Eight Ways to Make a Difference in Global Health

Published January 04, 2009 @ 09:06PM PT

Global health can seem like an overwhelming field. It covers so many different topics, and is affected by so many different things. It's hard, sometimes, for one person to see a way to make a difference. But you don't have to be Bill Gates to make a difference in global health. The key is to figure out what you care about, and then figure out what you can give. It could be money, it could be time, or it could be expertise.

1. Identify the health issues you think are most important, and educate yourself about their causes and solutions. You can’t be an effective advocate if you don’t know what you’re talking about. The about section of this blog will get you started if you need an easy place to begin.

2. Spread your new knowledge around. Talk to your friends. Comment on blogs (this one, perhaps), put an interesting link in your Facebook profile, or start a blog yourself. Write to your newspaper.

3. Join MERLIN's Hands up for Health Workers campaign. MERLIN is a humanitarian NGO devoted to creating a world where basic health care is available to all. Their Hands Up for Health Workers campaign is dedicated to training health workers around the world, to make health care available to everyone.

4. Volunteer online with UN volunteers. The UN volunteer program places mid-career professional with UN agencies around the world that need their expertise. The online volunteer program allows UN agencies to post specific tasks that they need help with which can be done virtually. You just browse the list and find something you want to do. It lets you give your time to a whole range of things, in the kind of small bites you can easily donate. It’s a great use of the internet. The health volunteer requests are here, and they currently include grant-writing, database development, and online teacher training.

5. Hold a fundraiser for a health cause you believe in. This could be as simple as a bake sale or as complicated as silent auction. Ehow has handy instructions on how to plan a fundraiser.

6. Use your internet presence to fundraise for the causes that matter to you. You can start a fundraising page here on Change.org.

7. Join the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Giving birth shouldn’t lead to death, but every minute a woman dies in childbirth. Support the White Ribbon Alliance to help make motherhood safe for all women.

8. Advocate for increased government funding for global health priorities. Write your elected representatives, and call for your government to devote funding to global health. I suggest safe motherhood, child survival, and primary health care as funding priorities, but those are just recommendations.

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Comments (4)

I love this new blog!

I would add, if you are a university student, to check out GlobeMed. www.globemed.org

GlobeMed is a rapidly growing student movement for global health. There are currently 18 chapters at universities across the nation who are partnerng with grassroots community based organizations on projects ranging from EMR systems to clean water. I think its a great way to responsibly and effectively engage university students in the fight for health equity.

Posted by Jon Shaffer on 01/05/2009 @ 06:56AM PT
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Unite For Sight has a new online Global Health Course (http://www.uniteforsight.org/global-health-course ) about ethics, quality, and equality in global health.

Global Health Online CourseModule 1: What Are Best Practice "Gold Standard" Principles? Module 2: International Development and Capacity Building Module 3: Local Doctors Must Be Integral To The Program Module 4: Build Effective, Sustainable Programs With Measurable Results Module 5: How To Eliminate Patient Barriers To Care Module 6: How To Ensure High Quality Medical Care Module 7: Partnering With Local Communities Module 8: Ethical, Quality Volunteering Module 9: The Significant Harm of Worst Practices Module 10: Donating Equipment Module 11: Local Staff Compensation Module 12: Support Local Doctors To Help Eliminate Brain Drain

Posted by Unite For Sight on 01/05/2009 @ 07:09AM PT
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Gentlepeople,

It seems to me Universal Health and Global Health need to join forces. If one merged into the other then health would be one of the top ten items to go to President Obama. Otherwise, health is an issue way down the list.

Why not?

Peace,
John

Posted by John Gilbert on 01/05/2009 @ 07:12AM PT
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Dear Alanna and all the noble people on this post:Yes, yes and Yes! I agree with all of your tips for the budding activist. I also would like to add, that in the issue of Global Health, a compassionate and plant-based diet has been proven to be the most immediate remedy to our health crisis, to world hunger and even to global warming.

I encourage you all to inform yourself about the 50 BILLION animals which are killed for food every year and the shameful waste of food, water, chemicals and pharmaceuticals this unsustainable practice represents. Go to http://ecofoodprint.org/climate.html or watch the video at http://www.suprememastertv.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=download&wr_id=4293&goto_url=&sfl=wr_link1&stx=20090101&url=link1
Many blessings to you all,

Posted by Pamela Millar on 01/05/2009 @ 04:36PM PT
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Author

Alanna Shaikh has spent the last ten years immersed in global health; she has worked for NGOs, companies, universities, and the US government on projects that ranged from preventing antibacterial resistance to improving maternal and child health.