showed to the audience how research and applications of Statistics could be notably used in the fields of health with quality improvement activity in health.

From Humanitarian Assistance to Global Advocacy: International Campaign to Ban Landmines—Voice for Landmine Survivors 國際禁止地雷運動和康復的地雷受害者

In the framework of the “Global Health in practice” Forums, on October 29, 2010, Mrs. Serena CHANG, Manager of the International Campaign to ban Landmines, Eden Foundation will give a lecture on “From Humanitarian Assistance to Global Advocacy: International Campaign to Ban Landmines—Voice for Landmine Survivors”.

In her presentation, Ms. Chang introduced the global problem of anti-personnel landmines and the challenges that landmine survivors are facing today. A 20-minute documentary on survivor assistance in Afghanistan was screened.

The screening was followed by a presentation on the work of ICBL (International Campaign to Ban Landmines) as a voice for landmine survivors to end the global landmine epidemic. The success of ICBL’s global advocacy created a new international norm, and was recognized with Noble Peace Prize in 1997.

The presentation also discussed how a local NGO, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, participates in a global humanitarian movement by providing humanitarian aid and advocating the issue.