To begin, a big thank you all who downloaded and read the first edition of this new journal. We hope you found the articles stimulating, informative and found the format aesthetically pleasing. This second issue of the Alma Mata Journal of Global Health hopes to build upon the themes we established in the first edition. But we are also looking to develop, progress, and improve. One of the key aspects of any journal is a correspondence section; in this issue we invite all readers to send comments and debate on all articles in this issue – to be featured on the website and in the next issue.

While submissions from the first issue were largely restricted to medical students from the intercalated BSc in International Health at Bristol, Leeds and UCL, this edition sees Edinburgh students provide a substantial part of the material. It is heartening to see such enthusiasm from this relatively new intercalated course in International Public Health Policy. Indeed, the content emerging shows a high standard of writing that has provided us with several pieces for this issue, including our first full literature review.

Part of our ongoing aim is to expand our content beyond the intercalated degrees. This is not a shunning of our original contributors, but recognition of the wide range of Short-courses, Diplomas and taught masters programmes that cover Global Health. These courses also have a vast array of undiscovered essays, research and reviews and we want to expand this area of contribution. We are also conscious of existing sources for students, including The Lancet’s Student arm and MedSIN’s magazine, both valuable resource of Global Health articles and blogs.

This edition sees wide-ranging subjects featured, from the rhetoric to the review. Eleanor Force’s insight provides an analysis of the many factors that underpin the relationship between poverty and tuberculosis control in Nepal. Rachel Falconer examines the arguments for and against abolishing user fees for health services in developing countries. Lucie Collinson returns with her second piece, considering who should bear the responsibility for the repeated famines still witnessed today and whether the international community should be taking a more proactive role.

Global Health work can take many forms. Anushka Mehrotra’s personal account of her time spent with the The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture gives a thoughtful viewpoint of the issues surrounding those who seek asylum and refuge within the UK. Last but not least, we lead this edition with a piece from Laura Gilchrist, a graduate from the aforementioned Edinburgh BSc in International Public Health Policy. Laura examines the vast inequalities that present themselves in that most golden of countries, Australia, with a particular focus on the health of the indigenous aboringinal population.

Once again we detail the latest Global Health News, with contributions this time from posts on the Alma Mata website. Finally, Alma Mata has always sought to be a signpost for those wishing to learn more about Global Health. For those who are thinking about a postgraduate qualification in this increasing area, we give you a round-up of the main UK academic centres providing short-courses, diplomas, Masters, and PhDs.

It has been heartening to already have had our first pieces of primary research submitted for the next issue, not to mention a surplus of articles for this one. While we are still a young publication, we have learnt an incredible amount about the in’s and out’s of editing, publishing and the ethics behind the dissemination of information, essays and research. We have also discovered that, as we suspected and hoped, there is a great deal of good material and talented writers coming from the increasing number of intercalated BSc courses. With new intercalated years - either BSc or occasionally MSc - springing up in Hull/York, Brighton /Sussex, Imperial and Kings Medical schools, the scale and quality of material can only improve. Combined with the postgraduate courses we outline in this issue, we have high hopes that the level of future material will build on its already lofty standards.

Gareth Lewis,
Dave Baguley,
Danni Kirwan

Co-Editors