The Association for African Students (AAS) will be hosting World Health Day at Portland State on Thursday to celebrate the anniversary of the World Health Organization, which was established on April 7, 1948.
Within the AAS, the two members responsible for most of the organization of the event are AAS President Caroline Amaringa and Treasurer Samira Mohamed.
Every year since the World Health Organization was created, World Health Day has been celebrated with a new focus each year. Some of the past focuses have included mental health, road safety and hospital safety.
Similarly, every year the AAS tries to hold an event like World Health Day, depending on the priorities and issues of the current year, Amaringa said. Last year the AAS put on World Aid Day.
“World Health Day recognizes more than physical health,” Mohamed said, adding that it recognizes other kinds of “health disparities in the world.”
According to Amaringa, the AAS hopes to spread more awareness and to spur action regarding the many health problems in the world. She said that as students graduate and continue to pursue careers in their various fields, they forget that they often have opportunities to make positive changes in the world.
The event itself will start off with a lecture by Nicole Browning, a public health education adjunct lecturer.
“[Browning] will teach [attendees] how to use the tools they have learned through their education to advocate in whichever field they go to and share their knowledge to the community,” Mohamed said.
After Browning gives her lecture, the event will continue into a discussion and Q-and-A session.
The event will run from 3 to 5 p.m. and will be held in 294 Smith Memorial Student Union.
On April 12, the AAS will also be showing the documentary “What Are We Doing Here?” The director of the film will be present to answer questions.
“[I hope this] will start a conversation on whether or not world aid has created a system of welfare in Africa,” Amaringa said.
The screening will be held in SMSUand will begin at 3 p.m. ?