Comments for School of Public Health

Comment on Why Public Health? by Rich Ward

Rich Ward — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:47:34 +0000

There are several programs that are available to help those without any type of health insurance at all. They are limited in what they cover such as prescription medications and I have found one program that actually has negotiated rates for both prescription medications and over 1,700 lab & imaging preventative diagnostic tests. Pretty amazing program as no one ever pays a dime to access the huge savings that the program offers.

It’s not publicly known information. The media won’t publicize it. Big money keeps it shut down. We are reaching folks, just not at the level we would like to be reaching them.

Comment on Palin didn’t know Africa is a continent by Anita

Anita — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:48:20 +0000

That was good to know. Specially now after election! And now America can breathe deep from relief of passing such a dangerous tragedy. Doesn’t matter democratic country or not, history has approved that always stupid things happen.

Comment on Job hunting formula by mina

mina — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:44:10 +0000

salam
khehli vaghteh keh azatoon khabari nist
haaletoon khoobeh?

Comment on About by Bill Bicknell

Bill Bicknell — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:38:06 +0000

Hi Syamak,

Great blog and great idea.

Bill

Comment on Arian Band and Chris De Burgh by Anita

Anita — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:19:21 +0000

I don’t think it’s being done in Iran. I think it was in Canada.

Comment on Happy Marriage, Happy Heart by Bal Simon

Bal Simon — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:11:01 +0000

Hmmmm not always true..

Comment on GIS in Public Health by Shawn

Shawn — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:49:11 +0000

(-_-”)

Comment on Creating online surveys for free by Susie Foster

Susie Foster — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:30:14 +0000

One thing to note before you launch your survey (and this was learned the hard way!) … If you are asking for numeric info, for example cost data, Surveymonkey allows you to specify numeric info but it doesn’t leap out at you and it’s easy not to spot it. If you don’t make this specification, you won’t easily be able to manipulate and make calculations on your numbers - they will be treated as “string” or text variables! Good luck with your survey!

Dear Professor Foster
Thanks so much for sharing this valuable lesson in working with Surveymonkey. Syamak

Comment on About by mehrdad Roayaie

mehrdad Roayaie — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:21:49 +0000

Hi Syamak
salam, be tor etefaghi be web loget barkhordam, baro bachehaye behreloloum daran hamdigaro peyda mikonan, kheyli delam barat tang shode ba maram hatman ba man tamas begir.
mokhlese shoma
mehrdad

Comment on Creating online surveys for free by Banafsheh

Banafsheh — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:03:56 +0000

Very nice, thanks for the information…

Comment on Gini index, a measure of inequality by Richard Bryson

Richard Bryson — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:12:51 +0000

On the worldwide inequality map, Bolivia seems to have a rating between 0.40 and 0.44. However, Bolivia’s actual Gini inequality rating is 0.61. Is this map’s data simply old? Or is is it a mistake?

Dear Richard,

Thanks for your comment. You are right, the Gini index for Bolivia, based on 2007 report is 60.1 %. The data of this map is related to 1998 and we can consider this difference based on the old or inacurate data.

Syamak

Comment on Iran’s health system by saeid shahraz

saeid shahraz — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:51:33 +0000

Thanks Syamak,
I hope I can keep writing up!
Best
saeid

Saeid Jaan,

I know you can, your work is unique in this field and all of us has to respect to this kind of volunteer efforts.

Syamak

Comment on Results of the Election, 2008 by Alireza

Alireza — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:26:57 +0000

To Banafsheh,

While the notion of having a young, handsome, well-spoken president is exciting, experience cannot be downplayed. Experience, judgement and character are very important for such a high position of power. A leader lacking in these qualities could result in disaster for the country.

Obama’s lack of experience is evident in his statement that as the president he would be willing to meet with Ahmadinejad.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-09-24-1364154241_x.htm
As an Iranian-American, I do not consider Ahmadinejad someone who qualifies or meets the preconditions to meet with the President of the United States. Another example of what lack of experience could cause is Michelle Obama’s gaffe regarding being proud for the first time as a U.S. citizen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYY73RO_egw&feature=related

The Obamas are not bad people, but their lack of experience, as evidenced by these references, might cause them to make misinformed decisions.

Comment on Strange Fruits in the USA, a country of change by Banafsheh

Banafsheh — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:17:18 +0000

I 100% agree with you, Syamak, on how important and crucial is the “change” for a society to remain vital and progressive. I admire this country and this system for letting people change, follow change, and define the direction of change they want to see. There is one step before change which is more important that change itself. That’s having a social platform that let you view and observe different perspectives. Although in this country media, most of the time, control that platform to some way or the other but you are free to decide what you want to hear, see and decide based upon. Change is the baby of such a society. In our country, Iran, there is not such a platform, nor willingness to have that. We are so scared of committing sins and going to hell that we would rather stick tight to what the previous generation thought us. I love change, I advocate that and I stand for it.

Dear Banafsheh,

Thanks for your comment, please feel free to write on this blog as guest writer, I always enjoy your approach to problems.
Take care, Syamak

Comment on Strange Fruits in the USA, a country of change by Alireza

Alireza — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:56:17 +0000

Sometimes ago I heard on NPR that when this song came out, not every one knew what it was about. In fact at one of Billie Holiday’s shows, a white fan yells out and says: sing that “sexy fruit song”.

Comment on Health, market or essential human right, that is the question by fdefoin

fdefoin — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:31:14 +0000

Interesting question, but we should never stray away from human rights. Market will always remain a market. Companies that provide goods will always want more and more, even at the expense of humans. Insurance companies all fall in the same basket, (the don’t care basket). They determine on who you will see and what care you need…depending on how much you have. So to put it bluntly, They do not care for you! but rather for whats in your wallet.

Fabian

Dear Fabian,
Thanks for your comment, that is true, but I think public health and human rights activists have to advocate the point and push the governments to spend more resources on health, as a human right, if health professionals accept the fact that health care is something that if you have money you can buy it if you don’t you are out of the market, we never can fill the gap and inequality in providing health to those who actually don’t have access.

Syamak

Comment on Quality or Quantity of life by Cody

Cody — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:50:17 +0000

I think quality of life is more important. What is the point of living to 100 if you suffer daily? I’d rather cut my longevity in half and live comfortably. I can live a full life in 50 years.

Of course, I would prefer a long and high-quality life, but who wouldn’t?

Hi Cody,

I wish a long life fill out with joy and sunshine and happiness for you, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Syamak

Comment on Global warming vs. climate change by J.D.

J.D. — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:13:09 +0000

Global warming is not going to result in massive title waves of water flooding Manhattan. IF the ice caps were to melt — which, by the way, remains a THEORY and not an absolute truth — it will happen gradually over time. And if there is one thing we know about humanity, it’s that we are the most adaptable species to ever hit the planet. Even an annual increase of an inch of water would be something we could deal with: you relocate, you build up, etc. And if new infectious diseases or giant mosquitoes were to attack us, capitalism and competition would quickly find solutions.

Compare to the threat from an asteroid. We KNOW that they’re headed this way, and we know that we’re hardly scanning the skies in preparation. We also have no solid way of deflecting one should an impact be imminent. But most important, unlike global warming, we wouldn’t have time to adjust from an impact. Massive death would cover the planet within months. And we KNOW this has happened before.

Now think: even the doomsday scenarios projected by failed politicians in recent theatrical releases don’t come close the effect of one 3-mile-wide asteroid impact. So why, then, is there SO MUCH EFFORT and time and money being spent on the global warming issue?

Simple answer: Preparing for a asteroid impact would result in competition between high tech companies, government agencies, with — at most — a simple cash prize being put up by a handful of countries.

Conversely, “preparing” for “global warming” allows governments to raise taxes (how many times have we heard global warming advocates propose a ‘global tax’?). It allows for the empowerment of international bodies that remain unaccountable to any electorate (i.e. the U.N.). It also allows for bigger, more powerful governments on the state and local level. All of this means LESS FREEDOM for the individual — a theme that has constantly been advanced by elites and governments throughout world history. Now, you will be told what light bulbs to use, what vehicles to drive, how often to drive, what foods to eat, when you can and can’t turn on the air conditioning, etc. And those are just based on recent proposals. Let your imagination run wild on what the future holds if these weather theories catch on.

Unfortunately, actual science has been removed from the debate. Advocates of global warming don’t want a discussion or a debate (when was the last time you saw Gore debate the issue with a non-believer? Never.) This is an agenda being advanced with pure power… which is the basis for the movement altogether.

Dear J.D

Thanks so much for your precious points that you noticed in the politics around this issue, as you know better than me there is different kind of sciences, clean and garbage sciences are among those different kinds, and most likely every dog tries to bite his stake in any issue including something on spot light like Global Warming or Climate Change. I agree with you that some unaccountable governments try to use this idea in terms of their financial interests, on the other hand some countries, like OPEC members deny the fact to make sure they don’t lose any income in the shadow of Climate Change action policy. I agree with you to see different sides of the scientific controversy especially the human rights side that you mentioned earlier. Despite the fact that human has power of adaptation with the changes in the nature, but I doubt that this adaptation can be sustainable for ever. Again thanks so much for your attention; I am looking forward to learn from you on this subject and other posts of this blog.

Syamak

Comment on GIS in Public Health by Stacey Maples

Stacey Maples — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:28:25 +0000

Thanks for the mention! We are always happy to see our resources being used outside of the Yale Community!

Stacey D. Maples

Yale University Map Collection
Sterling Memorial Library 7th Floor
130 Wall Street /P.O. Box 208240
New Haven, CT 06520-8240
P:203-432-8269 F:203-432-8240
http://www.library.yale.edu/maps

Dear Stacey,

Thanks for your note, I personally learned a lot from your wonderful resources and I continue learning through your network.

Syamak

Comment on About by stella Fateh

stella Fateh — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:50:10 +0000

Hi Dr. Moattari

I have read your new weblog and found it really amazing and interesting. I am not in the field of public health but will adapt some of your experiences as an international student in my own field.

Stella fateh

Ms Fateh,

Thanks so much for your kind words, I hope this blog can be useful for all of people who want to make a difference, I will be more than happy to see the colleagues in other fields can find something here to share . Be in touch and good luck

Syamak

Comment on Results of the Election, 2008 by Marianne Kozuch

Marianne Kozuch — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:41:54 +0000

Syamak,
If Obama wins, perhaps the new climate would be similar to the Bill Clinton presidency. He had a struggle with the Republican Congress and had a difficult time carrying out reforms.
At least the Congress is a little greater than 50% Democratic than Republican nowadays.
Marianne

Comment on Results of the Election, 2008 by Marianne Kozuch

Marianne Kozuch — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:20:55 +0000

Yes, the election will be close, with Obama and McCain as the leading candidates. McCain is a known quantity already, so let’s see what Obama will say of substance. If Obama wins, he will have a somewhat difficult time, because his political machine is just starting up. McCain would have an easier time of it, his party (and political allies ) are already established in government.

Hi Marianne,

Thanks for your comment; also I think if Obama wants to actually practice his promises in order to do an extensive reform and change in the current policies it would be very hard to deliver bacause of extensive stakeholders and a natural powerful resistance in any system for this kind of change.

Syamak

Comment on Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health & Human Rights by Health & Human Rights « School of Public Health

Health & Human Rights « School of Public Health — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:05:39 +0000

[...] Health & Human Rights Posted on January 9, 2008 by moattari Surprisingly Health and Human Rights as a unique field (one concept) is a young, but rapidly growing and dynamic field. When we think about public health, unconsciously we consider it as a human right, these two words had evolved parallel but it took a long time until finally this field was introduced as a unique concept. The first time that human rights were explicitly named in a public health strategy was only in the late 1980s, when people looked at rights of HIV/AIDS patients seriously. Prof. Jonathan Mann’s observations were one of the early efforts to highlight the field. Jonathan Mann’s 3 basic observations: · Human rights abuses can dramatically affect health· Health can be dramatically worsened when human rights are ignored· Health and human rights can act synergistically· Today I learned about Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health & Human Rights, the deadline for nominees is January 15th, 2008. I believe this award and the announcement around it, can help to internalize this field among health policy makers and practitioners. For more info click here. [...]

Comment on Happiness Index, an indicator for well being by Banafsheh

Banafsheh — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:56:28 +0000

Syamak, I just don’t feel comfortable to measure a qualitative variable with only a small set of quantitative measures. Happiness is a state of feeling with a very complex association with so many internal and external factors. The causal association between them are influenced so deeply by other feelings. It is not just the feeling but even the definition of happiness differs from one person to the other one. Let’s say an example; where I grow up, Iran, I was thought that laughing loud is rude, kills my spirit, and makes me look silly. I was thought “pain” on the other side, makes my spirit glow, strong my heart, and is necessary for being able to understand how people in pain live and feel. I truly believed in these practices and truly enjoyed being in pain. I never laughed loud in my young ages. Being in US, showed me the other side of the coin. How can I measure my happiness back in Iran and here in US? I know that your study is an ecological type of work and not necessary applicable to individual experiences. But lets measure valuable concepts such as happiness more seriously. What do you think?

Banafsheh,

Absolutely, I agree with you in terms of cultural differences and the idea that those investigators who work on this issue should take into account these differences. The happiness index is a subjective measure, and it is very difficult to measure especially in a Transcultural situation. The point is that happiness Index reexamines the concept of economic growth by taking into account non-economic factors that hinder sustainable development. Bhutan’s initiative has inspired tremendous academic research and dialogue on the importance of balancing economic development with the social, cultural and environmental imperatives of a society.

Syamak

Comment on Results of the Election, 2008 by Banafsheh

Banafsheh — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:35:32 +0000

Syamak,
The scenario you imagined is so unfortunate and sad. It may or may not come true. But, what is important is that democratic fans don’t go after those who claim they will win since they are experienced and know how the system works and etc. I have heard some say they would vote for Clinton although their heart go with Obama only because they believed he wouldn’t won against the republican counterpart. I personally hate this type of argument. this is a deadly move from the beginning. Now, that I am seeing people support Obama makes me feel very honored that human beings are not too political inside and still go for “risk” when it is worth it.
Thanks for your wonderful blog.

Dear Banafsheh,

Thanks for your comment; this is a historical moment in American history, a country of hope, only in America a Kid from a Kenyan father and an American mother can stand for presidency, so see what will happen in the end of the day.

Syamak

Comment on Results of the Election, 2008 by Babak Mohit

Babak Mohit — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:30:53 +0000

That’s too pesimistic! Afterall, history never repeats itself, at least to the precision explained. The interesting fact is that I was also in the Haynes Convention Center in 2000, for the American Public Health Association Conference, when the Bush Gore thing was going on!

Comment on About by Susie Foster

Susie Foster — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:21:26 +0000

Hi Syamak
Great idea to start a blog! the postings so far are very interesting - I look forward to reading them as you put them up. best wishes
Susie

Dear Prof. Foster,

Thanks for your kind words, I am looking forward to learn from your points.

Syamak

Comment on About by Cherrie

Cherrie — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:22:51 +0000

Hi there, Syamak. I’m a DrPH candidate from the first class at BU and have moved away from Boston as I work on my dissertation. Those of us who have finished our coursework, unfortunately don’t have much contact with the newer classes. I have an interest in Iran but am focused on India at present. I would be interested to know more about how things are going for you and what your interests are.
Best,
Cherrie

Hi Cherrie,

Thanks for your comment, also I am done with my course works and I am going to take my practicum probably at Harvard. I am interested in interlinkages between global health and sustainable development, I try to use this blog as a bridge between different cohorts of our program, we need a place to share our findings and thoughts, I believe this site can provide this service to all of us, again thanks and have great year ahead.

Syamak

Comment on Happiness Index, an indicator for well being by Babak Mohit

Babak Mohit — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:25:02 +0000

Syamak,

Congratulations on the blog! I wanted to write the following in an email, but I saw it was to relavant to the discussion you have here, so I’ll just share it…

I’m reading this book named ‘The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth’ by Benjamin Friedman (not to be confused with Milton or Thomas Friedman) who teaches political economics at Harvard.

His argument is is similar to the study you have mentioned here. However, his methodology does not use GIS but a simple regression model. His independent variable is individual economic growth, and his dependent variable is political and social liberalization. He explains that inflation adjusted income growth, rather than simply an existing high standard of living, is key to effecting political and social growth in the developing world, and shows that even the wealthiest nations put their democratic values at risk when income levels stand still.

I must admit that I like his variable selection better. GDP levels (or even GDP growth) as you see in the video of Thomas Hahns that you have introduced earlier in this blog are not an exact identifier of how the wealth is distributed in the society and they also tend to ignore inflation which is reflected in the value of the national currency relative to the instrument that it is pegged on.

The perfect example of this is Iran in past few years that despite the overwhelming rise in oil prices, and hence in GDP:
(1) Due to inflation the value of the Rial has fallen agianst the value of gold
(2) The inflation adjusted income of the majority of the people has fallen even steeper due to the unfair distribution of wealth.

I think you would enjoy this book. Like Castells book, it is a both relatively easy read, and yet very well documented and referenced. The book is 400 pages with a 100 page bibliography! I strongly would recommend it to you.

Dear Babak,

Thanks so much for sharing the reading and the measures, I agree with your point about GDP/capita, the reason that I used GDP just I wanted to show the essence of the new indicator (Happiness) and also GDP is ready to use in Human Development report. I hope I can read the book soon, again thanks and have a wonderful time.

Syamak