Additional Resources

• Issue 1 (PDF Format)

Network has had an amazing start to 2006. We have continued to pursue our boat clinic program in Ghana, and are looking to expand our work to other parts of the world where boats can be used to increase access to healthcare services. Network has also been expanding our contacts related to Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the health sector in sub- Saharan Africa. We have presented at a number of different forums, and have been in dialogue with potential partners for other health projects in the U.S. and abroad. Network for the Improvement of World Health has been fortunate to obtain financial contributions from private individuals and other donors, including a generous donation from a corporate sponsor in March 2006. We thank all of our donors and other Friends of Network for their support, and will keep you posted on our progress.

Yours truly,

Kaakpema Yelpaala

New Board Additions

Network is pleased to announce the addition of two new board members: Dr. Stephen Alexander and Mr. Dave Menkhaus. Dr. Alexander is an Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University in the Department of Physics and the Department of Astrophysics. He was recently named one of eight 2006 National Geographic Emerging Explorers. Mr. Menkhaus is a member of the firm Moore & Menkhaus, P.A., and works primarily in the areas of health care, representation of closely held businesses, real estate financing and commercial lending. He is also the owner of Surgical Solutions, Inc., which develops and manages surgery centers.

Network President Nominated as Candidate for Prestigious Global Health Award

Network's President, Kaakpema Yelpaala, has been nominated for the 2006 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights by the Global Health Council. The award will be presented in early June at an awards banquet during the Global Health Council's Annual Conference in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit http://www.globalhealth.org.

Africa Economic Forum III (March 31, 2006)

Network's President recently moderated a high-level expert panel on public/private partnerships in HIV/AIDS at the Africa Economic Forum III, Columbia University. The panelists were the director of the Corporate Council on Africa HIV/AIDS Initiative, the managing director of the Global Business Coalition on AIDS, and first secretary to the UK Mission to the United Nations. For more information, please visit http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/aef/aids.html.

Documentary Film on Ghana Boat Clinic Partnership

Network coordinated the production of a documentary film on Ghana's boat clinic program, working with the Ghana Health Service and other collaborators. The film was shot by Digital Development Communications (DDC) in July and August of 2005, and highlights the health needs of communities in the Volta Lake Basin, GHS' efforts to reach out to these communities with healthcare services, and how Network, the GHS, and other partners are collaborating to scale-up the program. Network and the GHS plan to release the film during the summer of 2006.

Network and DDC Form Partnership to Advocate Pressing Global Health Issues

Network and Digital Development Communications have forged a partnership to leverage mass media to increase awareness on some of the most pressing global health challenges of our time. The collaboration will seek to increase general awareness of important community health issues in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as sensitize policy makers and politicians about the on-the-ground realities of global health challenges. For more information about Network/DDC film productions, please contact Network at info@@niworldhealth.org.

Yale Pre-Medicine Undergrad Awarded Fellowship to Support Network in Tanzania

Ian Bishop, a recent addition the Network team, has been awarded the Bates Traveling Fellowship to survey the health needs of communities in Kigoma District, Tanzania. Many of these communities live along Lake Tanganyika and have limited access to healthcare because of water barriers created by the lake. During his time in Tanzania, he will interview community members, healthcare officials, doctors, and others about the health needs of populations in Kigoma District. Ian will conduct an assessment of health outreach possibilities through boats in the district.

Teachers College Black Graduate Expo (February 25, 2006)

Network recently presented at Teachers College, Columbia University. The presentation described Network's approach and projects, public/private partnerships in health, and our boat clinic collaboration in Ghana. For more information, please visit www.tc.edu.

Network Staff Update

Network would like to thank Nick Montgomery (Information Technology Administrator), for our new website design, and Sarah Zalud (Health Information Technology Advisor), for leading the process in developing a proposal to a major software corporation on health and ICT in Africa at the end of 2005. Network also welcomes a new volunteer to the team, Ellen Love, who will serve as a Grants Advisor. Ellen is a Brown University graduate who currently works on the executive staff of a small NGO in the Bay Area (California).