"Something that has been close to my heart for many years is now the subject of discussion at our hospital too"

A number of summer schools about child development are being organised this year. What will students be learning and who is responsible? This time, Professor Louis Bont, Coordinator of the ‘Child Health – a Global Perspective’ Summer School, will have the floor.​

How did the idea come about to organise this Summer School? 

"Here at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ), we feel responsible for global child health. Whenever I see children from Utrecht in my department at the WKZ, I feel compelled to help them. Fortunately, I am in a position to provide them with the care necessary! Although I feel exactly the same about children in Africa – where there is often a far greater need for care – there’s very little that I can actually do for them. I am pleased to say, however, that globalisation is making more and more possible and global child care is changing. This Summer School is one way for us to consider this subject, which is high on our agenda. The Julius Centre has a strong focus on global child health too and education opportunities in this respect are continuing to increase. Personally, I hope that the University Medical Center (UMC) will appoint a Professor of Global Health. In short: something that has been close to my heart for many years is now the subject of discussion at our hospital too."

What’s on the programme? 

"We work with other universities and with healthcare organisations too. Some speakers will be from developing countries, because of which they will be able to talk in detail about themes like HIV, malnourishment and the provision of assistance to infants. All in all, these collaborations and international orientation will provide us with some 30 varied speakers. During the Summer School, they will elaborate on the subject of ‘Child Health, a Global Perspective’ from a number of different perspectives. For example, Dr Michael Boele van Hensbroek (AMC, Amsterdam) will talk about malaria, while biologist Dr Marta Nunes (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg) will give a lecture about vaccine research. However, the programme will also include a visit to Artsen Zonder Grenzen (Doctors Without Borders) and the Summer School will be attended by a representative from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation too."

How does the Summer School relate to the Child Health spearhead? 

"This spearhead enables us to enter into multidisciplinary collaborations. When considering global child health, it is particularly important not to focus solely on the biomedical side of the story. After all – and for example – although there is already a vaccine against diarrhoea, many children throughout the world are still dying as a result of it. The reason for this ongoing situation is simple: the vaccine costs too much to produce. This is why we will also consider the theme of the Summer School from a 'World Health Organization (WHO) perspective'. The WHO has the ability to change this situation. The question for us is: what can we do to make sure that something that is already possible is actually done in practice? Besides the connection with the World Health Organization, we will also channel our efforts into the achievement of one of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations: the reduction of child mortality. This subject will receive plenty of attention during the Summer School too."

The students who have registered to date represent four different continents.

For whom is the Summer School intended? 

"The Summer School is aimed at Master’s (medical, global health, public health or biomedical sciences) students and also at doctors and health scientists who are interested in infant mortality and global child health. The Summer School will focus on an international subject and its target group will be an international one too. The students who have registered to date represent four different continents. The lectures will be interactive and we will frequently use patient cases."

Together, we want to ensure that children worldwide enjoy the best level of health possible.

How do you, as a researcher, stand to gain from your connection with the Child Health programme? 

"I am doing research on respiratory infections in infants and the spearhead will allow me to work with colleagues who specialise in stem cell biology, asthma and pulmonary diseases, amongst other things. It’s a unique opportunity! The Child Health programme will also help me to develop a vision. Why do we do what we do in this field? This is a question that I will find it far easier to answer with other researchers than on my own. Together, we want to ensure that children worldwide enjoy the best level of health possible."

If you are interested in attending the Summer School, you have until 2 May 2018 to register. Click here for more information and to register. 

On 6 June 2018, the UMC will also hold a symposium focusing solely on the subject of Global Child Health. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Van Peperzaal at the UMC Utrecht. Register now! 

You might also be interested in the following: 

• Jeroen Pasterkamp – the ‘Neural Circuit Development and Plasticity’ Summer School: An introduction to the brain in just one week
• Heidi Lesscher – the Addiction Summer School: "My network is widening. All thanks to Dynamics of Youth!"

Dynamics of Youth

In dealing with social problems, you need to start with the children. Utrecht University invests in resilient youth. Within the research theme Dynamics of Youth, scientists from all fields of expertise work together in order to better understand child development. How can we help young people to grow and thrive in our rapidly changing society?