It's World Humanitarian Day

     

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“When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.”¹

I had a conversation with a close friend of mine named Sandra*. She said that for the first time in a long time, she genuinely felt content and at peace. I asked her to tell me about her journey to inner peace, and what she shared brought to mind the image below:

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In her late 20s, Sandra was fortunate to acquire a great job that guaranteed a very comfortable life for her. In addition, she married and had children and lived what many would consider the perfect life. After a while, she became discontent because she always wanted more, yet it was still never enough. There was always a better car, a higher-paying job, more fashionable clothing, the latest technology, better and more expensive schools for her children, and so on. Her life’s purpose focused on maintaining an image and keeping up with everyone else.

Soon enough, her career was no longer exciting, and her friendships turned into draining interactions that often lacked substance and value. No amount of retail therapy could fill the gaping hole she felt inside her. She became completely consumed by her unhappiness. She did not discuss her feelings with others because she knew she would be judged and called ungracious and ungrateful. How could she possibly complain about being unhappy when her life was so much better than many others? As expected, Sandra’s health started to suffer. She lacked the desire to exercise or engage in fun activities and battled insomnia for months.

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Sandra had one group of friends who were like her – driven by money, amassing material wealth, and maintaining a certain image. She noticed that when she interacted with them, she came away from those interactions feeling bad about herself. She and her friends were not oblivious to suffering in the world. They often donated money to charity, but their reasons for doing so were not completely genuine, particularly for those who gave more just to upstage each other. They became comfortable with saying they had done their part and given good money, but not once did they volunteer their time to engage in hands-on volunteer work.

The more Sandra became discontent, the more she sought out her different group of friends whose lives revolved around humanitarian work, social justice, and positive change. When she interacted with these friends, she came away from those conversations feeling energized, encouraged, and curious, with a need to do something more with her life. This group of friends had a passion and purpose for living that was not driven by material wealth, but by an insatiable need to commit all their time and talents to finding solutions to the world’s most pressing needs. In the past, she found it difficult to hang out with this group of friends on a regular basis because, while she admired them, their stories depressed her.

Sandra’s friends shared their experience with visiting, living, and/or working in parts of the world where human suffering was at its worst. Others had spent their entire careers engaged in civil, animal, and environmental rights/protection.

She finally figured out what was making her so sad and discontent. She realized that she had been quite selfish with her wealth, time, and talents. More importantly, she realized that she was not living her life’s purpose. She had access to resources that could improve countless people’s lives. She had the knowledge and the skill-set to contribute to finding solutions to the world’s most crucial issues, but she had spent her life “being shallow”.

She decided to do more and quickly became overwhelmed. Like many others, every time she accessed social media or the news, all she saw were countless stories about poverty, war, greed, violence, disease, and corruption. She had no idea where to start or where she’d be of most use.

Sandra’s journey begun with her figuring out what she cared the most about. Was it Animal Rights? Civil Rights? Social Justice? Women and Gender Rights? Healthcare Reform? Human Rights? Environmental Rights? Children’s Rights? She had a variety of causes to learn about and become involved in and started speaking to those who were already engaged in these causes. Once she identified what she most cared about, her next steps were to plan how she could help. She started by donating funds to organizations whose work she supported. Next, she started volunteering with local organizations whose mission and vision aligned with her interests, and eventually, she transitioned to work for an organization whose mission, vision, and work she fully supported.

Today, Sandra is in the process of starting her own Nonprofit that focuses on the areas she sees the most need in.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being wealthy and building upon your wealth. Many people work very hard to get to where they are, so it’s only natural to enjoy the fruits of their labor as they see fit.

                           

However, the quote below by Meagher has an important message—many people are materially wealthy but deeply unhappy because their money can’t buy them inner peace, true love, happiness, or real friends.

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How can you help on World Humanitarian Day (WHD)?

1)      We do not have to wait until August 19 to find ways to help others. This is something we should strive to do every day, given all the pain and suffering in the world. World issues can be resolved through resources and making a conscious decision to put others before ourselves.

2)      We should not help others just because it makes us feel better. We should help others because it improves the quality of their lives² and will often times encourage them to help others the same way.

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The 2016 theme for WHD is “One Humanity”. According to the UN, WHD will “highlight how the world came together in Istanbul for the World Humanitarian Summit earlier this year, and made commitments to support people affected by crisis and ensure that aid workers can safely and more effectively deliver to those in need.”³ More information may be found via this link⁴ on events that will be held around the world to honor this day, as well as information on what you can do to help.

Volunteering has many benefits,⁵ not just for those you help but for you as well. Aside from talking to your loved ones and friends, visit sites such as Volunteer Match to locate organizations in your city that you can volunteer with on a regular basis. There is always something for everyone, whether it’s feeding the homeless, animal shelters, visiting the sick and shut-in, and building communities, etc.

Finally, remember that WHD is a great day to (i) plan an event of your own to help those in need; (ii) encourage others to become more involved in making the world a better place; and (iii) honor those who risk their lives every day in humanitarian service.

*Not her real name.

  

 References

1.      Native American Quotes and Thoughts. N.d. Retrieved August 8, 2016: http://www.stevenredhead.com/Native/quotes.html  

2.      Segal, J. and Robinson, L. (2016). Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits. How Volunteering Makes us Healthier and Happier. Retrieved August 5, 2016: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/work-career/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm

3.      UN World Humanitarian Day 19 August. (2016). 2016 Theme: One Humanity. Retrieved August 10, 2016: http://www.un.org/en/events/humanitarianday/

4.      UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. World Humanitarian Day 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016: http://www.unocha.org/whd2016

5.      World Humanitarian Day Do Something Good. (2016). Feel Good About Helping Others. Helping Patients and Prevent Medical Negligence & Neglect. Retrieved August 5, 2016: http://www.whd-iwashere.org/

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1.      Affairs Blog. (2015). UN Observance: World Humanitarian Day, 19 August 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2016: https://globalroundtableissues.wordpress.com/2015/08/21/un-observance-world-humanitarian-day-19-august-2015/

2.      Onesizzle Sad Comics. (n.d.). Be Grateful for What You Have. Retrieved August 5, 2016: https://onsizzle.com/i/look-at-that-new-car-i-wish-i-had-a-568799  

3.      Manson, M. (2013). Stop Trying to Be Happy. Retrieved August 5, 2016: https://markmanson.net/stop-trying-to-be-happy

4.      Quote Addicts. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2016:

http://quoteaddicts.com/topic/some-people-are-so-poor-all-they-have-is-money/

5.      Vandervelden, D. (2014). Retrieved August 5, 2016: http://blog.greatmate.com/why-should-we-help-others/

Opinion Piece: Why communications is necessary for health systems research.

Communications is one of the most integral components in any system. As systems are composed of various units, communicating among each unit allows for the system to achieve its function. If said medium is efficient, It allows for equitable resource allocation while providing a medium by which data may be collected and studied.

What is Health Systems Research?

Why Talk About Communications?

In my opinion, communications is integral to the sustainable and fluid functioning of any health system. Whether by reporting or effective social messaging, the need of long term study can be demonstrated and thereby funding secured for continued study. For health systems research, it allows for effective data retrieval and sensible comprehension of the results. As a health system is accountable to the society it serves, it is necessary to adopt specific messaging vehicles that reach the national audience and maximizes on exposure.

Understanding the message itself is a whole different ball game; the comprehension of the message you communicate varies based on culture and other socio-economic factors. You could positively or negatively frame your health promotion and education messages with varying behavioral change effects on message recipients. Listen to this short clip on “the power of words” by the 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking. I believe he outlines the power of messaging quite simply.

Communications is necessary for health systems research because it involves people, institutions and activities to function equitably and effectively. One must communicate well in order to achieve efficient functioning of various component pieces or partners, prevent the unnecessary allocation of resources and adhere to leading standards of practice. Above all, your message should answer the most important question...

Why should I care about your MESSAGE?

When receiving any health message, an organization or individual should obviously tailor communications to the audience and answer the aforementioned question well. Whether by the use of templates or creative messaging, vivid and clear communications are what will help you achieve your objective. I personally believe in the power of story telling. Stories are learnt but they can also be relayed to another very easily. 

So why is communications necessary for health systems research? 

Communications lead, inform, motivate and inspire the positive change we wish to see in the world. Isn't this why we go into research? 

When they Breed, You will Bleed

“If they breed, you will bleed” is a message you would see on a billboard, warning of the dangers posed by dengue in Sri Lanka. According to the WHO, two-fifths of the world’s population; are at risk of dengue fever, with an estimated 50 million infections annually around the globe. As Sri Lanka and a few other South Asian countries share the classification of “Category A country” by the WHO; the vector borne disease remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among children. According to the Epidemiological Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka; 25164 suspected dengue cases have been reported island wide for the year 2013 (Reported Oct 14^th 2013). Of which 48.11% of patients were from the western province of the country, where the population density is the highest on the island.

The prevention campaign which aimed to curb the spread of this disease was initiated in early 2010.  From the implementation of the legal act (National Dengue Prevention Act), adjusting national management guidelines and the vast research employed into finding a biological control for the dengue mosquito; Sri Lanka has been rushing to purge the deadly virus off its grounds. The recent advances in entomology research founded a new species of mosquito in Sri Lanka, “Topomyia". It’s relevance to dengue is that in its larval stage; the Topomyia larvae would feed on the larvae of the genus Aedes. It is a hope that this discovery will help in the multi-pronged advance against the dengue menace.

Vector borne diseases have been plaguing the world since our inception on this planet. Dengue, Malaria, Filariasis and Yellow Fever, are emerging mosquito borne diseases. Their threat to human health remains detrimental in some parts of the globe more than others.  For example; In Sri Lanka, Dengue prevention campaigns sprouted overnight creating awareness and policies aimed at controlling the endemic. The National Dengue Prevention Act in particular caught my attention. It has been constantly implemented and the fact that fines and legal prosecution are now used as protocols for fending off the hemorrhagic fever is nauseating.

Considering that the vector mosquito breeds in pockets of clean stagnant water, the breeding grounds are bound to be more numerous in the low socioeconomic areas of the country. With terrible housing conditions, overcrowding and roofs that are barely kept together; a perfect environment for water collection is produced. Marginalizing individuals in this way is a mockery of any democratic governing body. It would make more sense to provide incentives e.g.; tax deductions, if the public health inspectors are satisfied.

I also wanted to touch on the fact that a new mosquito species has been found. With more research being funded into that topic; the intention I believe is to incorporate this new species of mosquito in the hopes that the Aedes mosquito will be kept at bay. My concern is that a new viral disease may emerge by simply introducing large numbers of this new organism in to the environment. Tipping the scales of a biological food chain is no simple safe task! Using Mother Nature’s own, to alter our surroundings for our own gain may amplify other dangers in the long run. Before such integration, thorough research must be carried out because if they breed. You never know of the dangers do you...