February 25, 2009
Beginning March 2, North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM 91.5 will air a special series of reports highlighting the public health connections between North Carolina and southeastern Africa. The pilot series was funded by a gift from Carolina Public Health Solutions, part of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

“North Carolina Voices: Global Health Connections” examines research and service projects organized by North Carolinians abroad. The stories will air during the “Morning Edition” program between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on selected days.

The first installment will focus on Malawi and Zambia, two of the world’s poorest countries. In both countries, maternal and infant mortality are high, life expectancy is short, and the AIDS epidemic continues to take its toll. The health care systems in both places struggle with a lack of resources and a dearth of skilled personnel.

Rose Hoban, with child in Malawi

Rose Hoban, with child in Malawi

In Malawi, WUNC health reporter Rose Hoban will introduce listeners to a Raleigh couple who work with an innovative program to care for children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. Hoban also will examine a project managed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe. Health care workers at the UNC project provide medical care as well as perform ground-breaking research in treatment for HIV, malaria and other diseases.

In Zambia, Hoban profiles health care workers trained by the Chapel Hill-based organization Ipas to improve women’s reproductive care.

In addition to the radio broadcasts, WUNC Radio will feature Hoban’s travel
journal and multimedia presentations on its website, http://wunc.org.

Trained as a nurse, Hoban has covered health care for WUNC since 2005. She has worked abroad in numerous health settings, including with Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders, and in an inner-city emergency room.

Hoban has a master’s degree in public health policy and has received a number of news and journalism awards.

# # #

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.
 

 

RELATED PAGES
CONTACT INFORMATION
Gillings Admissions: 233 Rosenau Hall, (919) 445-1170
Student Affairs: 263 Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-2499
Dean's Office: 170 Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-3215
Business and Administration: 170 Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-3215
Academic Affairs: 307 Rosenau Hall, (919) 843-8044
Inclusive Excellence: 207B Rosenau Hall, (919) 966-7430
Room Reservations
Facilities


135 Dauer Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400