Global

Birthing Kits

In 2013, Hope4Health ran the inaugural Birthing Kits Assembly Night. This event saw midwifery, medical and nursing students come together to lend a practical hand in improving maternal health and safe birthing in developing countries.

This event was run in association with the Birthing Kit Foundation of Australia and the Zonta International (for more info see www.birthingkitfoundation.org.au). Both organisations have a common goal of improving the status and health of women in developing countries. With an estimated 385,000 women dying annually in childbirth, the provision of equipment and education of women for safe childbirth is significant area of need.

On the night students put together simple packs of essential items for a safe birth. The kits cost a mere $3 each, but with invaluable items such as soap, scalpel blades and gloves it can make a huge difference to the cleanliness of a birth.

Students also had to opportunity to hear from two guest speakers on the night, who reinforced the issues of poor maternal health that are faced in developing countries. Prof. David Ellwood – Director of Maternity & Fetal Medicine – Gold Coast Health District, President of Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, and Associate Professor Anne Sneddon – Clinical Director of O&G at GCH, and also the Chair of the Board of ALSO Asia-Pacific – gave both informative and inspiring talks.

The night was a huge success with 400 kits packed and have since been delivered to Ethiopia where they are now being utilised to facilitate safer births. This event has now become an annual event for Hope4Health. If you would like to be involved, then we would love to have you join us for another great evening.

Global, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (GATSIH) Conference

The GATSIH conference is a tri-university event, which brings together students from Hope4Health (Griffith University), TROHPIQ and T.I.M.E (University of Queensland), Bushfire and M.A.D (Bond University) to hear of the experiences of prominent health figures in positive indigenous and international health initiatives.

The aim of our conference is to supplement the education of health students in southeast Queensland by providing an outlet for knowledge of both international and Indigenous health issues and positive interventions.

We aim to inspire students to follow the footsteps of our speakers who have worked both overseas and locally to improve health outcomes in areas of poverty or where healthcare is suboptimal. We also aim to highlight the realities of medicine outside our tertiary hospital districts and for our attendees to gain a broader perspective on social and political issues that directly affect the health of a community.

The event features prominent speakers with extensive experience working in Indigenous and international health communities, and breakout sessions where students will be able to further develop their clinical skills.

Healthy Start

Healthy Start is a preventative health education project, working with newly arrived refugees in order to increase their health literacy. With assistance from the Multicultural Development Association (MDA), Refugee Health Queensland, the Mater Hospital and several independent GP’s around Brisbane, the project’s initial goal was to develop a one-day health information and education program for newly arrived refugees in the south Brisbane region.

Teaching modules include General Health, Nutrition, using GP’s and hospitals, Men’s Health and Women’s Health. These modules have been developed with the assistance of experts in the field. Refugees arriving to Australia are more than likely fleeing war and persecution and have tackled many adversities to make it this far. Healthy Start hopes to give them the basic health knowledge they need to keep themselves and their families safe and well in their new life in Australia. We also hope the program will allow these new Australians to better share and integrate into their communities, beginning with GPs and health practitioners. By enhancing knowledge of the crucial aspects of health and the healthcare system whilst fostering a strong foundation for successful settlement in Australia, Healthy Start hopes to improve the future health outcomes for this at risk population.

Red Party

A well established and much loved part of Hope4Health’s social calendar, the Red Party is held annually and is designed to raise awareness of the continued spread of HIV in developing nations.

For the past several years, our event has supported the Fijian Network for People Living with HIV and AIDs (FJN+). FJN+ is a UNAIDS supported charity which has received widespread accolades for their successful and innovated approach to combating the spread of HIV and AIDs within Fiji. FJN+ uses a multifocal approach; combing educational seminars on how best to prevent transmission and manage HIV, with on the ground medical care.

In the past 5 years, Griffith has joined forces with Bond Universities’ international health society MAD to run an even more successful event. By combining our resources, we can make a greater impact and raise more money for a great cause.

Ubuntu Through Health

Ubuntu Through Health was established in 2010 by a group of Griffith University medical students. It is a non-profit initiative of Hope4Health. We promote positive health outcomes in developing regions and assist in the realisation of health equality at home and abroad.

This is primarily achieved via tailored financial assistance to health clinics for assistance in the provision of medical supplies and health programs. Ubuntu Through Health is coordinated entirely by volunteer students and all donated funds go directly towards our projects. For more info Ubuntu Through Health’s projects and how to get involved, go to: https://www.ubuntuthroughhealth.org