My first blog entry was kind of an introduction and didn't not directly relate to what was discussed in class. Here is another post on a subject that is very near and dear to my heart that Dr. Shahi discussed at length.
I have long been interested in the work of Dr. Yunus. I often wondered how exactly concepts of microfinance tie in with health and how I, as a student of the sciences and health, can be involved in a venture such as the Grameen Bank.
I am so excited that Dr. Shahi talked about the the work of Dr. Yunus and the Grameen Bank. From the lecture (information about which I obtained through a friend since I was not in class on Monday), I learned that the work of Dr. Yunus directly relates to global health!
I actually read a journal article recently that discussed the interconnections between microfinance and health outcomes.
The author laid out several implications of poor health on the success of an MFI (microfinance institution) and loan repayment. These include " delayed loan repayment, inability to repay loans, poor attendance at MFI meetings, decrease in client business performance, undermining MFI group solidarity". The author suggests that the full potential of microfinance can only be realized when the individuals are health and thus suggests the health education and promotion methods should be an integral part of microfinancial strategies.
Yet many MFI practicioners believe that "the financial viability of the microfinance services as a business has made practitioners very cautious about non financial add ons. They believe that add ons can only be a drag on the drive for sustainability".
To counter this idea, the author suggests several methods of maintaining or even increasing sustainability while offering health services. She suggests linking two independent organizations (one focused on microfinance and one on healthcare services delivery). These two independent organizations would operate at the same time and place and offer their services in a concurrent manner.
Another strategy would be to have a "generalist or multipurpose organzation offer both microfinance serves through one program while offering other sector services through a different program or staff of the same organization".
These are very exciting and promising strategies to align health and financial services. I hope to learn more about these interconnections in the future!
Link to the article:http://marriottschool.byu.edu/conferences/selfreliance/presentations/Microfinance%20_%20Health%20-%20Chandni%20Ohri.pdf
Sunday, January 27, 2008
An Introduction: The System
Hi everyone! My name is Amitha Prasad. Welcome to my blog! I hope that you find this blog to be a source of insight into issues, both apparent and hidden, that affect the health of individuals and communities around the world.
First things first, here is a little about me: I graduated from Pomona College in May 2006, where I earned a B.A. in Neuroscience. I am in my last semester in the USC MPH program. I am in the Biostat/Epi track and have taken several classes on global health. My hope is to obtain an M.D., merge the skills I learned in this MPH program and medical school, and somehow contribute positively to society!
Now that that's out of the way, lets move on.
I had a very interesting encounter on Friday that I believe will make a great first blog entry. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, in order to discuss a potential practicum. I told him about my interest in global health and how I am planning to do international work this summer. He said he had gone on several "international missions" in his younger, college going, idealism enwrapped days. He then posed an interesting question to me. He said "Amitha, both you and I know so many people who go on these short trips. Indeed, the work that is done is wonderful, but can it really bring about lasting change?"
This question struck me.
You see, in college, I was constantly told about this need for change. Change the education system, change racial dynamics, etc, etc. But how to bring about this magical, enigmatic thing called "change"?
After several fruitful and heated conversations with my amazing colleagues and professors, I came to two conclusions:
1) Change is a long process
2) Lasting change can only be brought about by changes in "the system": the deep, strong framework through which society functions, thrives, and yes, falls. It is a set of values, traditions,, and attitudes that are deeply entrenched in the minds of people. Unfortunately, this system is so entrenched in our society that many times, we cannot even see it.
I think this concept applies strongly to global health. I believe that many global health problems arise from "the system". Traditions, gender differences, attitudes towards women, men, people of different ethnicities, homosexuals, etc, etc. all strongly contribute to diseases that we see in the international community. The woman in rural India who is malnourished may be taught to first serve food to her husband and then eat whatever is left over because to her and others, the husband is the equivalent to God. Black Africans in South Africa have overall poorer health than White Africans, perhaps due to racial attitudes. I can go on and on.
I believe that the medical missions that many people go on are very valuable. But I do not think that these missions are enough to bring about lasting change. But how can we, as future public health professionals, bring about this change?
This is something I have struggled with. I want to help the global community. But I also want to live the rest of my life in the comforts of my middle class, American lifestyle (as many of us do, probably). Yes I, like many others, will make time to go perhaps on yearly international trips. But besides this, what can we do, from our vantage point, to help change a system that has given rise to so many global health concerns?
I hope that this class equips us with deeper knowledge of systematic issues affecting global health and ways to change this system.
As a side note...I hope this blog entry was not offensive. I am not trying to take away from the amazing work that is done by people who go abroad and help out so many in need. And I am not saying that these trips have not created change. They have. I just believe that it is not enough. I think lasting change can be brought about by something deeper.
First things first, here is a little about me: I graduated from Pomona College in May 2006, where I earned a B.A. in Neuroscience. I am in my last semester in the USC MPH program. I am in the Biostat/Epi track and have taken several classes on global health. My hope is to obtain an M.D., merge the skills I learned in this MPH program and medical school, and somehow contribute positively to society!
Now that that's out of the way, lets move on.
I had a very interesting encounter on Friday that I believe will make a great first blog entry. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, in order to discuss a potential practicum. I told him about my interest in global health and how I am planning to do international work this summer. He said he had gone on several "international missions" in his younger, college going, idealism enwrapped days. He then posed an interesting question to me. He said "Amitha, both you and I know so many people who go on these short trips. Indeed, the work that is done is wonderful, but can it really bring about lasting change?"
This question struck me.
You see, in college, I was constantly told about this need for change. Change the education system, change racial dynamics, etc, etc. But how to bring about this magical, enigmatic thing called "change"?
After several fruitful and heated conversations with my amazing colleagues and professors, I came to two conclusions:
1) Change is a long process
2) Lasting change can only be brought about by changes in "the system": the deep, strong framework through which society functions, thrives, and yes, falls. It is a set of values, traditions,, and attitudes that are deeply entrenched in the minds of people. Unfortunately, this system is so entrenched in our society that many times, we cannot even see it.
I think this concept applies strongly to global health. I believe that many global health problems arise from "the system". Traditions, gender differences, attitudes towards women, men, people of different ethnicities, homosexuals, etc, etc. all strongly contribute to diseases that we see in the international community. The woman in rural India who is malnourished may be taught to first serve food to her husband and then eat whatever is left over because to her and others, the husband is the equivalent to God. Black Africans in South Africa have overall poorer health than White Africans, perhaps due to racial attitudes. I can go on and on.
I believe that the medical missions that many people go on are very valuable. But I do not think that these missions are enough to bring about lasting change. But how can we, as future public health professionals, bring about this change?
This is something I have struggled with. I want to help the global community. But I also want to live the rest of my life in the comforts of my middle class, American lifestyle (as many of us do, probably). Yes I, like many others, will make time to go perhaps on yearly international trips. But besides this, what can we do, from our vantage point, to help change a system that has given rise to so many global health concerns?
I hope that this class equips us with deeper knowledge of systematic issues affecting global health and ways to change this system.
As a side note...I hope this blog entry was not offensive. I am not trying to take away from the amazing work that is done by people who go abroad and help out so many in need. And I am not saying that these trips have not created change. They have. I just believe that it is not enough. I think lasting change can be brought about by something deeper.
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