Hello from Ha Long Bay (also known as bay of the descending dragon)! What a magical and wonderful place! It is truly spectacular with the mist across the ocean and the limestone rocks scattered about with green plants and trees. I can really appreciate how people would want to live here on the water. Since I last left you, I've finished my meeting and departed Hanoi via Handspan Travel to the beautiful and mysterious Ha Long Bay. It was a pretty long 4 hour drive through the back roads (well, technically the main roads), but I got to see more rural Vietnam with the rice patties, women in those pointy hats and the water buffalo. And Vietnam has these crazy 4-5 story houses that seem to come out of no where, really narrow and skinny and rising up super high. In the city you don't really see how tall they are, but in the rural areas where there is just a tall building standing alone, it is pretty wild looking. We boarded the overnight boat in Ha Long Bay City - there were 8 of us, a really small group since it isnt peak travel season, and there are some Americans, Germans, and New Zealanders in our group. In fact, one of the American girls went to Wash U for undergrad in 2002! Small world. We set off into the bay to cruise around until dinner time so I got to see how majestic the landscape is with the many little islands and setting sun. Right before dinner we stopped at a local floating fishing village - literally a village with many houses, dogs and children running around, all on the water. It was really amazing! Dinner was eh, but whatevs. I'll go eat those delicious mango crepes again when I get back to Ha Noi. I was exhausted by the end of dinner so called it an early night. Our boat was settled into a little "parking lot" - I saw parking lot because there was in fact a giant blue "p" sign on one of the smaller islands and there must have been dozens of the touristy boats docked there for the night in the sheltered bay. I guess one good thing about traveling on your own is that you get the whole cabin to yourself and considering how small it is, that was really a luxury! I was up early this morning to watch the sun rise; however, it was a little overcast and gray so there wasnt much to see. Luckily, it turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day later on. The 5 of us staying on for a second night in ha long bay went to visit this huge cave on the face of one of the big rocky islands. It was spectacular! They actually did a really great job with all of the lighting so that made it breathtaking. After a little boat ride around the bay, we went kayaking all afternoon through lagoons, past more floating villagers and fishing farms. The water was warm and perfectly calm. We even stopped at a sandy beach since it was low tide to wander around and collect shells. Ahh, love it. Now we have arrived at the 2nd largest island in Vietnam, Cat Ba Island, where we are staying at a little resort...hence, internet. I'm sitting here reflecting on my past day and I realize that I'm kind of rocking and swaying like I am still on a boat...yikes. I think that my sea wavyness is really enhanced by the sound of the ocean outside. What a lovely place this is...just dont let me be sea sick on land! So different from the hustle and bustle and your life flashing before your eyes moments in Hanoi. I could definitely see myself coming back here very soon! Not enough time!! More to come soon!! Alena
|
Hello everyone! Today is the last day of the 4th GAVI Parnters' Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam. We just heard a talk this morning by Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK, which was an interesting discussion of how GAVI has developed new business models for vaccine manufacturers and how vaccine and drug supply is not the only issue that the industry needs to address: they also need to focus some of their attention on the health care infrastructure and health supply systems. It was good to hear that some of these companies are addressing this gap; however, much work remains. I attended and participated in Workshop 5, which was a panel discussion on the cold chain supply or, also more recently termed, health supply systems. There are many challenges facing the vaccine supply systems and we were able to engage the panelists on their perspectives on possible future directions for supply systems, especially concerning the fact that while there may be sufficient resources available in countries and their health departments, countries face more logistical and operational issues about actually getting the resources to the people. This implemtation challenge is something central to APAVH's work in the Asia and Pacific region, but it cannot solely be an overarching best-practices document, it really needs to be something developed with specific countries and made country-specific. APAVH can help to serve as a technical advisor here, an element that has really been neglected in the past. A holistic view of the cold chain system needs to be taken in order to develop a comprehensive and successful approach to vaccination, including birth dose, database development, training of personnel, developing the demand from pregnant mothers for vaccines, and environmental impacts of used needle disposal, among other challenges. Now we have to think about the future work of the Asia and Pacific Alliance to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis (APAVH) and clearly there is a lot of work for us to do. It has been a very exciting meeting to learn and network with so many incredible people. I look forward to our next steps as a global initiative that will eradicate hepatitis B, including our Shandong Province project, meetings at the WHO in Geneva, our work and collaboration with Laos, our Manila Hep B Free project in the Philippines, the first Advisory Board Meeting, and working with my wonderful team of Interns! Later this afternoon, hopefully I'll have a chance to wander around Hanoi and even see the water puppets theater - exciting! All the best, Alena
|
Hello everyone! I am currently at the GAVI Partners' Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam, learning tons and networking with some incredible individuals. What an innovative partnership between various partners and countries. The Asia and Pacific Alliance to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis (APAVH), my little global health baby, has a lot to learn from the successes, lessons learned and future challenges. It's with mixed feelings that I am learning and understanding that GAVI will not longer be providing eligible member countries financial support for the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine. On one hand, it keeps me employed so yes, I will still have a full-time job, but on the other hand, it's really unfortunate that the GAVI Advisory Board has eliminated the funding of the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine, which essentially is the only link to providing timely birth dose that will protect over 90% of children from contracting hbv from an infected mother to child (40% of hbv transmission). This funding is disappearing because hbv vaccine prices have come down so dramatically within the past years to 20-23 cents (US) per dose. GAVI is assuming that countries will be able to provide their own funding to take care of this vaccination, however, a number of other issues arise: countries may not be able to afford the vaccines, countries may not be currently giving timely birthdose (within 12-24 hours of birth), data only reflects 3-dose completion, but not birthdose, which is essential in highly endemic areas to eliminate transmission, countries believe that they can just use the pentavalent vaccine to take care of hbv vaccination, but this is not given at birth, and a lack of education among health care workers, pregnant women and the general public. Whew! So yes, we still have a lot of work to do! And this meeting is just proving how important and essential APAVH is to eliminating new hbv transmission and reducing the global burden of hbv and liver cancer, especially in Asia. Ok, ok, now that you know more than you ever wanted to about what I am working on and will continued to work on, I can talk about some of the more "fun" things in Vietnam....like the food! Delicious! I seriously cannot get over how amazing the pho is, chicken, beef, noodles and spices, om nom nom. Simply cannot get enough! And the fresh fruit! I'm seriously obsessed with good dragon fruit (that one that's pink on the outside and white and black seeds like a kiwi on the inside). Last night was the opening ceremony for the GAVI Partners Forum, which was held at the Hanoi Opera House, a beautiful building, where they had all of these cute kids dancing around and singing in their traditional garb - super cute! There is supposed to be this awards dinner/gala tonight so maybe there will be more cultural performances! I've also bought my little vacation getaway to Ha Long Bay!! I leave on Saturday to spend 1 night on a boat and 1 night on this island in the middle of the bay! There are supposed to be these beautiful karst formations and kayaking and caves and beaches...wooooweee! It will be a nice mini-vaca after these endless meetings, presentations, dinners, etc. More to come soon! Alena
|
Hello everyone! Just wanted to say Sai Jiao (hello) from HANOI, VIETNAM! I just arrived this morning after the 14 hour flight to Taipei and then the 4 hour flight to Hanoi (clearly I slept basically the entire way on both flights thanks to my sleep deprivation during the Team HBV Collegiate Conference). I've never flown on EVA Air before, but they were amazing! Actually good food and lots of room back in good ol' economy. It probably helped that no one was sitting next to me on that long flight. I did wake up on flight #2 with the older man in the seat next to me practically sitting on my lap trying to get out - slightly awkward. GAVI arranged rides for us from the airport to the hotel in Hanoi, thankfully since it is a 45 minute car ride. I actually rode with the VP of Global Programs at PATH, which is funded by Gates and does a whole lot of vaccine work similar to what we want to emulate with the Asia and Pacific Alliance to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis (APAVH) so yay! Networking in action! It turns out that this VP lady is actually kind of a big deal so I'm glad I got to schmooze with her. I had a little time this afternoon to wander around Hanoi. Um, talk about taking your life into your own hands - try crossing the street here! I think my life flashed before my eyes at least a dozen times during my brief jaunt around the French Quarter and Old Hanoi! I was having some directional issues in my attempt to locate this little travel agency to book my trip to Ha Long Bay so I decided to try one of the little bicycle cart things...let's just say you are up close and personal with the cars, bikes, motorcycles, scooters, people and animals! I found the travel agency and booked my travel plans for Ha Long Bay for this weekend after passing the shoe block and needles/thread block (literally, every store on the street was selling the same thing - I didnt think it was actually true). Then I HAD to try these mango crepes that my mom has been raving about and they were delicious! Possibly one of the best things ever - mango, crepes, coconut cream - how can you go wrong!? Since I felt a little more navigationally savvy, I decided to walk back to the hotel - again, another life-threatening adventure through the streets. I definitely tagged along with groups of people crossing the street in an attempt to not get hit by upcoming traffic. I didn't build up the courage to cross this outrageously busy street to get to the lake, but I think I'll try to make it there in the morning before settling down to business - I'm sure the jet lag will have me up at some insane hour. Tomorrow our meetings begin so I'm excited to learn and network! Alena
|
Hello East Villagers! I am currently on my way to Hanoi, Vietnam, for the 4th Annual GAVI Partner’s Forum, which begins tomorrow. After a 14 hour flight (in which I literally slept for 12 hours thanks to the lack of sleep during the Team HBV Conference) I have a layover in Taipei, Taiwan, and there is free internet! Here is some information about the GAVI Meeting: GAVI's partners and stakeholders will gather in Hanoi, Vietnam from 18-20 November 2009 for the 4th GAVI Partners' Forum.Programme for the Partners' Forum now available Download PDF The 2009 GAVI Partners’ Forum will provide a unique platform for partners to exchange ideas about opportunities and challenges ahead, and to provide feedback on GAVI’s policies and strategy for the next five years through 2015. The meeting will gather distinguished global health leaders and a wide range of international delegates from GAVI-eligible countries and from donor countries, representatives of civil society organisations, technical experts and private sector partners. We will hear from developing countries about their experiences in fighting vaccine-preventable disease, share best practices and reflect on lessons learnt. We will discuss challenges ahead – particularly given the current economic climate – and the way forward to fulfill GAVI’s mission of saving children's lives and protecting people's health through increased access to immunisation. Updates on the meeting and follow-up on the Team HBV Conference coming soon! All the best, Alena
|
Day 5: Friday the 13th! Tomorrow starts the official Team HBV Collegiate Conference! It has been a busy and exciting week for all of our students from China. I think that overall they are very much enjoying the programming and activities. Tomorrow, they would like to have a little more "free time" to explore Stanford University. We will be dropping them off at the Oval at 10:00am so that they can explore the campus on their own.
We have circled Tressider Union on their colorful campus maps so they know where to meet Miss Amy Yu for lunch at 12noon (always an incentive to return). We will then take them for a guided tour of Memorial Church from 1-2pm. Then, as we (China students) all discussed and decided, they will have more time to walk around Stanford in the afternoon and need to meet back at Tressider at 5:00pm for dinner (another incentive to return).
Ying Ying, Jen and I will all be on campus tomorrow getting ready for our big Welcome Dinner tomorrow evening, and finalizing everything for the rest of the conference. I know that Amanda will also be helping us run some errands. Check your individual emails for more details!
Please join us for registration/dinner between 5-6pm at Tressider Union - Oak Lounge West. A delicious catered Thai Dinner will be served at 6:00pm.
Get excited!!!
|
I would like to thank you all for a successful start to the Team HBV Conference! We greeted the students and delegates from China this morning as they arrived weary, but excited, to SFO, and they are thrilled to be in the United States - this is the first trip for all 14 of them to the US. Tomorrow they will spend another lovely day in California learning from our speakers and invited guests, and looking forward to the highly anticipated Pizza Party in the evening. It promises to be a very rewarding week and experience for all of our students.
|
Hello November! I used to always be partial to the first week in November, since it meant that my birthday was approaching and usually that included a birthday party with friends, goodie bags and some delicious cake, but now, 20 years later, it means that the Team HBV Conference Month is here! That’s right, I’ll be seeing you all at Stanford University in just 7 days for the China folks and 11 days for the US chapters!
|
|
|
