Dr. Buddhima Lokuge will speak about Doctors Without Borders work in areas devastated by malnutrition.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
UCLA, Center for Health Sciences Room 73-105A
10833 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095

This ongoing crisis contributes to 3.5 to 5 million deaths in children under five each year, and leads to long term disability, and results in poor health and educational outcomes for many more.

Dr. Lokuge will speak about malnutrition's impact on children, their families and communities; of the neglect of the problem at the national and international level; and of practical strategies to reverse the crisis in the worst affected areas. At a time of increasing food prices and food insecurity, Dr. Lokuge will speak of the urgent need for international action.

Other Doctors Without Borders Upcoming Events:

EXHIBIT  -- 42 MILLION PEOPLE UPROOTED BY WAR

"A Refugee Camp in the Heart of Los Angeles"

Step into the lives of refugees who have fled their homes.

Will I be safe? What will I eat? How do I find water?  Can I get medical care? Where will I live?

WHO:  Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières an international medical humanitarian organization, asks the public to imagine what it’s like to be among the world’s 42 million refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the interactive exhibit, "A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City."

WHAT:  Doctors Without Borders aid workers guide visitors through the camp exhibit, explaining the challenges of building shelter, finding food and clean water, and handling waste disposal—all basic elements of survival for refugees and IDPs.  In the nutrition tent, visitors learn about special therapeutic foods that combat malnutrition.  Tours of the health clinic, vaccination tent, and cholera treatment center demonstrate how the organization provides basic health care and responds to epidemics in refugee settings. The exhibit is made up of actual materials used by Doctors Without Borders in its medical humanitarian work in places all over the world, such as Sudan, Colombia, and Iraq.

WHERE/WHEN:
Griffith Park (Crystal Springs Picnic Area) - Wednesday, Oct 22 - Monday, Oct 27
Santa Monica Pier (Parking Lot Below Pier) - Friday, Oct 31 - Sunday, Nov 2

9:00 am to 5:30 pm daily  --  Free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible

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SPEAKING EVENT – TOWN HALL LA

A Discussion with Dr. James Orbinski
Author and Former International President of Doctors Without Borders Discusses His New Book and Film

WHAT:  Please join Doctors Without Borders and TOWN HALL Los Angeles for a discussion with Dr. James Orbinski, former president of Doctors Without Borders International.  Dr. Orbinski, who accepted the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the organization, will discuss his recently published book, An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action for the 21st Century and the award-winning documentary film, Triage: Dr. James Orbinski's Humanitarian Dilemma, which has been screened at film festivals around the world.  Both the book and film feature Dr. Orbinski’s reflections on his work with Doctors Without Borders in contexts such as the Rwandan genocide, the Afghan civil war, and other crises.

COST/WHO CAN ATTEND:  This event is free, open to the public, and wheelchair accessible.  Registration for this event is required.  To register, please visit www.townhall-la.org

Tuesday, October 28 – 7:30 PM
TOWN HALL Los Angeles
Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills
Parking is FREE at the Flynt Communications Building, located at 8484 Wilshire Blvd.
Bring parking ticket to be validated.

For information on the exhibit and speaking events please call 1-800-490-0773 or visit: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/RefugeeCamp

Media Contact: Lorna Chiu, Media Consultant
310.314.0223 or 310.200.8388 – lornachiu@gmail.com

ABOUT MSF:  Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in more than 60 countries and was the recipient of the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize.
 

Cost : Free, open to the public

www.ph.ucla.edu/chs/globalhealth

Sponsor(s): Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), UCLA Global Health Training Program.