Sparking Conversations on Global Health – #Bookstagram

It is 2019 and we are faced with outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, the public health crisis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and the continuing challenges of the HIV epidemic. Personally, I find it disheartening that those who are most vulnerable to these health security threats are the ones with the least access to care.

For this reason, the work of organizations such as Partners in Health Canada that are committed to improving access to health care, is extremely important. Partners in Health Canada Spark is an independent group of volunteers who are committed to supporting the work of the organization by drawing attention to the health inequities that exist around the world. We firmly believe that health care is a human right and that every single person should have access to it. On the educational front, we write monthly blog posts about pressing topics in global health on our Medium Blog and work on projects highlighting the lack of access to quality health care faced by millions of people.

Join our newest project – Global Health Bookstagram Project

Our most recent project is the launch of an online global health reading community. I have been introduced to great reads by book clubs such as Our Shared Shelf and the World Economic Forum Book Club on Instagram – and we want to do the same for our Partners in Health Community. Every month, we will be taking over Partners in Health Canada’s Instagram story to engage readers in the featured global health book of the month. So, whether you’re looking for new global health books to add to your reading list or you’ve already read our monthly pick and want to share your thoughts –this is a space for you.

As current or aspiring public health practitioners, I am certain that you view good health and well-being as a human right. Through this initiative, I hope that you will be inspired by hearing the stories of many who have a wealth of experience working in global health. In addition, I also believe that the accounts of the authors who have researched the most threatening infectious and non-communicable diseases will greatly inform your work. As working professionals, you may find yourself very busy, but would like to get back into reading books that pique your interest. Wouldn’t it be incredibly motivating if you were joined by many others reading the same books as you and sharing their thoughts?

This month’s book (the first read) is Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. Today (June 27, 2019) is the third and final day of our first instalment of the Global Health Bookstagram Project with this book. If you’ve previously read this book, I encourage you join in by following @pihcanada on Instagram and sharing your thoughts on Mountains Beyond Mountains! If you haven’t read it, come on over and learn – plus there will also be book giveaways!

PH SPOT x Global Health Bookstagram Project

(This section was written by PH SPOT)

We’re extremely excited to bring this great opportunity to our PH SPOT community and we want to make sure that our community of professionals can get involved in the great conversations taking place around important public health issues. In order to engage more of you in the PH SPOT community, we will be doing our best to summarize the thoughts and engagements from the online book club on Instagram within a monthly blog post (we will try our best!). In addition, our weekly newsletter will also feature the book that is currently being read through the Global Health Bookstagram Project for the duration of the month (keep an eye out for any giveaways)! Having said that, if you want to be part of the real live action, make sure to follow along at Partners In Health’s Instagram story!

More about this month’s book

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

“In medical school, Paul Farmer found his life’s calling: to cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. Tracy Kidder’s magnificent account shows how one person can make a difference in solving global health problems through a clear-eyed understanding of the interaction of politics, wealth, social systems, and disease. Profound and powerful, Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes people’s minds through his dedication to the philosophy that “the only real nation is humanity.””

Grab a copy on Amazon and join in!

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