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Author: Michael Moore

Resource Spotlight: World Health Day – April 7

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World Health Organization's 2022 World Health Day is 2022
World Health Organization's 2022 World Health Day is 2022

This year’s theme is Our Planet, Our Health: Clean our Air, Water, and Food. The World Health Organization (WHO) sponsors this annual awareness day to draw attention to specific global health issues. They chose April 7th because it marks the founding of WHO in 1948.

This year, the campaign has a multipronged focus exploring how pollution (in its many forms) and the climate crisis negatively impact the planet and human health. They urge leaders, corporations, and individuals to promote and practice healthful eating, energy conservation, and anti-pollutive habits. Acknowledging the interconnectedness of the health of our planet to human well-being, this year’s message encourages a holistic approach to health at every level—from societies, governments, and health facilities to the individuals that populate them.

 

UW Resources

Environmental Health in the 21st Century: From Air Pollution to Zoonotic Diseases (2018). This text provides encyclopedic entries on environmental health topics.

   
From Flint: Voices of a Poisoned City (2017). This documentary details the water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan and the devastating impact on the families living there.    
Risk on the Table: Food Production, Health, and the Environment (2021). This text covers the history of food safety with respect to environmental issues and consumer health.    
India Inhales (2017): A documentary on tobacco use in children in India and the rise in cancer cases as a result of this use. While harmful to human health, tobacco use is also an environmental issue.    
All We can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis (2020). Editors Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. Katharine Wilkinson present a collection of essays from women environmental activists, lawyers, and scientists. Also lending their voices to this anthology are various feminist poets and artists who are passionate about the climate movement.    

Cover image credit:

World Health Organization. (2022). Our Planet, Our Health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2022/

Resource Spotlight: National Kidney Month

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March is National Kidney Month! The campaign for 2022 is Building Paths to Better Kidney Care. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease, but many don’t know it. Diabetics and those with high blood pressure have a greater risk of developing kidney disease. Because American Indian, African American, and Hispanic communities have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, they are also at greater risk for kidney disease. NIDDK suggests three ways to help care for your kidneys including actively participating in your care with your health care team; following your care plan and staying up to date on your vaccinations; and building a kidney healthy lifestyle by eating healthily, staying active, and maintaining a quality sleep routine.

UW Resources

 

HSL Anatomical Models

Anatomical Kidney Model (library use only)

Anatomical Urinary Organs Model (library use only)

Image credit:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2022). National Kidney Month 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022 from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-kidney-month

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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February 11th is International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

This year’s theme is Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us.

UW Organizations & Programs

Global WACh: Three UW departments—Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Global Health—pool their expertise to promote health education, reduce health inequities, and develop strategies to improve the health of women, adolescents, and children across the globe.

Burke Museum’s Girls in Science program: The UW Girls in Science program connects middle and high school students with womxn scientists, Indigenous Knowledge Holders, and real UW lab experiences.

Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE): WiSE recruits and supports women of all ethnic backgrounds in science and engineering (S&E) and fosters a healthy academic and social environment for men and women in engineering at all levels of study.

Multimedia Resources

Picture a Scientist is a documentary on sex discrimination in science. Women scientists recount their experiences studying and working in scientific fields.  
Women in Science : 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World is a book for young readers (10-17) briefly detailing the biographies of fifty women scientists.
Lost Women of Science is a podcast offering stories of important women who made significant contributions to various fields of science but remain virtually unknown.  

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness: Dec. 27

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International Epidemic Preparedness Day is December 27
International Epidemic Preparedness Day is December 27
 

Last year, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations General Assembly designated December 27th as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. The Covid-19 pandemic brought to light the need for communities at local, national, and global levels to have systems in place to effectively deal with epidemics when they occur, but to also work towards preventing future epidemics.

Resources:

National Influenza Vaccination Week: December 5 – 11

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It’s not too late to get your flu shot. While the influenza virus is present year-round in the U.S., peak flu activity usually occurs between December and February. Get vaccinated in order to protect yourself and others. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, it may be even more important to get the flu vaccine; lessening your likelihood of serious complications from the flu can help conserve health resources for critically ill patients due to Covid-19 and other diseases. More information on resources: Interesting reads on the history of the flu and the 1918 influenza pandemic:
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