March Meeting 2009 in Tunisia - Conflict and Health
16 delegates from Medsin UK have just returned from the March General Assembly 2009 in Hammamet Tunisia. The 10 day conference kicked off with a range of 3 day workshops including an introduction to Global Health, and international peer education workshop and one on conflict and the media.
The whole delegate united on the 3rd March with the beginning of the main conference. Medsin were well prepared to promote their projects and campaigns.
Projects
We had representation from a number of projects - Marrow, Sexpression, SKIP and Teddy Bear Hospital with Mark attending as Vice President for Projects. There were Project Presentations and a projects fair during the week. At the closing ceremony SKIP was awarded first place for the project fair prize and Marrow was awarded second prize for the Rex Crossley award for best project, which they previously won in the August Meeting 2008. Project representatives attended the Standing Committees on Public Health and Reproductive Health including AIDS.
Campaigns
Jonny our Medsin campaigns coordinator represented the campaigns side of the Medsin network, taking over Healthy Planet, Health Systems and Water and Sanitation.
During the week we promoted campaigns through small working groups on climate change and strengthening health systems in the standing committee on human rights and peace. During the project fair we obtained signatures for the Climate and Health Council Pledge and we held a G8 meeting where members from G8 countries committed to working together to get health systems onto the G8 agenda.
We also did a publicity stunt for water and sanitation and Jonny's presentation of the campaign won third place for project presentations at the closing ceremony.
Finally, on the last night Medsin passed two policy statements on Climate Change and Health Systems. Please see IFMSA Policy Statements for content.
Exchanges
Chris and Tania, our exchange officers were working hard on coorindating the UK exchange programme and collecting applications to so 4 week placements in the UK, as well as giving out applications for those UK medics who want to do an SSC abroad.
The Theme
The theme at the March Meeting was Conflict and Health. Gemma Owens, previous Medsin president and Think Global coordinator did an excellent job at promoting the theme in standing committees and in independent theme sessions. Workshops were led by externals and students on mental health and conflict, child health and conflict, small arms and the role of non-government organisations in conflict zones.
A premier of the film Triage was shown one evening, telling of Dr James Robinsky of MSF's experience working in areas of conflict. This moving film encouraged extensive debate on conflict and the work doctors do in areas of conflict.
Finally a debate on the final day was held where the statement "This house believes that health professionals should remain impartial in not using their voice during conflict" was put to a group of over 50 students. This stimulate much discussion, with many students being against the statement.
Medical Education
Timothy Crocker-Buque, Chair of the BMA Medical Students Committe, attended the conference and the standing committee on medical education. Tim did a great job at representing this side of the IFMSA and was involved in discussions on the influence of pharmaceutical companies on medical students around the world.
All in all it was a very successful week for Medsin! Thank you to Abi, Amena, Ananya Anushka, Blanche, Chris, Gemma, Hassan, Hayley, Jonny, Louise, Mark, Mori, Tania and Tim for all their hard work throughout the week and for making the conference such a success! For more information on the IFMSA please go to the IFMSA pageand for more information on the conference do not hesitate to contact me on president@medsin.org
Helen xxx
Last updated on Monday 23 March 2009 at 21:42.
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