Dr. Mohamad Jasiem: surveillance and immunization champion

By: Results Canada Published: 23/07/2024

👉 Meet Dr. Jasiem and other immunization champions at our webinar on July 24th at 12pm ET! 👈

While I was working to finish my specialty in cardiology, the war in my country (Syria) drove me to quit and work in public health instead. It was the spread of polio in my country that made me want to keep working in public health and become interested in vaccinations.

I am in Turkey right now. I am leading the Early Warning, Alert and Response Network (EWARN) and Immunization team in my organization Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU). Northern Syria is our operational field of work.

Dr. Jasiem's team working on a polio campaign in northern Syria.

Vaccinations are an important part of public health because they save lives, make lives better, and add to the health of communities around the world, through the prevention of diseases, herd immunity, cost-effectiveness, and global health security.

My vision for the future of global health encompasses several key goals and initiatives:

  • Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Ensure that all individuals have access to essential health services without suffering financial hardship.
  • Eradication and Control of Infectious Diseases: Continue efforts to eradicate diseases like polio and control the spread of diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis through vaccination, treatment, and public health measures.
  • Strengthening Health Systems: Develop robust health systems capable of providing high-quality care.
  • Advances in Technology and Innovation: Leverage technology and innovation to improve health outcomes.
  • Global Health Security: Strengthen global preparedness and response to health emergencies, including pandemics, through international cooperation, surveillance, and rapid response mechanisms.

If these goals are met, the future of global health will be more fair, stable, and able to meet the different health needs of people around the world.

To make the goal for the future of world health come true, many problems and difficulties must be solved. To solve these problems, you need to increase funding and investment, political commitment and leadership, collaboration and partnerships, and strengthening global health security.

Individuals in Canada can take several actions to contribute to achieving the vision for global health:

  • Advocate and Raise Awareness: Speak up for world health. Write to local officials, run campaigns, and utilize social media to promote universal health care, illness elimination, and health justice.
  • Support Global Health Organizations: Support global health groups like Results Canada, Doctors Without Borders, ACU, and EWARN by donating or volunteering.
  • Educate Yourself and Others, Promote Vaccination and Public Health Measures, Promote Sustainable Practices.

Dr. Jasiem's message to our volunteers:

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Everyday people empowered to generate the political will to end extreme poverty. Change is possible.
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