A New Reality for Medical Students: Seizing the Opportunities at the World Health Summit 2014
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) is represented at the 6th World Health Summit taking place in Berlin, Germany on October 19th-22nd 2014. The IFMSA is here facilitating youth presence and thereby providing medical students with a space to learn, advocate and act; and currently building leadership competencies and pushing forward the development of relevant programs worldwide. IFMSA firmly believes that in the globalized and increasingly connected world, an integrated global health approach is essential for all physicians in training.
“The World Health Summit is a unique opportunity for medical students like us to engage in dialogue with the most prominent global health actors. As physicians in training, we appreciate the opportunity we are given to attend the Summit and we are looking forward a fruitful week of discussions and debates.” – Agostinho Sousa, IFMSA President.
Meaningful Collaborations in Global Health
IFMSA commits to actively engage and connect with global health actors and stakeholders throughout the Summit. Already, the Federation has co-organized a 2-day satellite event “Foundations for a Healthy Future – Universal Health Coverage, Sustainability and Development” together with bvmd-Germany, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) and the European Medical Students’ Associations (EMSA). The workshop has prepared the students to the World Health Summit, by offering them a unique learning opportunity in the world of global health.
IFMSA highlights the WHS Organizing Team’s efforts to put climate change at the center of this week’s discussions. Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, but also the biggest opportunity to offer the world a road to a healthy future. IFMSA believes the health community must lead by example and ensure that actions are in line with what is best for the health of populations around the world.
Medical education must reflect international aspects of medical practice. IFMSA believes that it is the responsibility of all medical Schools to ensure a comprehensive global health framework within their curriculum. To achieve this, medical schools must provide global health education within both the compulsory and optional components of their medical curriculum.
IFMSA will engage in the discussion regarding the Ebola outbreak. The outbreak highlights the importance of resilient health care systems. Two of IFMSA’s members organizations, SLEMSA-Sierra Leone and AEM-Guinea are already doing tremendous efforts on the ground to raise awareness through the “Kick Ebola Out” project. A meaningful global collaboration, including academics, health professionals, politicians and civil society is highly needed.
“We as medical students see the opportunities to build a healthy and sustainable future. The missing step is to go from words to practice, so that we strive to live in a world where quality in education and equal access to health are a reality for all.” – Claudel P- Desrosiers, IFMSA Vice-President for External Affairs.
About the World Health Summit
World Health Summit is the annual conference of the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centres, Universities and National Academies, organized by Charite – Universitatsmedizin Berlin in collaboration with the National Academies of Sciences of more than 67 countries and their Interacademy Medical Panel (IAMP).
About IFMSA
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) envisions a world in which all medical students unite for global health and are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to take on health leadership roles locally and globally. Founded in 1951, IFMSA today represents a network of 1.3 million medical students through its 123 national member organizations. For more, visit www.ifmsa.org.
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Contact
Claudel P-Desrosiers
IFMSA Vice-President for External Affairs
Email: [email protected]
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