I feel highly delighted and honoured to welcome you all to
the 2013 International Conference on Global Health: Issues, Challenges and
Management.
Global Health is the health of people in a global context and
transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. It is about worldwide improvement of health,
reduction of disparities and protection against global threats that disregard
national borders.
Exposure to transnational threats such as climate change,
poverty, violence etc and a feeling of increased and shared responsibility for
inequities present in the world today necessitated a more global approach to
improving the health of the world population.
In global health issues, it is important to emphasize that
the developed world does not have
monopoly of good ideas; and
therefore efforts mmust be made across cultures to develop better approaches
for the management of common diseases,
the environment and more efficient means of food production and
distribution. It calls for a shift in
philosophy and attitude that emphasize real partnership, a pooling of
experience and knowledge, and a two-way flow of information between developed
and developing countries. Global health
uses the resources, knowledge and experiences of diverse societies to address
health challenges throughout the world.
The Global Health Strategy Report, released by the Centre for
Disease Control emphasized that the overall aim of global health is to ensure a
world where people live healthier, safer and longer lives. These could be achieved by protecting and
improving global health through providing technical expertise, translating
research into public health policies and practices, developing surveillance and
strategic information systems, conducting monitoring and evaluation activities,
improving emergency preparedness and response capabilities etc.
Global health problems are as a result of economic, social,
environmental, political and health care inequalities and thus require solution
from interdisciplinary teams in such areas as health, education, social
sciences, science and technology.
The global health
challenges include among other issues, HIV/AIDS, malaria, emergency and refugee
health, non-communicable diseases, injuries etc.
Thus there is need for collaborative national and
trans-national efforts including developing evidence-based policy research and
using such evidence-based information constructively in all countries to
improve health equity; and also using public health promotion strategies to
improve health and underlying social, economic, environmental and political
determinants of health.
This International Conference will x-ray the following sub-
themes:
·
Safe motherhood
·
Child survival strategies
·
Sex and sexuality
·
Gender violence and abuse
·
Roll on, roll back malaria
·
Community management and control of HIV/AIDS
·
Aging and health
·
Substance use and abuse
·
Poverty and health
·
Environmental health in emergencies
It is hoped that at the end of this Conference, suggestions
will emerge on how to;
·
Translate researches into public health policies and
practices
·
Form partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, research
institutes and agencies on the use of traditional plants and methods for the
management of health problems.
·
Use vaccines for the management of health problems.
·
Improve health capacities and resources
·
Design health care-systems to promote population health.
·
Improve global governance
·
Co-ordinate actions across countries in response to disaster
and violence
·
Eradicate diseases
I wish to most sincerely thank our assiduous Vice-Chancellor,
Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka KSM, JP and the University Management
for approving and financially supporting this conference. I also thank our lead paper presenters. Prof. Amobi Linus Ilika and Dr. Barr. I.E. Anigbogu. I am very grateful to the Local Organizing
Committee for making this conference a reality.
Finally, I appreciate in a very special way the entire staff and
students of the University for their love and support.
Once more I welcome you all to the 2013 International
Conference on Global Health: Issues, Challenges and Management.
Thank you and God bless you.
Dr. (Mrs.) Ihuoma P. Asiabaka LSM, MNIM
Ag. Director, CWGDS
No comments:
Post a Comment