Name: Hana, aka "Hana"
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Web Site: http://www.globalpulsejournal.com
Bio: Hana Akselrod is a third-year MD/MPH student at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She is currently Editor-In-Chief of Global Pulse Journal and a member of AMSA's AIDS Advocacy Network SC.
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In Memoriam: Sujal Parikh
October 17th, 2010
(02/22/1985 – 10/12/2010)
In memory of our dear friend, colleague and activist, Sujal Parikh, whose brilliance was taken from us so unexpectedly. Your vision, dedication and passion will forever remain a shining beacon in this stormy world you worked so tirelessly to change.
We invite our readers to take some time to check out Sujal’s work, below, and to get in touch with us with any memories and thoughts you would like to share. Please email editorinchief.gp@gmail.com
Risk more than others think is safe,
Care more than others think is wise,
Dream more than others think is practical,
Expect more than others think is possible.
- Claude Bissel, quoted by Sujal Parikh
Earth Day, Every Day
April 27th, 2010Though a few days late, let us ponder again the far reaching implications of our actions on the health of the earth body and human body… After all, Earth day is every day! Our current era of post-industrial-post-modern living (in many “developed” nations) is defined by a certain standard of living that is accompanied by serious costs and consequences that wander far beyond geographic and political borders. For a list of health conditions please see John’s excellent Earth Day post).
Two great studies sponsored by NASA explore the relationship between atmospheric conditions and human health. NASA has teamed up with researchers from Emory to measure particulate matter concentrations (PM 2.5) in smoke and haze via satellite in order to better document the link between environmental hazards and disease. The second study combines the technological resources of NASA with health researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to analyze the effect of the environment on cardiovascular disease in African Americans living in the “Stroke Belt.” Results from this six year NIH-funded investigation, called Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS), have been integrated into the CDC WONDER database.
A few days ago, Senator John Kerry urged the public and congress to move forward with legislation to tackle climate change. Today’s proposed unveiling of the new senate bill was delayed largely in part due to a shift in priorities from energy reform to immigration reform. Though this announcement sent Senator Graham packing, let us hope that the reality of the situation remains impetus enough for swift action.
Oren Lyons, a member of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy and indigenous rights activist, imparts the Haudenosaunee thought that decision-making should be guided by the welfare of the seventh generation to come. The below quotation from Lyons eloquently captures wisdom of indigenous inhabitants of North America:
We say that the faces of coming generations are looking up from the earth. So when you put your feet down, you put them down very carefully – because there are generations coming one after the other. If you think in these terms, then you’ll walk a lot more carefully, be more respectful of this earth (Lyons 1995).
Corporate machines, government and individuals should take this advice, and think long term. If respect for our home doesn’t change policy or opinion, the gathering scientific evidence linking environmental conditions and health should: it is in everyone’s best interest to preserve our home for our health.
HIV/AIDS & Patent Pool
January 28th, 2010A lovely animation explaining why patent pools will help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Please refer to earlier post on GPJ by Hana Akselrod regarding the approval of patent pools by UNITAID.
Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders
December 13th, 2009
Living in Emergency Trailer from LivinginEmergency on Vimeo.
The critically acclaimed film documentary “Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders” is playing nationwide tomorrow evening in select theaters. News anchor Elizabeth Vargas will moderate a LIVE panel discussion with MSF frontline aid workers and award-winning journalists.
WAD: U Mich students Jingle for Representative Dingell
December 3rd, 2009
Medical students from the University of Michigan gathered yesterday for World AIDS Day to rally Representative John Dingell’s support regarding several key issues surrounding global health and health care reform. Students sang modified versions of Christmas carols, whose words were replaced with language describing the necessity of: 1) accessible and affordable essential medicines for HIV/AIDS patients worldwide and 2) continued backing of PEPFAR, which currently only has $366 million of the $48 billion as promised by former President George W. Bush in 2008.
Have You?
December 1st, 2009Get tested to know your HIV status.
WAD @ the World Bank: Keeping the Promise, Investing in the Future
December 1st, 2009Today at the World Bank, a collection of 400+ leaders from organizations including the Global Fund and PEPFAR, as well as the Deputy US Secretary of State, Jack Lew, joined Bank Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss the current state of HIV/AIDS and what remains to be done to curb the epidemic. Facts revealed today include the following stats:
+ mother-to-child transmission has increased from 10% to 45% since 2004
+ 2.7 million people newly infected with HIV in 2008
+ HIV infections have fallen 17% since 2001
+ according to the Haiti GHESKIO-Cornell evaluation by Jean Pape MD, without ART there are 80% deaths at year, contrasted to with ART 80% survival at 2 years
+ GHESKIO-Cornell, there is a correlation between food insecurity and CD4 counts: CD4 counts decrease as food insecurity increases
+ Successful HIV containment in Bangladesh (except in Dhaka) due to preventive education efforts directed towards sex workers, injection drug users and MSM
+ Botswana’s anti-retroviral medicine program covers 80% of its population and has cut AIDS-related deaths by more than half in five years
Trick or treat!
November 14th, 2009Learn more about biologics at www.affordablemedsnow.org
Affordable Medicines: Biogenerics Bill
November 8th, 2009what is the biogenerics bill all about?
mask your face but not your spirit
May 6th, 2009Pathogens can invade our bodies, lyse cells, and cause cell death. They however, cannot lyse our human spirit! Below are manifestations of some creative and fun ways to express the self behind masks. Perhaps a new fashion statement? 
