UNIVERSITY COALITIONS for GLOBAL HEALTH

Can I Change the World?

As students we should never underestimate our ability to change the world! It might sound cliché, but we are the future and if we intend to improve our world we need to start now. As the great Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” All you have to do is find a way to get involved!

Hosted by the Global Health Council, UCGH is a coalition aimed at synergizing efforts among all global health-focused organizations and individuals with a university presence. Working at both the national and campus level, UCGH empowers and brings together student organizations to unite around common campaigns and projects, multiplying their impact on global health issues.

Every year UCGH mobilizes students around three global health issues. One of our most infamous campaign events occurred on World AIDS Day 2006. Students from all across the U.S. rallied, clutching the empty coats of doctors that have fallen victim to brain drain in sub-Saharan Africa, while 400 other students, dressed as giant needles, marched through the streets of Washington, D.C. demanding better legislation on access to essential medicines. Many people believe that the African Health Capacity Investment Act (currently in Congress) was introduced in part because of the student demand for increased support for health care workers-proof that students create change.

We’re considering the following global health issues for the coming academic year campaigns:
• Health as a Human Right
• Health Systems
• Access to Essential Medicines
• Child Health
• HIV/AIDS/PEPFAR Reauthorization

Please contact us if you have other ideas, want to learn more about UCGH or talk about the global health issues you’re been working to change!

In Solidarity,

Stephanie
UCGH Outreach Fellow

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 at 5:09 pm and is filed under Healthcare Workers, Events, HIV/AIDS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.