What is the role of the Africans in the Diaspora to participate in setting and implementing their health agenda? & What is the role of the community in setting their health agenda? Enawgaw Mehari M.D. Founder and President People to People Inc.
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What is African Diaspora? Diaspora [noun]: any group that has been dispersed or scattered away from an established or ancestral homeland Dispersion of the African Diaspora: 140 million in the Western Hemisphere 14% of the world’s population
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The African Diaspora: Unlimited Virtual Potential
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What can the African Diaspora do ? Assist international organizations, academia, and civil societies to form linkages with institutions of higher learning in Africa ď‚— Garner support for local programs and institution building ď‚—
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Neurology Residency Program in Ethiopia
What can the African Diaspora do? Establish and maintain a network of organizations and institutions to facilitate the sharing of best practices ď‚— Share information and transfer skills and technology to Africa ď‚— Promote indigenous and authentic solutions to challenges faced by local institutions of higher learning ď‚—
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Ethiopian Diaspora May 7, 2011 at the World Bank Headquarters
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Types of Modern Support Diaspora professionals and FOEs (Friends of Ethiopia) are giving back in a number of unique ways: 1) volunteer their services in Ethiopia; 2) give online courses & trainings; 3) e-mentoring; 4) join a P2P Task Force; 5) pre-record video trainings and lectures; 6) online case-based diagnostic exchange; 7) curriculum development and review; and 8) explore developing twinning relationship and/or establishing Virtual Communities of Practice (COPs) 12
Types of Modern Support P2P is also working to consolidate existing, free, online sources (curriculum, courses, modules, etc.) into a system that can be easily navigated and eventually shared with all hospitals and medical colleges via an intranet ď‚— e-archiving all lectures, courses, and materials ensures ability to be replicated and shared in perpetuity ď‚—
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What can the African Diaspora do? ď‚—
Promote awareness of the benefits of preventive health care services and address major public health issues that affect the well being of others
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What can the African Diaspora do?
Challenge local institutions and partners to think in a manner that is: ◦ innovative ◦ modern ◦ incorporates resources, opportunities, and the technologies that have come to define the 21st century
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Strengthening Emergency Medicine in Ethiopia A Partnership with AAU, BLH, P2P and the University of Wisconsin
AIHA Twinning Center, Ethiopia Partners
University of Wisconsin AAU/UW/P2P and IAHA
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What can the African Diaspora do? ď‚—
Create support networks to provide regular encouragement to those at the forefront of helping to shape and develop their respective communities
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What Can the African Diaspora do? Provide support to achieve meaningful, thoughtful, and sustainable development Local communities are key to the process Commitment to the idea of empowerment and capacity-building
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What Can the African Diaspora do? ď‚—
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Foster the leadership skills of local civil society leaders that serve as change makers in their own communities. Build partnerships with the local communities who are the originators of ideas, the innovative problem solvers, and the everyday implementers of important programs and services that benefit the most vulnerable and disadvantaged persons.
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“Empowering Women is Empowering a Nation” Conference
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Orphan Girls Education & Boarding Home
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MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDG) Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education Goal 3: Promote gender equality and women empowerment Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal mortality Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/11_MDG%20Report_EN.pdf
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People's Clinic Volunteers
Kentucky Reaches out to Ethiopia
58 year-old gentleman from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia received life saving surgery at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in
Morehead, Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains.
“All I can say is thank you for my life. I can’t wait to go home and tell my country how generous all of you have been.”
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Future Project: UK Symposium ď‚—
Hosting a symposium in July 2012 at the University of Kentucky between diaspora, American institutions, and key professionals and health development experts in the US & Ethiopia to explore new twinning partnerships and scale up current activities
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Future Project: Deaf Education & Empowerment ď‚—
Planning to establish a model center in Bahir Dar, in partnership with local disabled persons organizations (DPOs), that will address the three main challenges of the deaf community in Ethiopia at present: 1. 2. 3.
Lack of language development & skills (for youth, teachers, interpreters, family members, etc.) Stigma and exclusion from society Economic & social marginalization (lack of vocational training and livelihoods support) 35
Future Project: Fistula Care & Reintegration Services ď‚—
Continuing to develop a partnership with HHOJ in ensuring women with fistula have proper access to care and are empowered to become Safe Motherhood Ambassadors; creating public awareness through door-to-door, community and larger-scale media campaigns
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“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic, and we will change the world.” ~Jack Layton THANK YOU!
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