By: Jen LeBlanc, Global Health Office Outreach Coordinator

Each year the global health office at Dalhousie coordinates a photo contest to recognize and celebrate the many beautiful images that are shared with our office during the year. Entrants are judged on the artistic and visual appeal of their images as well as the accompanying story. These stories are intended to convey the connection to global health and highlight the importance of ethical images, especially in healthcare settings.

There is no denying that photography has significant power to influence and, in the context of global development, it is important to appreciate its potential benefits and burdens. Ethical images inform and invite meaningful reflection, they respect the dignity, values and positive developmental capabilities of others. Within the framework of social justice an ethical image documents the complexities of social, economic and political context.

With that in mind, we present the 2019 photo contest winners!  Congratulations to Jonathan Oore and Kalkidan Gebre and thank you to all who participated.

2nd Place

The Green Team by Jonathan Oore

“In a rural hospital in Ifakara, Tanzania medical students surround a surgeon removing a patient’s gallbladder. Like in Canada, the OR is home to multiple “learners,” all at different levels. Also, like Canada, there’s warm camaraderie among those doing the learning. While these types of surgeries are bread and butter of general surgery in Canada, in Ifakara, they occur only a handful of times a year. It was unique to see the operation performed non-laparoscopically and with manual ventilation: physical resources in this rural centre were different (compared to Canada). And care continues.”

1st Place

The Window of Hope by Kallkidan Gebre

“HIV does not exist as a discrete entity but rather it is constantly interacting with social and political challenges including stigma, poverty, culture, and religion. Health care professionals at PASADA intervene on social and institutional determinants of health and act on structural barriers to provide holistic care for their clients.

Accessible and affordable healthcare for individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in Dar es salaam, Tanzania gives them a window of hope for a brighter future.”

Do you have outstanding photos that tell a compelling story about your global health experience?  Please consider submitting to the 2020 photo contest; open to students, residents, faculty and staff at Dalhousie.