hs4331 – international health theory

HS4331 – International Health Theory

Professor: Dr Raywat Deonandan (ray@deonandan.com)

T.A.: TBA

Mondays, 12-1pmRGN 2005

Where Be Da Prof?

Faculty of Health Sciences43 TempletonRoom 111x8377

Office hours: email for an appointment (ray@deonandan.com)

Class Websiteclasses.deonandan.com/hss4331

Pre-class Survey(till Sep 20, 2009)

tinyurl.com/4331pre

International Health Theory

• What are the health challenges facing the world?

• What are the historical, economic, environmental and political origins of health and wealth disparity?

• What’s being done by whom?• What could/should be done?• Why why why why why?

In other words…

The study of global health is not just about starving African kids on Sunday evening infomercials. It’s about evolving interconnected processes and policies in which we all play a part.

First, the housekeeping…..

Format:

-Regular lectures-Guest lectures-4 evening seminars-One weekend conference-Two exams-One paper

Hours:39 total

23 one-hour lecturesMondays 12-1pm

8 hours selected from extra seminars

8 hours attending SUNSIH conference (date TBA)

23 one-hour lecturesMondays 12-1pm

8 hours selected from evening seminar series

8 hours attending SUNSIH conference (date TBA)

Made up of lectures bythe professor and guest lecturers

6 events per semester2 hours each eventTimes will varyLocation: RGN and main campusSchedule TBACheck website regularly

www.sunsih.ca2 day event, but you only need attend on Saturday in October

SUNSIH

• Student University Network for Social & International Health

• There are alternatives with my permission– CCIH conference:– Canadian Conference on International Health– Oct 25-27, 2009

Who Are The Guest Lecturers?

Scientists/AcademicsPolicy MakersNGO workersPoliticiansLawyers

How Will You Be Evaluated?

23 one-hour lecturesMondays 12-1pm

8 hours selected from evening seminar series

8 hours attending SUNSIH conference (date TBA)

2 exams1 paper No mark…

But content will pop up in exams

Attendance

TWO current events quizzes

Current Events Quiz

• Every day read either The Globe and Mail, The Ottawa Citizen or The National Post

• Online news is okay, too (cbc.ca, bbc.co.uk) but you have to be more thorough

• The idea is to keep you abreast of what’s going on in the world

PBL

• Problem-based learning• Currently scheduled for Feb 1, 2010

Marks…

Item Due Worth

1 Attendance at SUNSIH conference

October, 2009 5%

2 In-class current events quiz Nov 23, 2009 5%

3 Mid-term exam December, 2009 30%

4 Policy essay (5-10 pages) March 15, 2010 30%

5 In-class current events quiz Feb 8, 2010 5%

6 Final exam April, 2010 25%

Submitting Assignments

• Everything that will be marked, except the in-room exams, must be submitted electronically to hss4331ass@gmail.com

• Include your names and student numbers in the subject line!

• Keep copies of sent emails in your outgoing folders, just in case.

• All other communication with me, use ray@deonandan.com

Recommended Textbook

“An Introduction to International Health” by Michael Seear. Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press, Inc, 2007 (ISBN 978-1-55130-327-7)

Available at Agora Bookstore for $46.45 + tax(Used copies on amazon.ca for $28)

Storytime….

This course is –among other things-- about recognizing privilege and acting to reduce privilege by granting opportunity to the underprivileged…..

It begins by not abusing our own privilege.

If you fail to value this educational opportunity, you disrespect those who are not so fortunate.

Code of Conduct….

Do not talk on your cell phonesDo not listen on your cell phonesDo not text on your cell phones

Do not chat or IM on your laptopsDo not email on your laptopsDo not surf on your laptops, unless related to lecture

Do not talk, sleep, etc.

If you must come late or leave early, do it quietly.

If you don’t want to be here, don’t come.

What is Global Health or International Health?

-diseases of the developing world

-study of the wider influences of health, such as poverty, debt, globalisation, healthcare financing, human rights, famine, environment, conflict and the movement of populations

War/Disaster

-refugees-destruction of infrastructure-suspension of services

Mass migration

-reduction in human resources-sudden drain on resources-environmental stress-always negative?

Globalisation

-reduction in labour protection-shift to import or export economy-growth of middle class-movement of labour class-always negative?

Environmental Degradation

-lack of water; hygiene-loss of arable land-loss of export commodity-war?

Why are my tax dollars going over there to help those people?

How do you respond?

http://tinyurl.com/4331pre

Will accept responses until next Monday.