Marked fourth in the series of the Go4Diversity project events, the Health Information Days 2010 took place on the 13 and 14 November 2010 respectively with the Turkish, Serbian and Chinese communities in Vienna. The aim of these events was to raise awareness among communities on relevant health topics and to introduce the Austrian health system. Highly appreciated by the participants was the consultation and advice on personal health issues in their native language.
On 13 November 2010, the Go4Diversity team organized the Health Information Day with the Turkish and Serbian communities at the Youth Centre (Schlachthausgasse) in Vienna.
The opening speech was held by Ms. Gabriele Eschig, General Secretary of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO. In her speech she stressed the importance of promoting a positive discourse on diversity and thereby contributing to an amicable coexistence of different cultures within one society. Further, Mrs. Eschig highlighted the necessity for migrants to be acquainted with the Austrian health system in order to receive the possibly best medical care.
Then, Dr. Norbert Vetter from the “Sozialmedizinischen Zentrum Baumgartner Höhe Otto-Wagner-Spital und Pflegezentrum” held an interactive presentation on lung diseases, smoking, asthma and snoring. He answered numerous questions from the very interested audience and advised the participants on personal health issues.
Ms. Christa Bauer from FEM Süd spoke about the important topic of "Depression." She explained the causes of depression; spoke about how family members could best support patients and gave tips for prevention and treatment. After her presentation, Ms. Bauer answered in detail numerous questions of participants and advised on Viennese institutions that supported families and patients.
The Health Information Day with the Turkish and Serbian communities ended with a delicious buffet, dance and music.
On 14 November 2010 the Go4Diversity team organized the Health Information Day with the Chinese community at the Schulschiff in Vienna.
This colorful event was opened with a drum performance by the Chinese Women Association. The opening speeches were held by Dr. Zuo Qiyong, chairman of the "European-Chinese Society of Medical Communication”, Dr. Eva Nowotny, President of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO, and H.E. Mingde Shi, Chinese Ambassador in Vienna.
In his speech, Dr. Zuo Qiyong mentioned the particular importance for older migrants to receive information and advice in their mother tongue.
Dr. Eva Nowotny spoke on the UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity which came into force in 2007 and aimed at inviting states to find a balance between safeguarding their own cultural expressions and creating spaces for cultural diversity in their own country. Health and medical sciences being part of a broader concept of culture are thus part of a country’s heritage. In this context, the event would like to serve as a bridge between the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the western medicine. (Watch Dr. Eva Nowotny's speech)
H.E. Mingde Shi, Chinese Ambassador in Vienna, spoke about living together in a multicultural society in which migration represents a very important aspect. H.E. Mingde Shi particularly welcomed the idea of organizing such an event that provides Chinese immigrants with information about health topics in their native language. (Read Ambassador Shi's Speech here!)
After the opening speeches, the Taiji group of the Chinese language training center performed Taiji and Jin Tang performed Chinese Wushu. Mr. Fung Yu, accompanied by the saxophone music from Martina Süss and David Xing, wrote two sayings about health issues in Chinese calligraphy.
Subsequently, Chinese and Austrian doctors gave presentations on numerous health topics including traditional Chinese medicine. The sessions of medical consultations that followed the presentations offered numerous participants an excellent opportunity to receive personal counseling in German or Chinese.
The great interest in the Health Information Days 2010 demonstrated both, the existing need for information on health issues, and the appreciation of information materials available in the native language.
Media Coverage: Chinanews, guangmingwang, Oesterreich Chinesiche Kultur - Mediengemeinschaft, Chinesische Botschaft Webseite,
Xinhua news, Yingyang Julebu, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Wenzhou Wang, Jieyue Wang, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, New News, Zijing, Nouvelles d'Europe, Changqing TV
