Inciting a movement, one discussion at a time
Posted on Jan 18, 2010 by Tracy Fuad
This winter, GlobeMed at Rhodes marked World AIDS Day with a panel featuring two women’s health specialists and a professor of medical anthropology at Rhodes.
Among the several dozen attending the event were GlobeMed members, other students, and professors.
Rather than discussing broad global issues, the panel focused on AIDS in the Memphis area, which is heavily affected by the disease. Topics of discussion also included sexual and reproductive health and disadvantages faced by women.
After a quarter spent discussing gender and health, the panel was very constructive for chapter members and related to their partner organization as well.
The Rhodes chapter is partnered with A Ministry of Sharing (AMOS) in Nicaragua, which trains community health workers to battle primary health care issues, including HIV/AIDS.
“Focusing on your immediate community helps people realize that health inequity isn’t something detached, it happens right here, in our neighborhood and in our backyard,” said GlobalHealthU coordinator Dev Varma, who moderated the panel. “It helps people connect to the idea of global health equity.”
After the panel students stayed to talk with a biology professor from Mexico, who discussed her personal experience as a minority in healthcare, and described how minorities often feel disempowered and distrustful of healthcare workers.
Panels like this one organized GlobeMed at Rhodes, and the discussions they spark, are a cornerstone of spreading awareness building a movement for global health equity.
This winter, GlobeMed at Rhodes marked World AIDS Day with a panel featuring two women’s health specialists and a professor of medical anthropology at Rhodes.
Among the several dozen attending the event were GlobeMed members, other students, and professors.
Rather than discussing broad global issues, the panel focused on AIDS in the Memphis area, which is heavily affected by the disease. Topics of discussion also included sexual and reproductive health and disadvantages faced by women.
After a quarter spent discussing gender and health, the panel was very constructive for chapter members and related to their partner organization as well.
The Rhodes chapter is partnered with A Ministry of Sharing (AMOS) in Nicaragua, which trains community health workers to battle primary health care issues, including HIV/AIDS.
“Focusing on your immediate community helps people realize that health inequity isn’t something detached, it happens right here, in our neighborhood and in our backyard,” said GlobalHealthU coordinator Dev Varma, who moderated the panel. “It helps people connect to the idea of global health equity.”
After the panel students stayed to talk with a biology professor from Mexico, who discussed her personal experience as a minority in healthcare, and described how minorities often feel disempowered and distrustful of healthcare workers.
Panels like this one organized GlobeMed at Rhodes, and the discussions they spark, are a cornerstone of spreading awareness building a movement for global health equity.
