GlobeMed @ Emory University

GlobeMed is a non-profit organization leading a global health movement entirely powered by undergraduates. We aim to raise awareness of global health inequity and improve the lives of the impoverished around the world, one partnership at a time. Our chapter here at Emory works in pragmatic solidarity with the MAP foundation, a grassroots NGO in Thailand, empowering Burmese migrant workers by training them how to navigate the Thai law and healthcare systems. (Please email all questions to [email protected])

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Sunday Staff Spotlight: JANICE LEE! (AKA Mue Muey) Janice Lee is an Emory neuroscience graduate, and serves as the Burmese translator and IT/media production specialist of the 2015 GROW team. She's currently in her gap year, applying to medical school and enjoying a well-earned, if modest, increase in free time (from "none" to "some") before she's back to her studies! Janice's interests include Yu-Gi-Oh!, visual arts, graphic design, and being an all-around badass. She hopes to work as a primary care provider. We'd be "lost in translation" without her. We love you, Janice!

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#WCW: MAP Foundation's Ying Horm. She's a fearless leader in community outreach. She spreads happiness to everyone around her, and her selflessness and vibrant enthusiasm shines in everything she does, from advocating for Burmese migrants to lifting up her friends with a smile and a laugh. In short, Ying Horm: you ROCK! We love you! #globemed #mapfoundation

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Being able to come to Chiang Mai for a second time has allowed me to fully understand the importance of interpersonal relationships. Though I still find the monuments and the luster of the city just as breathtaking, they don’t compare to the rush and excitement I get out of being able to reconnect with those I have not seen for a year. Regardless of the language barrier and time passed, I still feel a strong sense of belonging. It is just these relationships and emotional transactions that truly transform an experience. Not only do I have a deeper understanding of Thai culture but I believe I have found family thousands of miles away from what I consider home.

I am extremely thankful for having been greeted so warmly by not only MAP staff but also by the interns that we were able to teach last year. Though the language barrier still persists, it seems as if we have surpassed this and come to understand each other on another level. Needless to say, I am excited for what the next five weeks will look like! 

- Wendy

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Global Health Issues: Female Infanticide

Throughout history, the patriarchal nature within certain cultures has resulted in female infanticide. Females within these cultures have been consistently seen as burdensome and therefore worthless. Sadly, this global, health issue continues to exist. Today, the amount of female infanticide reported fails to truly match statistics. Mothers and fathers continue to abandon their female children, resulting in a great amount of female infanticide. What is currently being done in attempt to end this alarming, global health issue?  Check out this interesting article about baby hatches. 

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/05/trash-bin-babies-indias-female-infanticide-crisis/257672/

Perhaps, the idea of “baby hatches” may decrease the amount of female infanticide existing today. The idea of baby hatches involves the construction of a room within a health center where women or men can abandon their female children. Instead of simply being abandoned on the streets, these children would now have the chance of living. These females would have the chance to prove their worth within their cultures.

With more innovative ideas circulating, global health issues will become less of a worry. The article truly shows that the possibilities are endless!

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What if you didn't have water?

The focus of our news here in the United States has recently been centered around our right to own firearms. Should we be able to carry around a concealed weapon? Should we have the right to own firearms at all? Most citizens consider owning firearms a human right, necessary for self defense, and as citizens of the United States we fight to keep our rights. What most people don't realize however is how privileged we are to be debating over the right to own firearms and not access to clean water and sanitation which many people living in Thailand lack. 

Thailand has witnessed much economic growth, which a majority of the people have benefited from, however, in the shadows live the impoverished which often include undocumented migrants, who lack even the most basic essentials like clean water. These people live crowded together with a community of 300 sharing 10 toilets and one bathing point. Only 21% of water is treated with the majority of their water polluted with human waste. Living conditions have become so devastating that the UN has called on Thailand's government to make proactive changes. 

Here's an article by the UN with more details about the travesty of the living conditions:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44099&Cr=thailand&Cr1=#.URf5mY6hOQo

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Fear of the People

As we celebrated the coming of the New Year with dancing, refugees in Burmese camps in Myanmar were fearing for their lives. On January 4, air attacks were called by the government to fight Kachin rebels seeking autonomy. Such a violent act of "defense" has claimed an estimated 100,000 Kachin. 

On January 14, three Kachin civilians were killed and many more were wounded in a Burma military attack. As fighting on the ground continued through to today, tensions grew high. But as of today, a decree was repealed which sentences political dissidents to extended prison terms. Basically, the decree states that those who deliver speeches that could undermine the "peace and stability of the nation" could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison!!!

This is an amazing step towards a new future for Burma. After this decree was made, other laws which restrict individual rights were also considered for review.

Though students strive to do great things across the world, the greatest way to evoke change is through political means. I realize that this is a bold claim that many disagree with, but to protect individuals from others and to give people hope for their future and the future of their children, fair and solid political guidelines are essential. A government which supports citizens and their rights is like a strong tree around which healthy vines and plants can grow and flourish (sorry for the forced simile). 

Our voices are strong and are essential for making changes. Not enough students contact local politicians and get their voices heard... Maybe we can even help communities in other countries with our words.

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Easy to forget...

Sitting at the dining room table surrounded by family and friends, it is easy to forget how lucky we are to have certain resources...Like a safe place to live. I was sitting next to my boisterous uncle who is known for giving an excessive amount of high fives. Though he usually evokes groaning and eye-rolling from me and the rest of my family, I realized how thankful I am to have him in my life. 

There are so many cultures around the world where it is normal for extended family to live with each other, and then there are those where families are separated. Sometimes children are forced into homelessness and suffer from starvation. And let's not forget that. 

This holiday season, regardless of how tired or complacent we become, we should take the time to brush up on our world new to stay in touch with everything happening. BBC online is a great source of world news because they cover a variety of issues all around the world. So chheeckk it out!

Happy Holidays from GlobeMed at Emory!! And hope everyone has a happy New Year!

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Contraception as a Human Right

The United Nations recently declared access to contraception as a human right in an effort to improve the lives of women and children, especially those living under impoverished conditions. The UN is recognizing the importance of family planning in the welfare of women and is stating that any barriers inhibiting women’s access to contraception, excluding abortions, is an infringement on their rights. 

Although there are no legal ramification to enforce this declaration, the UN is taking action on their declaration and plans to increase funds for family planning by $4.1 billion with the prediction that the investment will save $11.3 billion annually in health care costs. 

Most groups against the declaration are offended by the stigma that surrounds the words “contraception” and “family planning.” Many often are misguided to believe that they destroy the traditional family structure, when in actuality, they improve the quality for family’s by giving parents the ability to ensure they have the necessary resources to provide for children. 

Parents living under impoverished conditions often cannot pay for adequate healthcare and education, which not only limits a child’s ability to succeed but also stretches the parent’s already scarce resources as they try to provide for a family. Access to contraception will allow parents to ensure that they will have the means to provide for an entire family including both the children and themselves. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/united-nations-contraception-access-human-right_n_2128551.html

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Victory in Global Health

The news usually portrays and emphasizes the negative aspects of global health issues. We always hear of the thousands of people who are malnourished and starving, the violation of human rights, or the murder or rape of women and children. The list is endless. Although these issues are critical and deserve our attention, we often forget to think about the progress made in global health. 

A recent article celebrates the ambitious universal healthcare plan in the northern Indian state of Rajathan. This plan provides free generic drugs to at least 68 million people. The state government is distributing nearly 400 essential drugs, and this “Rajasthan model” is being used as a foundation for future healthcare plans throughout India, which could potentially bring free drugs to India’s massive population of 1.2 billion.

This achievement shows the constant progress that is being made; it shows that there are people who are working every day to provide health care and rights to those who are deprived of them. Living in a developed country, we usually take these rights, these privileges, as granted, as something that should always be guaranteed. Although it is hard for us to imagine life without these necessities, it is important for us to acknowledge these accomplishments and continue to actively work to make these rights accessible to everyone around the world.

The article about India’s healthcare:

http://www.globalissues.org/news/2012/11/08/15217

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Religious Intolerance or Something Else?

After 90 people were killed this past June, a state of emergency was declared in Rakhine. An article was published last week about the violent outbreak in Burma's state of Rakhine. Over 56 people were killed, and hundreds of houses were burned since the state had last been updated on news of the conflict (which was a little over a week ago). Tensions between Rakhine Muslims and Buddhists have existed since a Buddhist woman was raped and murdered by three muslim men in May, and since then outbreaks like this have been starting between the groups. 

This story is only a small taste of the continuous unrest in Burma. For those of us who are interested in supporting Burmese refugees, it is sometimes hard to understand what a refugee is exactly. Most of us have grown up with a supportive family in a relatively violence-free area. It's difficult to imagine the extreme conditions that could drive a family to uproot and flee to a completely different country!!!

Being that the U.S. is more often the country to which people flee, we are used to thinking of our country as a safe place. But imagine living in a home in a town and never being able to leave your house alone due to the possibility of being attacked on the street... In front of others. Imagine having to fight for food constantly, and never being able to fall asleep peacefully because of the noise outside. Imagine giving birth to a child conceived during a rape (this pertains to only girls). Though imaging this kind of life is the furthest many of us can come to understanding, it is definitely worth thinking about. 

There is a reason Burmese migrants flee their respective state. They don't leave on a whim because they hear the weather across the border is more conducive to an off-season tan. The severity of their living conditions in Burma make them flee, regardless of the rights they may or may not have when they arrive in a new country. 

Check out more of the BBC articles on Burmese conflicts... They are all eye-opening

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20083287

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Judicial Struggle to Protect Everyone

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eap/154386.htm

We can say that we understand injustice... But how many of us have thoroughly read Human Rights declarations? To say that I read every word of the attached document would be a lie, seeing as it is a very long and in depth review about Japan's shortcomings in protecting different rights of the people. 

It is interesting to think about the dedication a government must have to uphold laws. If there is any weak link in the system, different departments and people try to compensate for that loss. 

Skim this report!! The analysis of the rights of prisoners and refugees delineated by the law in Japan compared to the actual implementation of rights' protection is unbelievable... A little scary to think that with the wrong kind of leader or government this could happen...

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Start to a new year...

So, a new GlobeMed year has begun! This past weekend, GlobeMed at Emory's exec and staff took a ride to play some Whirlyball and then have a great BBQ. As we bonded and new members got to know each other, I realized how blessed our chapter is to have these new additions, along with returning members.

A chapter's efficacy in helping its partner can be measured in a few ways. Whether through actively accounting for financial success from an event, or relying on feedback from our partner in Thailand about how we are influencing them, success or failure can be analyzed quantitatively. 

Though it is a goal to achieve success not only by raising money for the MAP Foundation but also by raising awareness of our mission around campus, a new goal of ours is to unify our chapter.

Last year, we were grateful to have an enthusiastic group of people whom were invaluable. As we build off our success from our first official year, we can look forward to more events like Whirlyball and gatherings to offer a great environment for discussion about campaigns and general thoughts on growing discrepancies in global health.

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So what about the guys?

Gender has always been an issue discussed when considering different health issues. In these discussions, women and the disadvantages they find themselves with are usually the focus. As the feminist movement grows as a global initiative, it's easy to forget about the struggle that men face as well.

The pressure put on men to embody the role of a true man is much greater than we realize. As the world shrinks, even developing countries are influenced by Western media; they are expected to look, talk, act, and feel a certain way. 

For men who feel deficient in a certain one of these specific "expectations" from society, they are more likely to act out on others surrounding them. From this stems social violence, especially in terms of domestic violence.  

We can relate this to the MAP Foundation! What MAP does by teaching farmers (predominantly men) how to be more independent and be able to make a better living is give them a toolbox so that they can feel more confident in themselves. 

Seeing as half of the humans on earth can't understand this struggle that men face (because they are women), it can be frustrating for men to talk to their wives... In many cases they don't discuss problems they are having with their wives because they may seem weak. It's very interesting to consider this social expectation that men hold themselves to. When discussing global health, we sometimes forget about this pressure on the men.

Until we comprehend the expectation in many cultures that a man be superior to his wife, we will not be able to safely pursue other gender equality goals. 

By creating more secure jobs for men, they will probably be more likely to give their wives more rights within the family unit other than cooking, cleaning, and child bearing. This consideration of pressure on men is just another example of the numerous facets of global health!

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Starving Farmers

Sooo if you grow food wouldn't you think you'd be able to eat it? No. Subsistence farming is still a primary occupation in developing countries due to the global demand for different foods. However, because of different export taxes and laws, a lot of farmers don't make the amount of money that they should. 

Ellen Gustafson talks about this conundrum between farming and hunger... and it applies to the MAP Foundation! When farmers learn about the injustices that they are victims of, they learn ways to protect themselves and their jobs.

It's interesting to notice the difference between farmers in North America and farmers abroad... Many farmers in the US are borderline, if not already, obese. The shift in the food system across the globe has put pressure on subsistence farmers, who sell non-processed foods.

Countries see the solution to malnutrition as the need to implement high calorie/energy/fat foods for lower costs. But this is only beneficial for large companies that produce these products and that exploit the small subsistence farmers for cheap products!

Buy locally! Encourage education abroad to help subsistence farmers and make it difficult for the large corporations to keep exploiting the public both in terms of health and in terms of economy.

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she talks pretty fast... but it's interesting how these bags, which are a fashion trend, are really helping others just like the company promises. She seems very enthusiastic about her work

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Sweat for Social Justice

Whenever we learn about new issues influencing other societies and cultures, the topic of social injustice between classes is usually mentioned. But how is such a prevalent topic still such an issue? 

On Saturday, March 24, GlobeMed at Emory will be hosting a 5K run in Lullwater Park on Emory's campus. Every $10 registration donation will be given directly to our partner in Thailand, the MAP Foundation. Though it seems like a long way away, one of the most helpful things we can do at this point is to send funds to Thailand to show those working within the foundation that they are on our minds. 

If we aren't able to be in Thailand 24/7 and directly help with their efforts to hold education sessions for local farmers, then we can at least become aware of their need for funds and supply them. With the farmers gaining more education about the social system in Thailand and ways to protect themselves from exploitation, we are being active in the fight against social injustice!

Come this Saturday for free food and drinks... and a great terrain!