Position Paper: Namibia (Tina)

Committee Name: Prevention of the spread of H1N1

Committee Topic: the committee on the prevention of the spread of H1N1.

Country Name: Republic of Namibia

At April, the virus H1N1, commonly known as Swine Flu, broke out first in Mexico, since then, H1N1 had the whole world on alert and had spread around the whole globe, killing at least 2,800 people. What sets H1N1 virus apart from other seasonal flu viruses is that studies have shown that H1Ni can cause more severe symptoms in people that are younger than 25, also high-risk groups including people over the age of 65, children under the age of five, pregnant women…etc. The symptoms of H1N1 include fever (about 38'C), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, and headache.

WHO had recommendations of the prevention of H1N1(the following):

• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose;
  
• Clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching the mouth and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated);
  
• Avoid close contact with people who might be ill;
  
• Reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible;
  
• Improve airflow in your living space by opening windows;
  
• Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
  
  

Namibia is fully alert of this worldwide spread of H1N1, we agree with the WHO, and the Ministry of Health of Namibia had already declared and advised Namibians: to seek immediate medical attention should people get sick, and depending on the symptoms, a healthcare provider will be able to determine whether or not flu testing or treatment is required.

Through the efforts of our National Health Emergency Management Committee, our Ministry of Health has also stockpiled Tamiflu, the drug that is being used globally for the treatment of H1N1, as well as swabs for laboratory testing on suspected cases.

Up to now only about 52 positive cases and one death had been reported in Namibia, and no more new cases of H1N1 had been reported in Namibia since September 3^rd. Although it seems that the virus had not been wide spread in Namibia, we are fully alert and we're willing to cooperate with health organizations such as WHO and help as much as we can to prevent the spread, we hope that with the efforts, this spread of H1N1 can be stopped.

References:

"News: Allafrica.com"

http://allafrica.com/stories/200909090411.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/200907240326.html

"WHO"

http://www.who.int/en/

"About.com"

http://ent.about.com/od/entdisordersgi/f/whatish1n1.htm

Position Paper- Uzbekistan

Committee Name: Preventing the spread of H1N1 .

Committee Topic: the committee on the prevention of the spread of H1N1.

Country Name: Republic of Uzbekistan.

Swine Flu broke out in Mexico around March in 2009, the disease soon spread throughout the world. On the 4^th of September, the WHO announced that the swine flu had at least killed 2,837 people worldwide.

H1N1 is not a new disease. In 1918, 50-100 million people died from H1N1. Thirty- eight years later, the swine flu broke out in Asia and killed more than 2 million people. In 1976, it started in the United States, where approximately 40 million people received immunizations. It spread to America, India, and some European countries ten years later, killing 1 million people. This time, it had spread around the whole globe.

This disease spreads from human to human through sneezing or coughing. Sometimes people will get infected by touching the surface with viruses on it. The best way to prevent from the disease is to wash hands frequently, and cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing.

The WHO, IFRC, UNSIC, OCHA, and UNICEF said that they will work with partner such as the Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies, NGOs, and civil society to help the government to reduce the impact from the disease spread worldwide.

The WHO keeps records and updates the situation for people to see. They post articles telling people not to panic, and also to get ready for the worldwide spread. The WHO also helps the society by answering questions, and suspending classes and mass gatherings.

Uzbekistan has no case of swine flu so far. The Health Ministry of Uzbekistan proposed a plan to prevent the spread of disease: they will do special training with medical workers to keep them on high-alert and to isolate anyone who is confirmed to have the swine flu.

The Republic of Uzbekistan is not panicked or pressured under the worldwide spread of H1N1, but we are cautious about the whole situation. We will fully cooperate with the UN, WHO and other organizations for the health and safety of our citizens.

"UzA: Uzbekistan takes measures to prevent swine flu." Uzbekistan National News Agency. 29 Apr. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. <http://uza.uz/en/society/712/>.

"WHO World Health Organization." Http://www.who.int/en/. 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2009. <http://www.who.int/en/>.

Interactive Map of H1N1 Outbreak

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30485593/ns/health-swine_flu

 

This should help you get going…

Researching your Position Papers

 

Step 1.) Research

• Before you can take part in a Model UN Conference, you must first get a country.
  
  • After you are assigned a country and know the topic, it then becomes YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to RESEARCH ...
    
    • your country. You do this by completing a Country Profile
      (Example A).
      
      • Ex: Japan, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Mexico
        
      • The best place to get started researching your country is the CIA World Factbook. However, if you only cite the Factbook, your profile will be weak.
        

        
         

        
         

• After researching your country, you will be told what the topic of your conference will be.
  
  • Now, it becomes YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to RESEARCH ...
    
    • The issue.
      
      • Find out what it is and understand why it is a problem.
        
        • Get statistics, videos, and pictures of the problem
          
      • Learn the history of the problem
        
    • Learn your countries position on the topic?
      
      • Learn the history of your country and the problem
        
      • Learn what your countries position is on the problem
        
        • It may NOT be in your countries best interest to fix the problem.
          
    • Examples
      
      • Nuclear Disarmament
        
      • The Eradication of Child Labor
        
• As you research your country and issue, you must CITE YOUR SOURCES MLA style.
  

  
   

  • To see MLA Style, go to <http://www.easybib.com> for an example.
    
    • You will need to show your works cited/bibliography in alphabetical order so you can show where you got your information from.
      
      • Example Works Cited (Example G)
        

      
       

  • Use a variety of sources. Try to include...
    
    • library books.
      
    • current periodicals (newspapers)
      
      • Be careful here...You must make sure that the news organization is not biased towards one country. For example, is Xinhua News a reliable source for news about China?
        
    • scholarly journals.
      
      • http://journalseek.net/
        
    • The UN Website
      
      • <www.un.org>
        
    • Model UN sites
      
      • <http://www.unimun.org/unimun_handbook.html>
        
    • Global Policy
      
      • <www.globalpolicy.org>
        
    • For currency exchanges, go to
      
      • <http://www.xe.com/>
        
    • CIA World Factbook
      
      • <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/>
        

        
         

  • Here are important questions to ask yourself while you research.
    
    • What is the problem? How does it affect your country?
      
    • What has your country done to combat the problem?
      
    • What are the various "sides" in the debate?
      
    • Which aspects of the issue are most important to your country?
      
    • If your country is not involved with the issue, how can it become involved?
      
    • How will your country shape the debate at the conference?
      
    • What arguments will other countries make?
      
    • How do the positions of other countries affect your country's position?
      
    • Is there evidence/statistics to help to back up your country's position?
      

      
       

• After researching your country, the issue, and how the issue affects your country, it is now YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to fuse all of those ideas into a POSITION PAPER.
  

  
   

Step 2.) Position Paper

• After you create a country profile and research your issue, you and your other group members will meet and create a position paper.
  
• A position paper is your countries' response to the topic.
  
• A position paper is a paper that is 3 TO 4 PAGES LONG that...
  

  
   

  • gives some background information on the problem (1/2 page).
    
    • How has the problem developed?
      
    • Why is it important that the UN fixes the problem?
      

      
       

  • talks about past United Nations Involvement (1/2 page).
    
    • How, When and Why did the UN become involved with this problem?
      
    • What did the UN and other NGO's do when they became involved?
      
      • How successful was their solution?
        
      • How did the world respond to the solution?
        
    • Avoid making a statement such as "The UN did ___________ and this led to ____________."
      
    • Give solutions that your country wants to propose. You should propose AT LEAST TWO – THREE SOLUTIONS.
      

      
       

  • explains your countries' policy and past actions in regards to the issue (1 page).
    
    • Explain your policy on the topic.
      
    • Explain why your country is involved with the topic?
      
    • What actions has your country done in the past to solve the problem?
      

      
       

  • proposes at least two to three solutions (1 page).
    
    • Before you propose your ideas, ask yourselves these questions.
      
      • Is the solution feasible? Will it cost too much money?
        
      • Has the UN tried this solution before?
        
      • What will NGO's do to carry out your solution?
        
      • What will happen if we implement your solution?
        
        • Will there be any unexpected problems because of this solution? If so, how will we fix them?
          
      • Is this solution in you countries' best interest?
        
      • Is this solution in the world's best interest?
        
      • Do not pick a solution that your country will not like.
        
      • Do not pick a solution that the world will not like.
        
      • Most importantly, BE SPECIFIC! Exactly what will happen with your solution.
        

        
         

• An excellent position paper will be...
  
  • 3-4 pages, single spaced
    
  • It's sources will be cited MLA style and it will have a bibliography.
    
  • It will follow the correct format
    
    • See Sample Position Paper (example B).
      
  • It will have background on the problem, UN involvement on the problem and two or three solutions.
    
  • There can not be NO PLAGARISM.
    
    • Plagarism is where you do not cite your sources correctly and use someone elses' research or writing as your own.
      
      • PLAGARISM WILL GET YOUR TEAM DISQUALIFIED!
        

      
       

 

• After writing a position paper, you are now ready for the actual conference. Your position papers will be used to frame your countries position. In the conference you will make SPEECHES and have DEBATES based upon you position paper.
  

What is the UN? What is its’ purpose?

What is the UN?

• The United Nations is an organization of nations that attempt to solve the major problems of the world.
  
• It is an international organization in which all nations, big and small, rich and poor, have an opportunity to talk to each other.
  

What is the point of having the UN?

• According to the Charter of the United Nations, passed in 1945 (right after the terrible Second World War)…
  

"The Purposes of the United Nations are:

• To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
  

 

• To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
  

 

• To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
  

 

• To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends (http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml)."
  
  

What is MUN?

What is Model UN?

 

1. Model UN is a simulation of the real UN that high school and college students do all over the world.
   
   1. The UN is a legislative body that meets in order to discuss matters of international security, human rights issues, economic development, environmental issues and many other contemporary problems.
      

      
       

2. Model UN, each individual student is teamed up with other students and they represent a country in the UN.
   
   1. After being assigned a country, you are then assigned a particular issue.
      
      1. Some examples might include
         
         1. Whale Hunting
            
         2. Women's Right to Education
            
         3. Russian Military action in Georgia
            
   2. It then becomes your job to research and debate how your country can solve the issue.
      
      1. But remember, you CAN NOT only think about what YOU think is right and wrong. You must
         

         
          

3. Model UN is a fun way to develop...
   
   1. confidence.
      
   2. writing skills.
      
   3. speaking skills.
      
   4. English fluency.
      
   5. critical thinking skills.
      
   6. debate skills.
      
   7. knowledge about international relations.
      

      
       

What is Model UN?

 

1. Model UN is a simulation of the real UN that high school and college students do all over the world.
   
   1. The UN is a legislative body that meets in order to discuss matters of international security, human rights issues, economic development, environmental issues and many other contemporary problems.
      

      
       

2. Model UN, each individual student is teamed up with other students and they represent a country in the UN.
   
   1. After being assigned a country, you are then assigned a particular issue.
      
      1. Some examples might include
         
         1. Whale Hunting
            
         2. Women's Right to Education
            
         3. Russian Military action in Georgia
            
   2. It then becomes your job to research and debate how your country can solve the issue.
      
      1. But remember, you CAN NOT only think about what YOU think is right and wrong. You must
         

         
          

3. Model UN is a fun way to develop...
   
   1. confidence.
      
   2. writing skills.
      
   3. speaking skills.
      
   4. English fluency.
      
   5. critical thinking skills.
      
   6. debate skills.
      
   7. knowledge about international relations.