This time of year, Twitter and Google searches capture innumerable complaints and questions about the flu. Luckily, new research established by Google and Johns Hopkins University claim this online buzz is a good thing. By using aggregate flu-related terms, you can now analyze social media trends to track and predict flu outbreaks. (more…)
Google’s flu trend map painted the whole country red this week, and the CDC’s flu map reported widespread outbreaks in almost every state. With seasonal influenza in full swing, many people have taken note and gotten the recommended flu shot; however, the CDC recently released a report explaining that “adult vaccination coverage remains low for most routinely recommended vaccines.” All sorts of excuses keep us from getting vaccinated, but staying current with immunizations is worth the pain.
Aside from sending physicians door-to-door, how can the CDC encourage people to get recommended immunizations? (more…)
To view an epidemic through the eyes of every facet of these diseases is a life changing opportunity. Sitting in the AIDS 2012 Media Centre, keeping good company with some of the best journalists in the world, I reflected on the knowledge I gained during my days as a volunteer and attendee of the conference.
My key takeaway has to be the overarching theme of collaboration.
As every successful communications professional should, I understand the importance of knowing your audience and utilizing collaborative efforts to problem solve. During the conference, I met researchers, scientists and policy wonks who could not agree more.
In the session Africa-India HIV Learning Exchange: Approaches To Achieving Scale, I learned that although many populations are not involved in collaborative efforts, India, Ghana and Nigeria are contributing to worldwide cooperation to share information about the impact AIDS has on various populations.
In an effort to not only report live from AIDS2012: XIX International AIDS Conference, but also act as part of the conversation I thought that my second blog post in this conference series should apply some of my learnings during my time here. Through multiple sessions yesterday I found myself in a familiar space between my two (most consistent) passions: technology and indigenous issues.
Having come from previously working at a Native American-focused association, I’m very familiar with the struggles this particular group of people has faced with respect to HIV/AIDS. And I have to admit that although indigenous populations have certainly progressed, they are most certainly still marginalized when it comes to access to health care, technology and proper education to overcome diseases such as this.
Yesterday, I attended the first ever plenary session to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic within indigenous populations at the International AIDS conference. Panelists during the session represented a large range of global indigenous peoples including Canadian Aboriginals, American Indian/Alaska Native, Burmese/Laotian indigenous peoples, New Zealand Maori and indigenous people of Chile.
The opening speaker, Canada’s Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq, set a common tone for the remaining panelists, saying that indigenous peoples need to work together within the global indigenous communities to share best practices and culturally appropriate solutions to HIV/AIDS. Through groups like the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV/AIDS, they are heading in the right direction, but what is the next step?
My proposed solution? Mobile technology.
After attending a session with University of California, Los Angeles’ Center for HIV, Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services on #mHealth and mobile technologies, I got to thinking. What about utilizing mobile technology to help fight HIV/AIDS on reservations and reserves globally?
Panelists during the CHIPTS session spoke time and time again about their case studies in highly marginalized populations not only in the U.S., but abroad as well. Through mobile phone microscope diagnostics, SMS text messaging campaigns, simple mobile phone survey applications and cloud systems management with substantial analytical data used by community health workers, mobile health could be the answer. This technology is not only relevant for HIV/AIDS but also other infectious diseases indigenous people are battling like tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Malaria.
My broad question to the world is, how do we “mobilize” and get this technology in the hands of those who need it the most? Comment below, we’d love to know!
The XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) kicked off this year in Washington, D.C. with political leaders, health scientists, patients and advocacy leaders coming from every corner of the globe.
Debra Messing talks about the stigma of HIV.
Keynote speakers included actress and philanthropist Sharon Stone, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, musician Sir Elton John and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Attendees total around 22,000 with 2,000 volunteers to help out around the conference and an estimated 1,800 journalists reporting daily.
AIDS 2012 is the first international AIDS conference to be held in the United States in 22 years due to President Obama’s lift of the HIV travel ban in 2009. Buzz around the Washington Convention Center has an energy unlike any other conference I have attended. Positivity and passion pours out of every staff member, volunteer, attendee and scientist I approach, and I could not be more excited to be part of the action.
If you are in the D.C. area, I recommend visiting the Global Village (it’s free to the public) along with the adjoining exhibition conference halls.
Stay tuned today as I blog on my two passions covered here at the conference: #indigenous issues and #mHealth mobile technology. Follow my tweets @RickiMac and join in the conversation with the conference handle @AIDS2012 and #AIDS2012, #HIV and #AIDS.
July has been a busy month for the Spectrum team, and (while we are not ones to brag) we have a lot to show for our efforts. Here are a few highlights of some of the great things happening around the office:
Our very own Liz Bryan was nominated for the 2012 Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) Emerging Leaders Awards. This prestigious award honors those up-and-coming women in communications whose talents have made a significant impact on the industry.
Resident science expert, Cynthia Chen, was featured in a Naturejobs story about alternative career paths for those with high science degrees. In the article, Cynthia talks about her day-to-day at Spectrum, her background and how she transitioned to health science communications.
Spectrum’s fearless leader, John J. Seng, co-authored an article published in commPRO.biz. John’s co-author, friend and fellow independent firm owner Louise Pollock of Pollock Communications crafted a top five list debunking the myths of giant PR firms and highlighted the advantages of working with smaller, independent agencies.
Lastly, over in the Spectrum blogosphere, the team has been covering the latest in life science news. This past week’s hot topics include pharmaceutical regulations, nutrition food facts and a new development in infectious disease via HIV/AIDS.
Check back next week as Spectrum Digital Account Executive Ricki McCarroll (@RickiMac) live blogs and tweets from the XIX International AIDS Conference.
