Together Against Stigma – IFMSA-Egypt

Name of the activity: Together Against Stigma 

Country/NMO: IFMSA-Egypt

Program: Ethics and Human Rights in Health

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: Continuous Activity

Category: Campaign

Focus area: Human Rights for Medical Professionals in daily clinical settings, Medical Ethics (Patient Centered Care, Good Medical Practice, direct doctor-patient relationship), Ethical research and ethical financing

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

General description:

Stigma in healthcare spots the light on the definitions of stigma. How such violations are committed in healthcare and influence the process of providing the healthcare services. In the activity we discuss many topics such as medical ethics, relationships in the healthcare settings. patients’ and doctors’ rights, Violations against healthcare workforce and vulnerable groups in healthcare facilities and finally how the climate change may influence the stigma cycle in the healthcare settings.

Problem statement:

Discrimination in healthcare is recognized as a major barrier to the achievement of SDGs According to OHCHR.

In health facilities, the examples of stigma are widely seen, like outright denial of care, provision of sub-standard care and also preset in the entrenched gender-based discrimination within many females in the workforce, as evidenced by physical and sexual violence, wage gaps, irregular salaries, lack of formal employment, and inability to participate in leadership and decision-making.

Target groups:

• General population
• Medical students
• Healthcare Students

Beneficiaries:

• General population
• Other health professionals

Objectives:

1. Empowerment of 30 medical students or more about previously determined topics as medical ethics and vulnerable groups in healthcare settings through conducting a national workshop by the end of June 2023.
2. Increasing the awareness of 11000 of the medical students through conducting online campaigns on both national local levels about committed violations in healthcare settings, highlighting different vulnerable groups and climate change influence on stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings by the end of June 2023.
3. Advocating 300 medical students about stigma cycle, relationships in healthcare settings, and doctors’ and patients’ rights through conducting webinars on both national and local levels by the end of June 2023.

4- Advocating 2000 of the public about the consequences of stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings through conducting physical campaigns on the local level by the end of June 2023. 

Indicators of Success:

1.1 Number of workshops conducted nationally. (at least 1)

1.2 Number of local coordinators attended the workshop. (at least 70%)

1.3 Number of workshop’s participants. (at least 25)

1.4 Number of the workshop’s participants fill the Pre and post assessment. (at least 80%)

2.1 Number of online campaigns launched in the determined period. (at least 20)

2.2 Number of Posts’ reach and engagement. (at least 9000)

3.1 Number of medical students attended the webinars about stigma cycle, relationships in healthcare settings, and doctors’ and patients’ rights. (at least 250)

3.2 Number of webinars conducted on both levels. (at least 10)

4.1 Number of conducted physical campaigns public about the consequences of stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings. (at least 5)

4.2 Number of the public is approached. (at least 1700)

4.3 Number of IFMSA-Egypt members participated in the awareness campaign. (at least 50)

4.4 Number of flyers distributed. (at least 100)

Methodology:

The activity timeline: The activity will be divided into 3 phases 

o The first phase 

Extends from Dec. 2022 to Jan. 2023

– TAS Toolkit 

– An online campaign with one or more sessions about one or more topic as Basic concepts of stigma and discrimination, medical ethics and doctors’ and patients’ rights.

o The 2nd phase 

Extends from the  Fab. 2023 to April 2023

– Conducting at least one session about one or more topic as Vulnerable groups in healthcare, violations against healthcare workforce and influence of climate change on the stigma cycle in the healthcare system.

– Conducting at least one physical event.

– Conducting an online campaign

o The 3rd phase 

Extends from June August

– Conducting at least one session about research ethics and how to construct discrimination free healthcare system.

– Conducting the first local coordinator meeting to guide them and helping them to work on each topic.

– Holding a CM to educate LC’s

– Creation of TAS Manual 

Plans for evaluation:

1- Evaluation of the past year activity through SWOT analysis and receiving inputs from the ex-coordinator.

2- Evaluation of the posts content before publishing by receiving inputs from different members and NORP.

3- Evaluation of each post’s reach and engagement.

4- Evaluation of the quality of the conducted workshops and sessions through pre and post assessments, written and vocal feedback.

Monitoring plans:

1- Evaluation of each work done step by step.

2- SWOT analysis of the half term report.

3- Conducting meetings with the NT and NORP to receive feedbacks.

External collaborations:

none