UPCOMING: GHEF-Geneva Reception

Global Health Equity Foundation steps onto the international stage!

With proof-of-concept projects completed in the USA, Global Health Equity Foundation (GHEF) is eager to celebrate the establishment of new headquarters in Geneva.

Glass art by Ali Kaaf

Join us for cocktails, canapés and entertainment, as well as short presentations on the Foundation's work on Equity Gap Analysis (EGA) and the Syrian International Coalition for Health (SICH).

Entertainment includes music by 'Between Bach and Baghdad' - a trio led by accordion virtuoso Manfred Leuchter, an exhibit of the glass art of Ali Kaaf, and a photography exhibit showcasing the stunning prints of Leland Howard.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Villa Louis-Jeantet
17 Chemin Rieu, 1208 Genève
RSVP: rsvp@ghef.org

Click to view a pop-up invitation

Download PDF of invitation

UPCOMING: Global Health Equity in Times of Crisis

A one-day symposium with guests from academic research institutions and international, governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Date: October 31, 2012

Sponsored by GHEF-Geneva, and chaired by Eduardo Missoni, Coordinator Global Health and Development Center for Research on Health and Social Care Management - CERGAS, Bocconi University.
For more information, contact eduardo.missoni@unibocconi.it

A few highlights from the program:

• mental health as an essential pillar of health equity
• effects of financial crisis on equity in healthcare
• health equity for Syrian refugees

Syrian International Coalition for Health

A Consensus Building Forum in Istanbul, Turkey

The Syrian International Coalition for Health (SICH) is a consortium of organizations and individuals who are committed to improving health and healthcare delivery in Syria. SICH was formed in 2012 in response to increasingly urgent calls for comprehensive reform. The coalition adopted five principles: quality, equity, education, broad participation and shared responsibility. Global Health Equity Foundation (GHEF), as a major contributor to human and community development worldwide, combines its core strategies of research, advocacy and capacity building to host this coalition. From administrative headquarters in Geneva, GHEF supports the SICH agenda in an equitable and neutral fashion.

— Mazen Kherallah, MD, FCP, President, Middle East Critical Care Assembly

Date: July 3, 2012

Host: Global Health Equity Foundation

Since the start of the internal conflict in Syria, the United Nations reports that the number of displaced persons, both internally and externally, is as high as 230,000. Prompt, coordinated efforts and proactive solutions for these displaced people are necessary in order to mitigate negative outcomes. In the post-crisis phase, there will be an urgent need for a development process designed to examine and assess the health situation in the country. Using a holistic approach, one that encompasses the health sector, socioeconomic status, the determinants of health, and upstream national policies, the Syrian International Coalitiion for Health (SICH) will prepare for and assist in implementing comprehensive healthcare reform.

No matter what the political affiliations of participants in this coalition, those affiliations will not be paramount in planning or in execution of the coalition's goals. All members of the coalition eschew political motivation.

See summary of the forum

New Methodology - Analysing Health Equity Gaps

A Consensus Building Forum in London, England

Health equity is a critical issue. Equity gaps are a global concern. Recent research focusing on social determinants of health confirms that equity is seriously compromised by discrimination against minority groups, and by a lack of equity in health care funding. This forum provides an opportunity to discuss how health inequities arise, to present new methods for analysing equity gaps, and to devise strategies for addressing equity gaps. Our goal is to share knowledge that leads to practical solutions.
— Chris Heginbotham OBE, Emeritus Professor, University of Central Lancashire

Location: Kings Fund • London, England
11-13 Cavendish Square, London - W1G 0AN, UK
Date: June 12, 2012
Time: 09.00 - 17.00

Host: Global Health Equity Foundation

Programme Highlights

• World Health Organization: Universal Healthcare Access
• Eduardo Missoni, Milan: Health Equity, a Global Perspective
• Chris Heginbotham, United Kingdom: Equity Gaps, Definitions and Review
• Helen Bingley, Abaseen Foundation, UK: Northwest Pakistan's Perspective
• Chris Brookes, EuroHealthNet: Health Inequalities, Bridging the Gap
• Mazen Kherallah, MD: Introduction of Syrian International Coalition for Health
• Consensus Building Forum
• Proposals for implementation of new methodology in Equity Gap Analysis, presented by Chris Heginbotham
• Forum group discussions: innovative equity and distribution measures, guided by Dr. Tayeb Alhafez, President & Founder of Global Health Equity Foundation
  

Global Health Equity Foundation (GHEF) advocates on behalf of people who lack access to health education, to prevention services and to healthcare. GHEF is a philanthropic organization that conducts research, and integrates that research into advocacy and capacity building projects. The Foundation seeks to become a primary source for knowledge on health equity, and a contributor to human and community development worldwide. Health equity is an essential, core discipline for public health education and for healthcare application in global governance. The Foundation is incorporated in Geneva, where we work in cooperation with other international organizations.

See summary of the forum

Out of the Darkness Walk Video

Here are the highlights from the Walk for Suicide Prevention, September 11, 2011. It was a heartwarming and successful event.

Belonging

Each of us longs to belong. We need a community, a place that welcomes us and is supportive of our aspirations.

Take my case for example: it has been both challenging and incredibly enriching to work as an immigrant physician in the United States. I was born in Syria, and for more than two decades I have lived and worked in North America. I encountered unwelcoming situations, tempered by warm welcomes from people that graced me with their support.

My "diaspora status" will probably be with me for the rest of my life. Being perceived as an outsider provides me with ample opportunities for self-examination, reflection and continued refinement. I hunger to learn more about myself, about our ever-changing environment, and about the people with whom I interact. I have achieved a state of mind that is best described as "universal belonging." I truly feel at home everywhere despite any hardship I may encounter, and this compels me to share my best. Miles City has become my home away from home, and I treasure the friends I have here.

It is my privilege to provide healthcare for patients with physical and mental ailments, and I take this responsibility very seriously. I am committed to applying my skills to improve healthcare in eastern Montana.

Coverage in Billings Gazette, 9/20/2011

September 8, 2011 Press Release

Contact:

Global Health Equity Foundation

406.234.5082

connect@ghef.org

Global Health Equity Foundation (GHEF) is a non-profit organization seeking to address challenges faced by healthcare providers. The Foundation serves as a catalyst for community awareness, communication, and involvement. In September of 2011, GHEF sponsored a documentary film dramatizing the issues surrounding suicide. In addition to the film, GHEF sponsored other community-awareness events as part of a Community Media Based Project with a focus on suicide.

Activities included:

• Kickoff for all events, Saturday, September 10, 5:30 pm, VA auditorium, $5 suggested donation for light meal. Featured speakers, Ken Holmlund (community member whose lost his son to suicide), Lise Swenson (filmmaker)
• Out of the Darkness Walk, September 11, Riverside Park, check in at 1:00 pm, walk from 2:00-4:00 pm
• GHEF-sponsored film documentation, all events
• GHEF-sponsored community forums
• GHEF-sponsored print publications

Press Release

Community Based Media Project:

GHEF is partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (sponsors of the Walk) for a weekend-long focus on suicide prevention in Miles City, Montana. As part of the Community-Based Media Project, GHEF is preparing print publications, social-media technology, and on-going support through various media. Long-term support of this project is a primary goal for GHEF.