Amsterdam, November 17th 2015 – The International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) celebrates the annual International Students Day, taking place each year on November 17th. The Federation, representing over one million students in 116 countries, takes the opportunity to recall the importance of youth role as the actors of change.
Since 1941, November 17th is recognized as the International Students Day, commemorating the day students and professors from Charles University in Prague were killed without a legal trial. This day highlights the role of students as agents of change and advocates of sustainable progress.
For IFMSA, this day symbolizes the importance of promoting the participation and empowerment of young people and students as key stakeholders in health development. Early in the curriculum, medical students are taught that education, together with socioeconomic status of the household, are some of the most important social determinants of health, which determines the health status and often life expectancy of citizens. As such, it appears natural that one of the Federations global priority is to ensure that we are able to offer proper education opportunities for children and youth. More precisely, IFMSA is striving to continuously be able to offer a meaningful working space for the health students to promote greater youth participation in different civil spheres, so to lead to healthy and sustainable societies.
With this spirit, in 2014, IFMSA proudly co-founded the World Health Students Alliance (WHSA), together with the International Association of Dental Students (IADS) and the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), and of which the International Veterinary Students Associations (IVSA) joined in later on. WHSA is a coalition of international youth-led health student organizations aiming to strengthen interdisciplinary healthcare related advocacy; to commonly contribute to the advancement of global health; and to develop and implement improved health policies together with multisectorial stakeholders.
Exactly a year ago WHSA commemorated the 70th Anniversary of the International Students Day in Prague, not only by visiting the historical places of the events that lead to this Day, but also by signing an Implementation agreement, which set the scene for the management of the Alliance and kick-started an even closer collaboration.
The members of the Alliance share values of the delivery and quality of healthcare alongside other professional health and governmental organizations, building effective education and training systems with a focus on inclusion as part and parcel of the broader quest for excellence, quality and relevance. Our goals and vision goes along the Sustainable Development that the world has set up to follow while adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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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 124 national member organizations. For more: www.ifmsa.org.
About the WHSA
The World Health Students Alliance was founded in 2014 and is today composed of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), the International Association of Dental Students (IADS), the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), and the International Veterinary Students Associations (IVSA).
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Contact
Mustafa Ozan Alpay
IFMSA Vice-President for Public Relations & Communication
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +90 546 269 09 35
PR 17/11/2015 – IFMSA Celebrates the Annual International Students’ Day
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