The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46655

Jessica Freya Greenberg, AB, Committee on Global Health Rights, 8 North Main Street, Suite 401, Attleboro, MA 02703, (508) 226-5091, jessicafreya@yahoo.com and David S. Egilman, MD, MPH, Department of Bio-Community Health, Brown University, 8 N. Main St., Suite 404, Attleboro, MA 02703.

Globalization and the shift in production and employment practices it has entailed have created occupational and environmental health effects in the developing world that have gone largely unevaluated. There is a dearth of human resources available in developing countries to initiate programs to address these new and emerging health problems.

In this session, we will explore a multilateral approach to evaluating and addressing the occupational and environmental health effects of globalization and the problem of insufficient human resources. Through work with the WHO "network" of COPC oriented medical schools we are attempting to develop curriculum modules that will rely upon North-South partnerships. Following this model, medical schools from the North and South will jointly develop parallel training modules that will incorporate health assessment, training initiatives and intervention strategies. Northern partners will work at the corporate and multinational corporate level to implement solutions while southern partners will identify and quantify the health impacts of globalization while implementing local strategic solutions. In our view, the occupational health problems resulting from globalization can not be solved without partnerships and cooperation between health care professionals in the North and South. Occupational and environmental health challenges generally present in the community, not the hospital. This model emphasizes the role that community oriented health professionals can play in addressing occupational and environmental health challenges in an era of globalization and in developing the human resources necessary for long term solutions.

Learning Objectives:

• By the conclusion of the session, participants will understand the potential that university-based occupational training modules have for measuring and combating preventable illness and injury and will be positioned to develop effective community-based occupational health models.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Committee on Global Health Rights, The Network, The World Health Organization
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed as Executive Director of the Committee on Global Health Rights.