It has been almost two years since I completed my Peace Corps service. My life current is drastically different from the perpetual sunny days in West Africa. For once, there are four distinctive seasons where I live, the nearest market is not three hours away, and my home is not a little house in the middle of the maize field anymore! The one thing that has not changed is how often I think about sex — mostly STDs and HIV prevention — as well as women’s health issues and nutrition topics. These were all health subjects that I addressed while serving as a Health, Water and Sanitation Agent and even thought I have left Ghana, my Ghana my set has not left me, and thought about public health are still constantly on my mind. With that in mind, …show more content…
Prior to departure, I was audaciously confident about everything — my ability to pick up a new language as quickly as I learned English 12 years prior, my ability to adjust to a new culture, and how “experienced” I was as an international volunteer. It didn’t take long for me to fall off the self-hoisted pedestal. The fall hurt; my ego bruised. Challenges rose and my prior knowledge did not transfer into easy solution. Knowing how to use a latrine is not the same as building one, and knowing how to build one on paper is not the same as implementing a project for latrine building. The longer I was in Ghana, the clearer it became: I have much to learn to because an expert. It was a harsh truth to face and accept, but it was humbling and necessary in directing me to my next steps — learning the correct skills through proper public health …show more content…
I have learned that no single social issue, complex or simple, is isolated. Rather, they are all interconnected globally and are the each other’s causes and effects. I am excited to continue gaining a global perspective and determined to be a change agent in arriving at a global
...victims of war and genocide, it is admirable to see his courage to remain engaged in service to his fellow human. With a bold, yet pragmatic vision, Orbinski is unconcerned with seemingly intractable problems of finding drugs for the poorest AIDS victims. The book illustrates his desire to get the job done without bravado and grand statements. Although the book was painful to read, it takes he reader to the extreme of human suffering. Nevertheless, it also inspires with its reflections of humanitarianism and the ingenuity brought to its implementation. It is heartening to know James Orbinski can inspire students in both the arts and sciences as they set out on their careers. Since after all he’s seen, Orbinski remain optimistic, not cynical, and committed to action. Do give this book to any students in your life, after you have read it yourself.
...out sanitation, infrastructure, and hygiene can greatly reduce global health disparities worldwide. In addition, research is another fundamental necessary in ensuring human health quality for individuals. I admire the researchers who commit in finding answers to fight against chronic diseases occurring worldwide. I have significantly respect the researchers who work together in discovering new diseases and treatments affecting individuals globally and not only fulfilling one country’s needs. It is my desire to become one of those researchers in the next ten years contributing in global health and decreasing global health inequalities in order to provide health care equality for every human being living in the world. We need to work together, globally, and collaborate in order to end health inequalities and the pursuit of human equality in the sake of social justice.
The essential point of view in the documentary and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s speech is that our views need to shift and that if started now, the future generations can learn from our mistakes.
Child soldier is a worldwide issue, but it became most critical in the Africa. Child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by some rebel groups and used as fighters, cooks, messengers, human shields and suicide bombers, some of them even under the aged 10 when they are forced to serve. Physically vulnerable and easily intimidated, children typically make obedient soldiers. Most of them are abducted or recruited by force, and often compelled to follow orders under threat of death. As society breaks down during conflict, leaving children no access to school, driving them from their homes, or separating them from family members, many children feel that rebel groups become their best chance for survival. Others seek escape from poverty or join military forces to avenge family members who have been killed by the war. Sometimes they even forced to commit atrocities against their own family (britjob p 4 ). The horrible and tragic fate of many unfortunate children is set on path of war murders and suffering, more nations should help to prevent these tragedies and to help stop the suffering of these poor, unfortunate an innocent children.
One person cannot tackle the vast amount of issues of today and change the world. With so many injustices that occur in today’s society we can’t help but feel overwhelmed as to what people, as citizens of the world, can do to make the world an exceptional environment. Many believe the task is either too large and intimidating to face head on, or they don’t want to face the possibility of failure and criticism. We have the idea of taking on enormous tasks and expect change almost immediately, however, it’s not the anticipated outcome. Real change starts when one contributes to their community; the smallest of impacts generate the biggest changes in the long run.
I could say that my path to medicine began when I entered the Peace Corps and was sent to Tanzania, East Africa. Africa offered me several challenges: a new language, difficult living conditions, shocking poverty—but working through these challenges equipped me with a skill set. I came to understand and appreciate the need for tolerance, patience, and compassion when dealing with people who are different from me. Peace Corps also began to lay a certain foundation: the conviction to work with a diverse population and the beginning tools of perseverance.
"UNAIDS Guidance Note on HIV and Sex Work." Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) (2009): n. pag. UNAIDS. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
Throughout the summer, I worked hand and hand with the amazing UNICEF staff and partners to not only collect, analyze and distribute pertinent data, but also to survey and assess the current needs of the community and the target population. This was successfully completed through data review, in depth interview and focus group. Using tis s information along with the help of my amazing supervisor, Novia Condell, I was able to successfully complete inception reports for the partnering organization of Children First. The results showed that there was significant need to address HIV/AIDS within the adolescent homosexual community as well as socioeconomic factors within this key population. Thus, a new yet sustainable three-month program for the youth and adolescent MSM community within the Kingston and surrounding areas was created. A needs assessment and focus group was created and analyzed in order to ensure program efficiency and success. With the help of the Children First staff, a comprehensive and interactive intervention program was created to address not only HIV/AIDS and adolescent health, but also life skills, physical wellness, spiritual wellness and occupational
The most pressing social problem we’re facing in 2016 could, quite possibly, be that despite the vastly different social problems plaguing the United States, let alone the world today, the majority of people are uninformed or, even worse, apathetic about any of the issues that don’t directly affect them. On the other hand, there is also a rising vocal and often aggressive minority of people, mostly young adults and college students, who are committed to protesting and seeking resolutions for the social issues they find concerning for moral or personal reasons. One of these more contentious and divisive issues that has been becoming more and more urgent in the past few years, but seems to have reached a boiling point in 2016, is an epidemic
Throughout this class, there were many social issues and whom they affect discussed. I loved this class for the reason of getting myself more familiar with what is happening around me and around everyone else in the world. This class was an eye opener to major social issues that people are faced with so in this paper, I am going to talk about the seven objectives we were supposed to obtain from this class.
Over the course of this semester this class has enhanced my awareness of social and global issues. A social issue is an issue that relates to society’s perception of a person’s personal life. Different cultures have different perceptions and what may be “normal” behavior in one society may be a significant social issue in another society. Global issues are those that have, or hold, the potential for impacting the whole world. I learned a lot about global and social issues in the readings we did for this course.
Haiti has to fix its economic crises and destruction caused by both the earthquake and mismanagement of its resources. It also has to educate its people about some of the most prevalent diseases such as HIV/AIDS. The two NGO non-profit organizations Sove Lavi and Fanm Tet Ansanm struggle to reach out to women, especially through training programs to help stop the contraction and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Violence against women is a common occurrence; Fanm Tet Ansam provides medical care for women, distribution of condoms and HIV/AIDS testing. This organization use different measures to help women understand the dangers of sexual transmitted diseases, by enforcing abstinence, birth controls and other prevention methods {p4}. However, the book d...
After witnessing the misery and horrific destruction in the Dominican Republic, I realized that it’s going to be a long path to a recovery in developing countries around the world. This opportunity has substantially shaped me and it’s an experience I will remember for a lifetime. This trip has ultimately led me to pursue my aspiration of becoming a social worker and study abroad in your outstanding program. I am fully aware that to be inclined as a social worker it takes leadership skills to advise people in solving and coping with their problems. I want to continue to travel to developing countries because I believe that one person can make a difference in a community, no matter how big or small the situation is, there will always be a solution. Continuing my education will allow me to make a difference and help the people in my own
I first considered a public health career when I interned at the Ghana Health Service Family Health Department as an undergraduate student. Participating in national meetings focused on strategies to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana, I recognized that, in order to create sustainable advances, it is crucial to address the underlying social inequalities that exacerbate adverse health outcomes. To advance this goal, I am seeking admission into the Global Health and Population Doctoral Program at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Even though I initially started my journey in public health after graduating from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, I acknowledged my interest and enthusiasm when I was working on my research thesis during the final year of my college. I conducted a research study to evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching program to control hypertension among adults residing in selected rural areas of Bangalore in India. It happened to be my first exposure to the field of public health where I had an opportunity to interact with Bangalore’s slum-dwellers and witness their lifestyle, their access to the basic needs such as water, sanitation, and essential nutrients which raised a serious concern on my mind. Upon completion of the research,