On a recent 60 minutes, Bill Gates introduced some
of the newest technological achievements that the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation has been developing. One of these is a thermos that can maintain the proper conditions for a vaccine
for up to fifty days despite the weather and transportation. Another
advancement that was discovered during an innovation contest held by the
foundation is a toilet which does not require plumbing for areas without
restrooms or running water. It is clear that although these innovations cost
money and take time to develop, the results are amazing and can change lives.
Investing in the right kind of technology that promotes the improvement of
global health is essential. In addition to focusing on developing technology
for recreational purposes like video games and new features on cellular phones,
there needs to be a global push to place a greater focus on utilizing
technology to improve the health of everyone, especially those who have limited
resources. It may seem that this kind of work is too difficult, but I have friends
that have had extremely rewarding experiences in the global health field. A
friend of mine went to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand last summer as part of a
two-month program for young Americans called Pacific
Discovery (http://www.pacificdiscovery.org/). The trip
usually combines travel and aid projects in areas that have low access to
resources. He initially joined this trip as a way to celebrate his high school
graduation, but it became much more than that. His most memorable experience
was when some people from nearby villages walked for two hours just to see the
new toilet built by his group.
Written by Linh
Vo and Sara Epstein
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