Healthcare in Danger – IFMSA

Name of the activity: Healthcare in Danger

Country/NMO: IFMSA

Program: Emergency, Disaster Risk & Humanitarian Action

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Capacity Building

General description:

Has the concept of Healthcare in Danger (HCiD) occurred to you before? What it means, what it encompasses, what it could lead to? HCiD is an increasingly present issue our world is facing however there is a lack of awareness on this topic among Healthcare students and the general public which is why we aim to facilitate this workshop at the August Pre-General Assembly in Quebec City.

A violent incident against health care may consist of one or several acts or threats of violence that hinder or adversely affect the provision of and/or access to health care. When we are talking about attacks on health care, we have facts like violence against health workers, even to the patients, the resources, ambulances and the insurance system with safe access to and delivery of healthcare; for example in an armed conflict or disaster. As medical students and SCORPions, it is our duty to relay the correct acquisition of knowledge, firstly to ourselves, secondly, to our peers and because our countries in the world have the risk to feel the effects of the attack, when possible regarding the increasing incidence of threats to healthcare.
A promotion of humanitarian ideals among medical students is one of the core principles of our Federation. Hence, as future healthcare professionals, we have an undisputed duty to raise awareness and increase knowledge of attacks on healthcare among our peer health students. This workshop aims to deliver the core knowledge of violence against health services, with particular emphasis on the impact of these attacks on sustainability of health systems.

The mission of SCORP states: To empower and motivate medical students to actively promote and protect human rights and peace through advocacy, capacity building and awareness raising, and by supporting the students in carrying out activities and projects that contribute to creating a fair and peaceful world. We hope with this workshop, to deliver on our mission statement by providing a workshop which both topical and practical to our role as healthcare professionals while also helping participants to take back the knowledge and skills gained to raise awareness and advocate at local, national, regional and international level for the protection of health services.

Focus area:

Violence against healthcare

Problem statement:

A violent incident against health care may consist of one or several acts or threats of violence that hinder or adversely affect the provision of and/or access to health care. When we are talking about attacks on health care, we have facts like violence against health workers, even to the patients, the resources, ambulances and the insurance system with safe access to and delivery of healthcare; for example in an armed conflict or disastesr. As medical students and SCORPions, it is our duty to relay the correct acquisition of knowledge, firstly to ourselves, secondly, to our peers and because our countries in the world have the risk to feel the effects of the attack, when possible regarding the increasing incidence of threats to healthcare.
A promotion of humanitarian ideals among medical students is one of the core principles of our Federation. Hence, as future healthcare professionals, we have an undisputed duty to raise awareness and increase knowledge of attacks on healthcare among our peer health students. This workshop aims to deliver the core knowledge of violence against health services, with particular emphasis on the impact of these attacks on sustainability of health systems.

The mission of SCORP states: To empower and motivate medical students to actively promote and protect human rights and peace through advocacy, capacity building and awareness raising, and by supporting the students in carrying out activities and projects that contribute to creating a fair and peaceful world. We hope with this workshop, to deliver on our mission statement by providing a workshop which both topical and practical to our role as healthcare professionals while also helping participants to take back the knowledge and skills gained to raise awareness and advocate at local, national, regional and international level for the protection of health services.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

IFMSA members (medical and health students) will directly benefit from attending this workshop, and the international community in turn will benefit from our efforts to make a change.

Objectives and indicators of success:

Participants gain knowledge regarding attacks on healthcare.
100% of participants report having increased knowledge on attacks on healthcare.
90% of participants are able to join discussions with arguments formed with new knowledge, on the later days of the workshop.
100% of the participants are able to build up on the knowledge they learnt, on the following days of the workshop.
Participants learn about the involvement of IFMSA in protection of health services.
100% of participants express they have a clearer idea on IFMSA’s work
80% of participants express they have gained some vision IFMSA’s impact and how they can be involved
Participants to have an idea on what they can do regarding healthcare under attack.
100% of participants are aware of the rights and responsibilities of healthcare personnel in armed conflict.
Participants experience the knowledge they gain within the workshops through role plays and simulations.

Methodology:

Planned Reading:
Basically planned reading is pre-stage preparation to more formal methods of training. Some trainees need to grasp specific issues before heading into the classroom or the team-building session.
Planned reading will provide trainees with a better idea of what the issues are, giving them a chance to think of any questions beforehand.
· Technology-Based Learning:
The forms of training with technology are almost unlimited. A trainer also gets more of the trainees involvement than in any other environment and trainees have the benefit of learning at their own pace.
· Interactive Presentations:
In these sessions content will be introduced initially through visually engaging powerpoint presentations before using other methodologies such as discussions and group activities.
· Films & Videos:
Films and videos can be used on their own or in conjunction with other training methods.
To be truly effective, training films and videos should be geared towards a specific objective. Only if they are produced effectively, will they keep the trainees attention. They are also effective in stimulating discussion on specific issues after the film or video is finished.
· Whole Group Discussions & Tutorials:
The whole group will be able to discuss and exchange ideas and thoughts on a topic, this is particularly useful after watching videos or seeing a role-play.
· Role Plays/Theater:
Role playing allows trainees to act out issues that could occur in real life. Key skills often touched upon are negotiating and teamwork.
· Simulators:
Simulators are used to imitate real life experiences.
· Management Games:
Management games simulate real-life issues faced in the workplace. They attract all types of trainees including active, practical and reflective participants.
· Debates:
We use this so that participants begin to think critically about different viewpoints and helps with their persuasion and advocacy skills.
· Ideas cafés:
During idea cafes, participants will be able to exchange thoughts, experiences and knowledge in smaller groups. The exchange of ideas between participants is a key factor throughout the training; therefore, idea cafes will be used to introduce a number of topics.
· Case studies:
The participants will be divided into small groups to discuss different case, this is particularly useful when discussing ethical issues.
· Outdoor Training:
A nice break from regular classroom or computer-based training, the usual purpose of outdoor training is to develop teamwork skills.
· Peer Education Techniques

Plans for evaluation:

A Pre and Post Assessment form will be sent out to all participants as a way of measuring the impact of the workshop on participants.