Gayla Jewell, assistant professor of nursing and coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Nicaragua Program, received the proclamation from Mayor George Heartwell on November 8.
Global Health Month helps recognize the multi-faceted Rx for Child Survival fund and campaign. Jewell said earlier this year, several Grand Valley departments and West Michigan organizations received one of 20 grants nationwide to increase awareness of the 11 million children who die each year worldwide, many from preventable causes. The Rx for Child Survival campaign was created by WGBH and Vulcan Productions, with funding by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Merck Company Foundation.
Participating GVSU departments are the Padnos International Center, College of Health Professions, Kirkhof College of Nursing, WGVU Public Broadcasting and Office of Minority Affairs. Community organizations include Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth, World Affairs Council, Internaional Aid, Rotary and Muskegon Community Health Project.
Future activities will include WGVU Radio reports, a WGVU-TV panel discussion, and a "local to global" reading exchange program between youth in West Michigan and Nicaragua.
