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Refresher Course
For J2J/GHC Fellows Washington, D.C. June 9, 2011 Bob Meyers, NPF & J2J
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Why are we doing this?

To make sure that all J2J participants in the GHC conference are on a level playing field, with all other journalists.
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Medicine
Primary focus on individual Diagnosis & treatment Medical care Social sciences as an elective part of PH education Laboratory & bedside

Public Health
Primary focus on population Emphasis on prevention Interventions aimed at environment, behavior, lifestyle, medical care Social science as an integral part of PH education Laboratory & field work

(after

H. Fineberg, 1990)

Some definitions

Some basic definitions

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Medicine a focus on the individual Public health a focus on populations Incidence the number of new cases arising in a given population in a given time Prevalence the proportion of people with HIV at a specific point in time; expressed as a %.

Some basic definitions

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Medicine a focus on the individual Public health a focus on populations Incidence the number of new cases arising in a given population in a given time Prevalence the proportion of people with HIV at a specific point in time; expressed as a %.

Some basic definitions

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Medicine a focus on the individual Public health a focus on populations Incidence the number of new cases arising in a given population in a given time Prevalence the proportion of people with HIV at a specific point in time; expressed as a %.

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Leading Causes of Death In the United States

In the Year 1900 Influenza Pneumonia Tuberculosis Gastritis Heart Disease Cerebrovascular Diseases Chronic Nephritis Accidents Cancer and other Malignant Tumors Early Infancy Diseases Diphtheria In the Year 2000

Tobacco Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity Alcohol Consumption Microbial Agents Toxic Agents Motor Vehicle Crashes Incidents involving Firearms Sexual Behaviors Illicit Use of Drugs
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Some Causes of Disease

They all make good stories

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Environment

Water

Malaria

Tuberculosis

Prevalence of TB , Malaria, and H IV/AID S in C hina, 1996-2004

30 Percentage of all disease cases 25 20 15 10 5 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

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HIV/AIDS

Malaria

Tuberculosis

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Slide courtesy of Anthony S. Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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A very informal way of looking at HIV transmission

You have to do something Or have something done to you To contract HIV

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But thats not true with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Tuberculosis Lung Disease Cancers Diseases of poverty & the environment

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All People Are Vulnerable

Women
Especially in male-dominant cultures In war zones Sex workers Economically challenged

Children
students

Medical workers

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Pregnant & vulnerable people

Children at-risk (hungry, malnourished,)

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POPULATIONS: Until we have a vaccines or cures for many illnesses We have to focus on prevention
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Personal Prevention
Vaccines Condoms Male or female Microbicides Limited sexual partners Clean needles (HIV/AIDS) male circumcision, for adults

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Societal Prevention
Developing of new drugs
Distribution of those drugs Preventing mother-to-child transmission

Development of Vaccines Elimination of Stigma Sterile clinical environments Government & industry attitudes
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To take the example of Breast Cancer Prevention

Diet Weight Alcohol use Age and number of children
Breast feeding

Development of Vaccines Sterile clinical environments Government & industry attitudes

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Journalism Practice

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Risk
Compare the risk of doing something with the risk of not doing anything
Using a birth control device with low risk VS. getting pregnant Switching to a meat-heavy diet VS. continuing traditional vegetable-based meals Drinking and driving

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Ethical Practice

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In the next four days were going to look at a lot of issues, both as journalists and as concerned citizens...
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Journalists are educators

We research difficult situations We show people what we have learned We give them information
so they can improve their lives so they can improve society

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Because we are educators, and with any disease, given

The size of the epidemic The potential for its growth The impact on society The impact on people

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And the fact that print, or broadcast & online journalists cover everything from .
Poor people Rich people National defense Marginalized populations Sex workers Our countrys future

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Then I think we can educate many segments of the population about what we know.

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And I think that is why we came here

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Resources
Globalhealthfacts.org Who.org Paho.org Nationalpress.org Theunion.org Unaids.org Stoptb.org
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Thank you!

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Acknowledgements
Mark Schoofs, The Wall Street Journal Anthony S. Fauci & Greg Folkers, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Bruce D. Walker & Marylyn Addo, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Partners AIDS Research Center Timothy Schacker, University of Minnesota Laurie Garrett, Newsday, & Omololu Falobi, Journalists Against AIDS Nigeria Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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