By Jan Carey
An animated speaker, photojournalist Karen Kasmauski sees her job as creating photos both beautiful and educational. Kasmauski, a National Geographic contributing photographer-in-residence has traveled extensively in Africa, Asia and throughout the world, focusing much of her career on world health issues.
In her Los Altos Morning Forum presentation on Oct. 17, Kasmauski presented poignant, haunting photos in an introductory DVD manifesting the substance of world health issues through her creative eye.
Kausmauski told the audience of more than 500 people that human care is important in treating diseases, and attitude can be just as important as monetary resources. She cited the differences between two hospitals in Africa. Both lacked drugs, technology and treatment options, but one succeeded in providing a clean, caring environment.
She presented various themes in world health, emphasizing that consistent, sustainable solutions are key to improving people’s health throughout the world.
She said the biggest killer of children is malnutrition, yet just 21 days of supplemental nutrition can turn a child from starving to healthy.
Kausmauski said water issues are ones of availability and cleanliness. Again, simple, sustainable solutions are important, she said. For example, filtering water through a folded sari can eliminate the cholera bacteria, she said.
Child labor laws can be passed, Kasmauski said, as has happened recently in India, but enforcement is another matter. The bigger issue is how to replace the essential income that the child worker brings to the family.
She said large population areas work when people feel part of a group - a community with functioning social systems where people are invested in each other. Keeping older adults connected physically and in spirit contributes to their personal health and well being regardless of where they live.
Regarding AIDS, Kasmauski asked the forum audience whethere we are becoming more jaded, and therefore accepting, of the devastation of AIDS throughout the world: She cited her own experiences from the first time she was given an AIDS assignment to the more recent. Complacency can be deadly we are all alike in our humanity, regardless of life style, she said.
In looking at solutions, Kasmauski focused on technology and ethics. Technology is a two-edged sword even in the world of health. We can use it to create vaccines and treatments, or it can be used to develop bacteriological weapons. Ethics, personal and national, make the difference.
Morning Forum is a members-only lecture series held at the United Methodist Church of Los Altos. To get on a waiting list for membership, write to: Morning Forum, P.O. Box 274, Los Altos 94023-0274.
