Friday, December 12, 2008

National Aboriginal Health Organization signs Collaborative Agreement with the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

Ottawa, ON – Dr. Paulette C. Tremblay, CEO of the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), and Kevin Barlow, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), today signed a collaborative agreement formalizing a partnership between their two organizations.

The two research-based organizations signed the document at an open house hosted by NAHO to further raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.



“One of NAHO’s main goals is to promote an understanding of the health issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples,” stated Dr. Tremblay. “As HIV/AIDS continues to grow among the First Nations, Inuit and Métis populations, it is important that individuals and communities have an understanding of this growing health concern.”



“As CAAN prepares to move full force into its national campaign to end HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival this weekend, we are very excited to know that the National Aboriginal Health Organization will be involved in CAAN’s work to improve awareness of Aboriginal HIV/AIDS and its related issues,” said Barlow.

Barlow went on to say, “These types of partnerships are important to truly making a difference for the Aboriginal population, by way of supporting knowledge creation and finding effective ways to get this knowledge into our communities. NAHO is a key stakeholder in this regard.”

NAHO and CAAN intend to collaborate on specific projects of mutual interest, including publishing a joint issue of the Journal of Aboriginal Health with a specific focus on HIV/AIDS issues, developing awareness campaigns, assisting with each other’s projects and dissemination efforts, and more.

Special thanks to Steven Vanloffeld for emceeing and Natalie Dunleavy for photographing the event.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The 8th Canadian Immunization Conference

More than 1,200 immunization experts gathered at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, Ontario from November 30 to December 3, 2008.

This conference brought together non-governmental organizations, vaccine manufacturers, provincial and territorial immunization policy and program planners, as well as professionals from the many disciplines involved in the immunization field.

I attended this conference to gain a broader understanding of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). While I have a strong background in health promotion, additional skills building in the areas of HPV epidemiology and vaccine developments was a valuable tool for me to acquire.

I found the plenary sessions, special lectures, the exhibit hall and the posters from Grade 6 students who expressed their ideas about immunization and healthy children to be very informative.

I even had the opportunity to participate in a lunchtime workshop about best practices on “How to Pack a Vaccine Cooler Bag” during mass immunization clinics and appropriate tools for vaccine transportation.

During a walk through the exhibit hall during lunch, I also met Gerri the Giraffe (pictured above) who promotes immunization in Ottawa.