Panel discussion to address global family planning efforts
| July 27, 2009 | |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty and area health researchers will meet July 30 for a panel discussion addressing the importance of scaling up family planning efforts around the world. Panelists will discuss the impact of family planning on maternal health, integrating HIV/AIDS services with family planning programs and increasing health workforce capacity.
Dr. Peggy Bentley
“The Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases is honored to host this panel discussion,” says Margaret (Peggy) Bentley, PhD, professor of nutrition and associate dean for global health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Bentley is also associate director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID), which co-sponsors the event. “Augmenting global family planning programs will allow North Carolina – together with the rest of the States – to realize its potential to improve maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other global health problems,” Bentley says. Numerous studies and reports from the United Nations, the U.S. government and non-governmental organizations have confirmed the effectiveness of family planning in improving health outcomes around the world. However, every year, 9.2 million young children – including 3.7 million newborns – and 536,000 mothers die during pregnancy and childbirth, while approximately 76 million unintended pregnancies occur worldwide each year. In addition to support from the UNC IGHID, funding for the event is provided by the Global Health Council, a U.S.-based organization that provides resources for individuals working to improve global health. “UNC has long been an active member of the Global Health Council, and we are delighted to partner with them for this important discussion, which we hope will be attended by interested individuals across the Triangle and the state,” Bentley says. The panel discussion will take place from 10 a.m. to noon in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at the FedEx Global Education Center at the corner of McCauley and Pittsboro streets. Registration is not necessary, but RSVPs are requested to drollason@globalhealth.org. Speakers include Martha Carlough, MD, director of the maternal and child health program and assistant professor of family medicine at the UNC School of Medicine; Ward Cates Jr., MD, president of research at Family Health International; and Pape Amadou Gaye, MBA, president and chief executive officer of IntraHealth International. Maurice Middleberg, vice president for public policy at the Global Health Council, will serve as moderator. UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu. |
|
