Orionna Brumfield
MC301 Contributor/Staff
Over 200 students attended Jackson State University’s annual Model United Nations discussion panel.
This is one of the many events held during the university’s annual International Week celebration that recognizes the cultural diversity at Jackson State.
Priscilla Slade, special assistant to provost for JSU Global and Community Colleges was glad to see such a great turnout.
“International Week is for all faculty and students, both domestic and international. Events like these help students gain more insight on what’s going on and how to respond to other health concerns,” said Slade.
JSU faculty, staff, and administrators encouraged students to attend events held from March 23-27 to introduce them to other cultures and provide information on global concerns including diseases and vaccinations.
Mario Azevedo, College of Liberal Arts Dean, led the discussion of the current diseases including the Ebola virus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees).
The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. “I lecture on infectious diseases because I studied etymology and diseases especially in developing countries and continents like Africa… I’m very active in trying to promote good health not only in Africa, but in the United States,” said Azevedo.
Azevedo added that since the 1700s, evidence exist that vaccines have an effect on people who get them and it saves lives.
“The world is shrinking; it’s getting smaller and smaller. You can fly to Africa in six to seven hours, and somebody’s contaminated there. In fact, that infection is going to be in the U.S. If you go somewhere and have sexual contact with someone who has Ebola, that can also be a problem. In other words, there’s no safety,” said Azevedo
Azevedo also stated that the country of Africa is actually rich, but the upper class (government, ministers, etc) control the money while allocating only 3 percent to health care.
“The most severely affected countries, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have very weak health systems, lacking human and infrastructural resources, having only recently emerged from long periods of conflict and instability.”
Many JSU students in at the discussion were very interested in news about Ebola.
“It [the panel discussion] actually taught me about different things that I didn’t know about Ebola and Africa. I am vaccinated, but I will start to tell others to do so also,” said Chereigna Dixon, a junior criminal justice major from Hazlehurst, Miss.
Shirley Harrison, Interim Director of JSU Global hopes her department is able to better inform students of global issues.
“The more we learn and understand of the cultures, I think the more we will grow and be able to adjust to the changes that have been going on in the United States. The only way to know is to listen, learn and read,” said Harrison.
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