The SCOPH Manual

IFMSA SCOPH MANUAL

First Edition, 2009

SCOPH Manual First Edition, March 2009 Contributors: Aleksandra Herbowska

Florian Stigler

Kyriakos Martakis, Greece

Alexander Papadopoulos

Gemma Owens

Louise Mulcahy

Anca Chelariu Raicu

Iwona Kalinowska

Magda Kaminska

Anneliese Willems

Jade Khalife

Marco Saucedo

Anthony Gifuni

Jan Kocanda

Marco Zavatta

Assem Elsokkary,

Jelica Alargic

Mariana Freitas de Aguiar

Christopher Pleyer

Jesús Mateos del Nozal

Marko Jovic

Constantinos Christodoulidis

Karina Larsen

Mireia García‐Villarrubia Muñoz

David Sancho

Kim Le

Mohamed S. Abdelsalam

Eman Ahmed Dashti

Knakita Clayton‐Johnson

Olympia Samoglou

Filip Dabrowski

Kushalinii Ragubathy

Yasutaka Konishi

Layout and Design: Filip Dabrowski Louise Mulcahy Christopher Pleyer Siddhartha Yadav

Project Booklet Editors: Louise Mulcahy Christopher Pleyer

Editors-in-Chief: Siddhartha Yadav (Nepal) Mohammed Salama (Egypt)

1

Contents

Topic

I. II. III.

Foreword From the desk of the editors Introduction

IV.

Major Public Health Issues

V.

SCOPH in the regions

VI.

SCOPH and your NMO

VII.

SCOPH activities

VIII.

SCOPH Projects

IX.

Annexes

i. ii. iii.

i. ii. iii. iv. v. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. i. ii. iii. iv. i. ii.

IFMSA SCOPH SCOPH External Partners Mental Health Tuberculosis Malaria Tobacco Alcohol

The need for regionalization Africa Americas Asia and Pacific East Mediterranean Europe How to establish SCOPH in your NMO How to hold a productive SCOPH Session SCOPH Meetings Planning your SCOPH Project SCOPH Focus Days World Public Health Conferences 2009

i. IFMSA Campaign on Malaria (ICOM) ii. Anti‐TB Initiative Project iii. Tobacco Initiative Project (TIP) iv. Transnational Obesity Network (TON) v. Smile X vi. Teddy Bear Under Christmas Tree vii. Teddy Bear Hospital (TBH) viii. Community Support ix. National Health Week x. Marrow xi. Organ Donation xii. Global Health xiii. EQUIP xiv. Crossing Borders xv. International Students’ Network on Ageing and Health (ISNAH) xvi. Mental Health Initiative Project (MHIP) xvii. Eating Disorders Project xviii.

Fashion Show versus Anorexia and Bulimia Project xix. First Aid Course xx. SCOPH Exchange i. Useful Links ii. Abbreviations

Page No 3 4 5 6 10 16 23 24 27 30 33 35 38 39 41 43 44 46 47 49 50 53 60 62 65 66 72 74 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 89 90 92 93 93 94 96 97 98 100 101 103

2

Foreword

Dear SCOPHian, dear friend, It is a great pleasure for me to introduce you to the first edition of the ‘SCOPH Manual’ which was prepared right before the MM 2009 in Tunisia.

This Manual is made for you if you are looking for any specific or general information about SCOPH. If you want to start a new Standing Committee on Public Health, if you want to make some improvements or if you are just looking for inspiration. The basic idea is to have one common resource for everything of SCOPH, to improve the continuity and to make this information available for you in an easy and comfortable way! This Manual should contain all SCOPH‐relevant information, materials, documents and all other resources which can be useful.

It might not be perfect in the moment you are reading this, but it should get better continuously as every new SCOPH creation should get included to stay here for the next generations of our Standing Committee.

It should get updated on a regular basis and enriched by every Director and his SCOPH Team. If this is not the case please request my successor to do so! ;‐) The content of this Manual is adopted by the SCOPH Director and is the official version to be used. This should avoid the use of different versions of documents at the same time and also raise the relevance of this document. Still every SCOPHian can and should try to improve the content of this Manual , should think about what is missing within this compilation and should offer new materials and ideas to the SCOPH Director. To have an up‐to‐date version available a continuous work on it will be necessary and I have no doubt that this can be just the start of a fantastic document which can be widely used and which can improve continuity within SCOPH fundamentally.

I want to use this opportunity to wish you good luck with your own SCOPH activities and plans. I hope you can enjoy reading this SCOPH Manual and that you find the information you are looking for. And please do not use this document just on your own but try to offer it to all the SCOPHians of your country who might also be able to benefit.

Last but not least I want to thank the great editors and founders of this document who made the start of this long‐term project possible, thanks a lot to Mohammed Salama (Egypt) and Siddhartha Yadav (Nepal) as well as to all the authors of the different articles!

Keep SCOPH rocking!!!

Florian Stigler IFMSA Director on Public Health 2008‐09

3

From the desk of the editors

Dear SCOPHians, I feel privileged to be writing the editorial of the first edition of ‘The SCOPH Manual’. ‘The SCOPH Manual’ was a dream we, the SCOPH Dream Team, set out with and to see it in reality is a matter of great personal excitement and satisfaction for me.

The aim of this manual is to be a guide book to our SCOPH career. Like a true guide book, its purpose is to help us out with everything related to SCOPH‐ from how to be a SCOPHian to creating our own SCOPH projects. In addition, it also aims to provide us with a glimpse of life as a SCOPHian and make us think about the current public health problems that affect our world.

But let me warn you‐ and it is a serious, not‐to‐be‐neglected warning‐ this manual is far from being perfect. You will find many imperfections. I like to call them the rough edges. I leave it up to you to smooth them out. This first edition, I hope, will serve as the stepping stone to walk on to the future. I believe that in the years to come, this manual will grow to involve much wider topics and represent SCOPH in a more comprehensive way.

This manual would never have been possible without the help of many, many individuals. Thanks and gratitude to all of them. I am grateful to all the contributors who spent their time and effort to make this manual what it is now. I would especially like to thank Flo, who has been a source of constant inspiration for me. It was his optimism, understanding and leadership that got the manual to be printed in such a short duration. Chris, Louise and the project booklet team deserve special mention because of their help with editing the manual, creating the project section and the manual’s design and layout.

Finally, your comments, suggestions and feedbacks are very important to us in improving this manual. If you like any section of the manual or feel there is anything that would make this manual better, send us an email at sid.siddhartha@gmail.com or msd_med_2010@yahoo.com.

I hope you will enjoy reading this manual. Happy reading and good luck with your SCOPH activities.

Siddhartha Yadav On behalf of, Siddhartha Yadav and Mohammed Salama Editors‐in‐Chief, SCOPH Manual

4

Introduction

5

The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) Florian Stigler, SCOPH‐D

The IFMSA is an independent, non‐governmental and non‐political federation of medical students’ associations throughout the world. In 2009, IFMSA consists of 102 national medical student associations in 95 countries on six continents. Our members represent more than one million medical students worldwide.

Since 1951, IFMSA has been run for and by medical students on a non‐profit basis. Officially recognized as a Non Governmental Organization within the United Nations’ system, it is recognized by the World Health Organization as the international forum for medical students. IFMSA is registered as a charitable organization in the Netherlands.

Mission "Our mission is to offer future physicians a comprehensive introduction to global health issues. Through our programming and opportunities, we develop culturally sensitive students of medicine, intent on influencing the trans‐national inequalities that shape the health of our planet."

Objectives • To expose all medical students to humanitarian and global health issues, providing them with the opportunity to educate themselves and their peers; • To facilitate partnerships between the medical student community and international organizations also concerned work on health, education and medicine; • To give all medical students the opportunity to take part in clinical and research exchange around the world; • To provide a network that links active medical students across the globe, including student leaders, project managers and activists, so that they can learn from and be motivated by each other; • To provide an international framework in which medical student projects can be initiated, carried out and developed; • To empower and train medical students to take a role in bringing about the necessary changes to improve the health of all people of the world.

Membership IFMSA consists of national medical student associations of 95 different countries. Each National Member Organization has its own identity, reflecting the national needs and culture. IFMSA is a federation which respects the autonomy of its members. The majority have Local Committees at the medical schools in

6

their country. These Local Committees coordinate IFMSA activities at the local level. Through these Local Committees, our members are in direct contact with hundreds of thousands of medical students.

Funding Revenues for the central budget of IFMSA are generated largely from membership fees, charged to member organizations. The fees are calculated based on both the GNP/capita and the population of each country. Alternative sources of income include private donations, grants, corporate sponsorships, and gifts‐in‐kind.

Global Network With member organizations in 95 countries on six continents, IFMSA is a truly global network that brings together more than one million medical students.

Active Worldwide Our clinical and research exchange programmes send over 10,000 students each year to study with their peers in other countries, giving them unique and invaluable experience of other health systems and other cultures.

Never afraid to question and to innovate, our students are active in challenging the health inequalities that they see, be they local, national or international. They organize projects and campaigns around major diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and on significant determinants of poor health, such as gender and age discrimination, violence and human rights violations.

Developing Ourselves Our medical students are significant advocates for improved medical education. The IFMSA informs and empowers students, enabling them to explore new topics and methods and to lobby for increased student participation in the planning and evaluation of their own education. Their success impacts upon their education and that of their peers.

Our biannual international meetings are a feast of cross‐cultural interaction and education. By meeting the most active students from other countries, our members not only learn about global health, but share

7

their ideas, skills and experience about how students can act on the issues that motivate them. A host of regional and national meetings make these experiences available to many more.

Our emphasis on training supports capacity building within our member organizations, bringing benefits both for the student leaders and the other young people that they lead.

Working Together On an international level, we connect our student activists to relevant partners, though our recognition in the UN system, through WHO and number of non‐Governmental organizations concerned with health.

Looking To The Future From Armenia to Zimbabwe, we are young people who dare to dream of a healthier future for all. As the doctors of tomorrow, as the future leaders of health, we recognize the role that we have to play. We invite you to come and dream with us...

Fields Of Activity Within IFMSA “It is health that brings us all together.”

For more than 55 years, IFMSA has existed to bring together the global medical student community. All over the world, medical students are working on global health issues through IFMSA. Hundreds of activities are planned, designed, and carried out each year on local, national and international levels.

Projects, programs, conferences and workshops are organized everywhere in the fields of medical education, public health, reproductive health and gender issues and violence prevention, bringing to life for medical students the critical health care issues of the modern world.

The IFMSA experience shows students that they are not passive subjects in a rapidly globalizing world, but are valuable individuals with a potentially powerful role to play in global health. They learn that their idealistic goals can be achieved with readily attainable knowledge and commitment.

In IFMSA, the emphasis is that the students return to their local environment with new ideas and the skills to implement them. As the doctors of tomorrow and future leaders of health, we feel confident that our students will carry this spirit with them throughout their professional lives.

True to its foundation, Student Exchanges remain the backbone of the federation. Every year IFMSA enables over 10,000 students to experience the practice of medicine or health research in a different country through our exchange programs. The students gain invaluable insights into other health systems and cultures, enabling them to view the more familiar environment in their own hospitals and communities with fresh perspectives. The exchange activities of the last 45 years have created the stable structure around which the organization has been able to grow. Over this time, activities have developed in many other fields, four of which are particularly well established.

Around the world, medical students have a unique authority on Medical Education issues, thanks to their first‐hand experience of current systems. United, their role within medical schools gives them an

8

unrivalled potential to reform medical education; locally, nationally and internationally. As a result, they have a huge contribution to make for the benefit of their peers, their patients and whole health systems.

With this in mind, IFMSA helps students to educate themselves and their peers about relevant issues and empowers them to obtain greater influence over all dimensions of their own education.

“As medical students committed to sharing your knowledge and skills internationally, you are a powerful source of hope for the future. I commend your determination to use your medical training to benefit all members of society.”

Kofi Annan The UN Secretary General MESSAGE TO THE IFMSA

As our many members in developing countries are only too aware, the majority of the world has little or no access to basic health care despite the revolutionary advances in basic and clinical science over the last century.

IFMSA helps students to better understand Public Health, at home and abroad, and to use this knowledge to inform local and national activities. In addition to the direct benefits to target populations, the medical students involved gain the essential skills related to health promotion and project management that are so rarely taught in medical schools.

Our vibrant worldwide movement on Reproductive Health has similar effects on the students involved. In hundreds of highly energetic projects, they promote the sexual and reproductive health of a variety of target groups, often using student‐led and peer education methods. The promotion of gender equality is also central to the values of this exiting group of young people.

All young people exposed to the fact that conflict, violence and injury have a massive health impact across the world. In the field of Refugees and Peace, our medical students focus on understanding the factors at play and are highly active in advocating disarmament, promoting tolerance and promoting the prevention of conflict.

Whatever the individual focus, these activities spring from a shared vision: a vision of improved health for all the people of the world, in a strong framework of intercultural understanding and solidarity.

As medical student leaders and activists, as human beings, it is health that brings us all together.

9

The Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH)

The Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) brings together medical students from all over the world to learn, build skills, cooperate, explore and share ideas when it comes to addressing all issues related to public health, including global health issues, health policies, health promotion and education activities.

Medical students of the IFMSA formed the Standing Committee on Students’ Health (SCOSH) in 1952, driven by a strong will to take an active part in preventing and making policies concerning health problems. During the following years, the wide variety of activities led to the change of SCOSH to Standing Committee on Health (SCOH) on 1963. On 1983 the name of the Committee changed once more to Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH).

Since these six decades, SCOPHians are implementing, maintaining and improving a wide variety of community based projects on a local, national and international level. Through these activities we are approaching our vision of a healthy society and we are developing our own potential of being a complete and skillful health professional.

Medical Students, the future health professionals As SCOPH members we have the chance to develop skills and knowledge concerning our personal evolving such as organisation, teamwork, leadership, communication, time and self‐management as a part of our development as future health professionals. Medical students involved in SCOPH projects gain a much better understanding of public health matters about their own country as well as of the situation in other countries of the world.

This creates a sense within medical students about their role within public health as future health professionals and provides them with the necessary skills to address global public health issues. Prepared with enough experience and knowledge we will be able to share this know‐how with our future patients in order to empower our environment to live a healthy life. We will be able to spread the message of wellbeing lifestyles and will create awareness for potential risk factors.

The goals we want to achieve today and tomorrow The vision of SCOPH is to work for a healthy society which is empowered by its knowledge, skills and opportunities to live a life of complete physical, mental and social well‐being. In order to achieve this goal, medical students from 102 National Member Organizations

10

work together as a team on a local level as well as on a national and international level.

Internationally we exchange ideas and knowledge to improve and evaluate our work and personal skills. In addition, our Standing Committee acts as a voice representing medical students around the globe through Advocacy and Policy Making ‐ thus being a worldwide platform for medical students.

Locally there is a large number of projects carried out, each orientated on the needs of the Population in the specific Region. Chronic Diseases, incl. Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes mellitus and Cancer, Tobacco smoking, Alcohol and Substance abuse, Malaria, TB, Tropical Diseases, Mental Health, Child’s and Adolescents Health, Ageing, Road Safety, Natural Disasters, Nutrition, Poverty, Violence and Social Inequalities, Rural and Remote Health, Regional Health Problems are some of the main topics that SCOPH focuses on.

SCOPH Vision, Mission & Goals Vision The Standing Committee on Public Health works for a healthy society which is empowered by its knowledge, skills and opportunities to live a life of complete physical, mental and social well‐being.

Mission We are trying to achieve our vision through our community based activities on a local level, through advocacy by the voice of worldwide medical students and through the development of our own skills and potentials as medical students and the health professionals of tomorrow.

•

Disease prevention within our society

•

Health promotion and education within our society

•

Raising awareness about Global Public Health issues within medical students and our society

•

Advocating for health policies as the voice of worldwide medical students

•

Developing skills and knowledge of medical students as the future health professionals

•

Working as an international team and collaborating with external public health organizations to use the potential of over one million worldwide medical students

11

Goals The focus of our efforts is trying to tackle the main Public Health issues according to the regional needs.

The coordination and performance of these activities is corresponding to the main WHO World Health Days to combine our energies.

In order to achieve our goals SCOPH needs an organised and sustainable way to support its members with information and know‐how. The backbones of this ongoing process are the national and international SCOPH meeting as well our platforms for communication and information keeping.

SCOPH Main Focus (external goals) SCOPH World Days (external goals) SCOPH Projects & Activities (external goals) SCOPH Meetings (internal goals) SCOPH Management (internal goals) SCOPH Evidence‐based guidelines

SCOPH Main Focus: These are the main topics we are focusing on to combine our efforts. Nevertheless the possible activities within our Standing Committee are widespread and flexible.

Tobacco Obesity & Diabetes

Tuberculosis

Malaria

Child’s and Adolescents Health

Mental Health As well as: Cancer, Alcohol abuse, Eyes health, Blood donation, Organ donation, Ageing and health, Road safety, Rural and remote health, Environmental health & SCOPH Exchange

SCOPH World Days: To combine our efforts we focus the coordination and performance of our specific activities according to the main WHO World Health Days.

These Days are promoted through our communication media (e.g. Yahoo‐Group) to give guidance to our NMOs. This supports the flow of information and exchange of experience but is still a guideline, not a general order.

12

October 10th: th

World Mental Health Day

November 14 :

World Diabetes Day

November 20th:

Universal Children’s Day

th

February 4 : th

World Cancer Day

March 24 :

World Tuberculosis Day

April 7th:

World Health Day

th

World Malaria Day

st

May 31 :

World No‐Tobacco Day

June 14th:

World Blood Donor Day

April 25 :

SCOPH Projects & Activities: The first part of this group of projects & activities is a list of the Umbrella Projects of SCOPH. These projects are combining different kind of projects and are additionally giving us an introduction to the specific topic.

The second part of this group is a list of the most common activities within SCOPH. They are common because of their relevance, simplicity and attractiveness of their basic idea.

TIP (Tobacco Initiative Project) TON (Transnational Obesity Network) Anti‐TB Campaign ICOM (IFMSA Campaign on Malaria) MHIP (Mental Health Initiative Project) APYN (Alcohol Policy Youth Network)

TBH (Teddy Bear Hospital) Smile X (Clown Doctor Project) Teddy Bear under Christmas Tree (Donation Project) Smoke‐free Party Smoking‐ologist Blood Donation Campaign Marrow Project (Bone Marrow Donation) 1st Aid Course ISNAH (International Students Network on Ageing and Health) National Health Week (National Awareness Campaign in Africa) SCOPH Exchange (Volunteer Exchange Projects)

13

SCOPH Meetings: 2 General Assemblies: March Meeting + August Meeting (SCOPH Sessions of 16 hours each, organised by the Director and the Dream Team) 2 pre General Assemblies: March Meeting + August Meeting (Specific Workshops of 3 full working days about different kind of topics, organised by a volunteer) 5 Regional Meetings: Africa, Americas, EMR, Europe and Asia Pacific (SCOPH Sessions organised by the Regional Assistant, length is different) SCOPH Focus Meetings: EuToCoM (European Tobacco Control Meeting) NMO National Assemblies: National Meetings in over 100 NMOs of IFMSA NMO SCOPH Meetings: open for national or international attendance

SCOPH Management: The strength of SCOPH on an international level is the possibility to support SCOPH on a local and national level.

To fulfil this function it is necessary to keep relevant information in a sustainable way, to offer an introduction and further information of our Standing Committee and its activities to all our members.

Therefore it is necessary to give us the possibility to share these information effectively as well as to offer communication platforms to share our ideas and experience.

The responsibility to offer these information‐ and communication‐platforms in an updated and high‐ quality status is by the SCOPH Director. Every SCOPH member has the right and obligation to claim it.

Information SCOPH Website (available at www.ifmsa.org) SCOPH Manual (a compilation of all information about the Standing Committee on Public Health) SCOPH Projects Booklet (descriptions and guidelines for the main projects and activities of SCOPH) SCOPH Power‐point (a Power‐point as an introduction to SCOPH and especially the goals, topics and projects we focus on; to be used at internal or external meetings) SCOPH – The Movie (a movie as an introduction about our Standing Committee; for internal and external use) SCOPH Movies (informative movies as introductions to the main public health topics and projects we are working on; to be published at You‐Tube) SCOPH World Reports (compilation of the half‐year NPO Reports as a global SCOPH Database) SCOPH Development Kit (a guideline for new National Member Organisations to start a Standing Committee on Public Health) SCOPH DVD (a compilation of all relevant documents and materials; to be handed out at GAs and RMs) Communication SCOPH Yahoo‐group (ifmsa‐scoph@yahoogroups.com) SCOPH Facebook group (SCOPH‐IFMSA at www.facebook.com)

14

SCOPH Newsletter (‘The Morning SCOPHian’ ‐ an internal newsletter to be used as communication platform) SCOPH Letter to LPOs (a technical letter with information, announcements and instructions for active members on a local level) Regional MSN Meetings (facilitated by the SCOPH Regional Assistants, open for all regional SCOPHians to share ideas and experiences)

SCOPH Evidence‐based Guidelines: These are evidence‐based instructions to tackle the Public Health issues we are working on. This list is in a developing process. Every updates needs to have a reference to its source. Every updates instruction needs to copy the old version in grey and font size 8.

Like this.

Tobacco: Obesity & Diabetes: Tuberculosis: Malaria: Child’s and Adolescents Health: Mental Health: Cancer: Alcohol abuse: Eyes health: Blood donation: Organ donation: Ageing and health: Road safety: Rural and remote health: Environmental health: SCOPH Exchange:

15

Liasing for Public Health – SCOPH External Partners

Introduction The most important aspect of our work within the Federation is undoubtedly working on the ground level, focusing on our own societies, dealing with the public health problems that we face on our daily life as medical students and our clinical practice as future health professionals. Our Federation provides us with a second important parameter, which is networking with each other, sharing best practices, cooperating internationally for a common vision, but separate missions and objectives.

Networking with external partners, such as Student Organizations, Public Health NGOs and Societies, UN Agencies, Regional Commissions, etc. is the third important aspect within our Federation. Dealing with all these people is primarily the field of the IFMSA Team of Liaison Officers, and for all Public Health Issues, the person within our Federation that deals with it, is the Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, the SCOPH LO! Out of the two cliché activities that most NMOs think that LOs do, namely finding external speakers and ordering publications, unfortunately the biggest part of the LO job may not affect that much the daily practice of the IFMSA members on a local level. However such activities are essential for the future of our Federation within the peculiar Global Public Health System and on a long – term basis, the impact can be of major importance for all SCOPHians around the world.

In the following paragraphs you can find some important External Partners that IFMSA is working with during the last years. Of course there are more external partners and newly established contacts that we are working on. For any questions, comments or requests, please don’t hesitate to contact the IFMSA Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, lph@ifmsa.org

Important External Partners for IFMSA SCOPH World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) is an international, nongovernmental, multi‐ professional and civil society organization bringing together public health professionals interested and active in safeguarding and promoting the public’s health through professional exchange, collaboration, and action. Founded in 1967, it is the only worldwide professional society representing and serving the broad area of public health, as distinct from single disciplines or occupations. The Federations’ members are national and regional public health associations, as well as regional associations of schools of public health presently numbering more than 70. WFPHA strives to promote effective public health policies and practices throughout the world every day.

The WFPHA GA takes place every year in Geneva, in parallel to the World Health Assembly. The Federation organizes the triennial World Congress on Public Health ‐ WCPH. The International Students’ Meeting on Public Health – ISMOPH is a satellite event to the 12th WCPH and IFMSA is the leading NGO supporter for this meeting.

More information about WFPHA: www.wfpha.org

16

Global Health Council (GHC) The Global Health Council is the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. The Council works to ensure that all who strive for improvement and equity in global health have the information and resources they need to succeed. The GHC Annual Public Health Meeting takes place in Washington DC. Main fields of interest are Women’s Health, Child’s Health, HIV/AIDS, Infectious Diseases and Emerging Issues.

The GHC Newsletter is delivered regularly in the IFMSA SCOPH mailing list. All IFMSA members get free GHC membership.

More information about Global Health Council: www.globalhealth.org

European Public Health Association (EUPHA) The European Public Health Association or EUPHA in short, is an umbrella organization for public health associations in Europe. EUPHA was founded in 1992. EUPHA is an international, multidisciplinary, scientific organization, bringing together around 12000 public health experts for professional exchange and collaboration throughout Europe. We encourage a multidisciplinary approach to public health.

The EUPHA Annual General Assembly is an interesting meeting for IFMSA Europeans to participate. Their focus among others is on health promotion, food and nutrition, no communicable and communicable diseases.

More information about EUPHA: www.eupha.org

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UNICEF is a UN Agency mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behavior towards children. Main field of work of UNICEF is HIV/AIDS and Children, child protection, child survival and development, basic education and gender equality and policy advocacy.

The cooperation of IFMSA and UNICEF has strengthened lately. The IFMSA delegation in the Almaty Conference has worked closely with UNICEF for Primary Health Care and there is the perspective of close cooperation with UNICEF for upcoming events and meeting for child’s rights and child protection.

More information about UNICEF: www.unicef.org

Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance, founded in 2000, is a developing network of NGOs and people working in public health agencies, which share information on alcohol issues and advocate evidence‐based alcohol

17

policies. Resource centers affiliated to GAPA are already operating in the EU, USA, South America, India, South East Asia and Western Pacific regions. It is envisaged that the Alliance, in the not too distant future, will be able to establish centers in Africa. The GAPA mission is to reduce alcohol‐related harm worldwide by promoting science‐based policies independent of commercial interests.

The Chairperson of GAPA, Mr. Derek Rutherford, has participated in the IFMSA AM08, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Since February 2009 the IFMSA Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, is also a member of the GAPA Board.

GAPA is a founder of the Alcohol Policy Youth Network, where IFMSA SCOPH is a founding member. GAPA Magazine – THE GLOBE, is being delivered to the IFMSA National Public Health Officers by mail.

More information about GAPA: www.globalgapa.org

Child Family Health International (CFHI) Child Family Health International (CFHI) is one of the leading nongovernmental organization (NGO) placing health science students on global health education programs in ways that are socially responsible and financially just. They model best global health education practices which demonstrate a priority commitment to community engagement and local integrity.

The interest of IFMSA Members is mainly focused in the CFHI Student Programs in Africa, Latin America and Asia. There is about to be signed a Memorandum of Understanding between IFMSA and CFHI. More information about CFHI: www.cfhi.org

Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) The Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) is an international NGO representing women doctors from all five continents. The association was founded in 1919. It is non‐political, non‐sectarian and non‐profit making.

At the time when MWIA was founded, women doctors were a curiosity, and there was a need for a forum to discuss common concerns. Women physicians being the minority is no more, as women constitute at least 50% of many medical schools. As women become the majority of practicing physicians, a new set of concerns will emerge.

Main fields of MWIA interest are Domestic Violence, Adolescents Sexuality and Gender Mainstreaming in Health.

More information about MWIA: www.mwia.net

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is a worldwide alliance of over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries, who have come together to enhance the lives of people with diabetes everywhere. For over 50 years, IDF has been at the vanguard of global diabetes advocacy. The Federation is committed to raising global awareness of diabetes, promoting appropriate

18

diabetes care and prevention, and encouraging activities towards finding a cure for the different types of diabetes. It is the mission of IDF to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.

The World Diabetes Day – November 14th was introduced in 1991 by IDF and WHO in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world. IFMSA SCOPH participates actively in the Campaign since November 2007.

More information about IDF and the World Diabetes Day: www.idf.org and www.worlddiabetesday.org

World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is an international organization founded in 1948 to advance the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health. The Federation, through its members in more than 100 countries has responded to international mental health crises through its role as the only worldwide grassroots advocacy and public education organization in the field. Its organizational and individual membership includes mental health workers of all disciplines, consumers of mental health services, family members, and concerned citizens. The organization’s broad and diverse membership makes possible collaboration among governments and non‐governmental organizations to advance the cause of mental health services, research, and policy advocacy worldwide.

The World Mental Health Day, October 10th, is one of the major activities of the Federation. IFMSA participates in the campaign through the IFMSA SCOPH Mental Health Initiative Project.

More information about WFMH: www.wfmh.org

UK Public Health Association (UKPHA) The UK Public Health Association (UKPHA) is an independent voluntary organization, formed by the coming together of three organizations in 1999 to unite the public health movement in the UK. As a multidisciplinary membership organization, the UKPHA brings together individuals and organizations from all sectors who share a common commitment to promoting the public’s health.

UKPHA seeks to promote the development of healthy public policy at all levels of government and across all sectors. UKPHA acts as an information platform and aim to support those working in public health both professionally and in a voluntary capacity.

There are five UKPHA Special Interest Groups: Food and Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Environments, Pharmacy, Health Visiting and Public Health, Alcohol and Violence and Devolution Strategic Interest.

More information about UKPHA: www.ukpha.uk.org

International Union against Cancer (UICC) The International Union against Cancer (UICC) is the leading international NGO dedicated exclusively to the global control of cancer. UICC Vision is a dynamic global community of connected cancer control organizations, professionals and volunteers working together to eliminate cancer as a major life‐

19

threatening disease for future generations. UICC Mission is to connect, mobilize and support cancer organizations and individuals with knowledge and skills to be effective.

Being the oldest NGO dedicated to cancer, UICC has formed a series of platforms and initiatives for the fight of all aspects of cancer, such as Globalink, is one of the biggest international networks about Tobacco Control. IFMSA is about to become a member of UICC, providing our members with a series of privileges, such as access to important electronic databases, publications and contacts.

More information about UICC and Globalink: www.uicc.org and www.globalink.org

World Heart Federation (WHF) The World Heart Federation (WHF) was originally formed in 1978 (first name International Society and Federation of Cardiology ‐ ISFC). WHF is now recognized by the WHO as its leading NGO partner in cardiovascular disease prevention and is a close partner of the WHO's department of Non‐communicable Diseases.

Important Campaigns of the WHF are the World Heart Day, Sept. 27th, Children and youth projects for the promotion of healthy nutrition, physical exercise and the prevention of tobacco use, the Go Red for Women campaign and Demonstration projects.

More information about WHF: www.worldheartfederation.org

Concern Worldwide Concern Worldwide is an international, humanitarian NGO dedicated to reducing suffering and eliminating extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. Currently, Concern works in 28 countries and has a workforce of around 4,000 people. Its headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, and the organization has other offices throughout the world.

Annually Concern offers a number of overseas internships to students pursuing a Masters Degree. The internships are field‐driven and often used for research purposes.

More information about Concern: www.concernusa.org

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is Britain's national school of public health and a leading postgraduate institution worldwide for research and postgraduate education in global health. Part of the University of London, the London School is the largest institution of its kind in Europe with a remarkable depth and breadth of expertise encompassing many disciplines. It is one of the highest‐rated research institutions in the UK. LSHTM mission is to contribute to the improvement of health worldwide through the pursuit of excellence in research, postgraduate teaching and advanced training in national and international public health and tropical medicine, and through informing policy and practice in these areas.

More information about LSHTM: www.lshtm.ac.uk.

20

Framework Convention Alliance The Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) was founded in 1999 and is now made up of more than 350 organizations from more than 100 countries working on the development, ratification, and implementation of the international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC is the world’s first global public health treaty, and requires parties to adopt a comprehensive range of measures designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impacts of tobacco.

The FCA vision is a world free from the death and disease caused by tobacco. The FCA mission is to perform the watchdog function for the WHO FCTC; to develop tobacco control capacity ‐ particularly in developing countries; to support the development, ratification, accession, implementation and monitoring of the FCTC; and to promote and support a network for global tobacco control campaigning.

IFMSA is an International Member of the FCA since 2002. Our Federation has participated lately in the NGO Consultation Meeting of the FCTC. The Tobacco Initiative Project Coordinator is also a key‐person for the cooperation within the Alliance.

More information about FCA and FCTC: www.fctc.org

Save the Children Save the Children is a leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves.

IFMSA members have been interested for internships with the Department of Health and Nutrition at Save the Children.

More information about Save the Children: www.savethechildren.org

Eurocare – European Alcohol Policy Alliance Eurocare was formed in 1990, as an alliance of voluntary NGOs representing a diversity of views and cultural attitudes concerned with the impact of the European Union on Alcohol Policy in Member States. It now includes some 50 organizations across 20 countries in Europe, most of which are national or supranational umbrella organizations. Member organizations are involved in research and advocacy; education and training of voluntary and professional community care workers; the provision of counseling services and residential support for problem drinkers, of workplace and school based programs as well as the provision of information to the public.

Eurocare is a co‐founder of the Alcohol Policy Youth Network (APYN) and a partner of IFMSA in the NGO Alliance for the Global Strategy against Alcohol. Eurocare is the only major European network that focuses exclusively on alcohol policy issues and a member of GAPA. More information about Eurocare: www.eurocare.org

21

International Association of Health Policy (IAHP) The International Association of Health Policy (IAHP) is a scientific, political and cultural organization founded in 1977. It is an international network of scholars, health workers and activists with the aim of promoting the scientific analysis of public health issues and a forum for international comparisons and debate on health policy issues. Basic principle adopted by IAHP members are the consideration of health as a social and political right. Main goal of the Association is the promotion of health, the struggle against health inequalities and the development of social solidarity.

The Association is interdisciplinary and gathers researchers from all public health disciplines. A major subject is the interrelationship between theory and practice in health policy. The main activity is regular conferences and seminars. These meetings cover a broad range of issues and they often gather both researchers and people involved in practical public health work and health policy. Major concern also is given for the dialogue between North and South, East and West. IAHP members in South America are active under the ALAMES and in Europe under IAHPE which both have their own bodies and activities.

The IFMSA Daisy Project – Margarita is a Transnational Project in cooperation with IAHP. More information about IAHP: www.healthp.org

22

Major Public Health Issues

23

Mental Health: A Public Health Perspective

Mental health is essential to the well‐being of individuals and their communities. Indeed, the absence of mental health prevents individuals to develop their full potential, to cope effectively with the stress of daily life, or to work productively for their society. However, in many parts of the world, mental disorders are still largely neglected, resources are inequitably distributed, and are subject to stigmatisation.

The WHO estimate that 450 million people currently suffer from mental, neurologic, or behavioural problems and that some 900,000 individuals commit suicide each year, with most of these in low‐ or middle‐income countries. Depression, alcohol‐use disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are among the six leading causes of years lived with disability (YLD). Depression alone accounts for 12.15% of YLD, and rank as the third leading contributor to the global burden of disease.

One in four families has a least one member with a neuropsychiatric disorder. Because most of these disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated family members are often the primary caregivers of people with mental disorders. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to mental disorders; 20% of these are affected worldwide and half mental disorders begin during puberty. Yet, most low‐ and middle‐income countries have only one child psychiatrist for every 1 to 4 million people.

The economic burden of mental disorders affects sufferers, their family and friends, employers and the society as a whole. The cost of mental health problems in developed countries is thought to be between 3% and 4% of GNP. This economic impact is explained the direct cost of treatment and services and the indirect costs in terms of value of lost productivity. In the United‐States, patients suffering from Alzheimers’s disease and schizophrenia represented the most costly expenses. In developed countries, absenteeism form work is due to mental health problems in 35% to 45% of cases. Hence, the high costs of mental disorders make them comparable to other major chronic conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

The stigmatization of patients and families affected by mental health problems is one the main obstacle in the provision of care for these people. The effects of stigmas cannot be underestimated. Manifested through stereotyping, fear, personal shame, and rejection, it more often than never leads to discrimination. Affecting households, treating institutions, and healthcare professionals, it negatively influences the allocation of health resources. Contrary to expectations, a South‐African survey suggest that the levels of stigma were higher in urban areas and among people with higher levels of education.

24

These stigmas account for the frequent human rights violations of psychiatric patients. Many psychiatric institutions, hospitals and social care homes still use old‐fashioned restrain methods such as cage beds, in which patients are kept for extended periods, sometime years. The living conditions in these institutions can be as unhygienic that the care harmful. To care for psychiatric patients, one needs to defend their human rights.

When addressing mental health, one addresses an important risk factor for communicable and non‐ communicable diseases. For instance, it has been shown that treating comorbid mental disorders improve medical compliance of patience and thereby reduce their mortality. Conversely, many physical conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease or AIDS predispose to depression, anxiety disorders and adaption disorders. All and all, one out of for visiting patient will have concurrent mental disorders, complicating the diagnosis and their treatment. Veritably, there is no health without mental health.

Scaling up mental health disorders services To address mental health, global intervention has to face the associated poverty, marginalisation and social disadvantages. While not mentioned in the Millennium Development goals (MDGs), enhanced mental health services directly affect progress toward their achievement.

There is staggering inequities in the distribution of mental health resources, principally for 85% of world population that lives in a low‐income and middle‐income country. Shortages of psychiatric workers (psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers) is an important obstacle to the provision of mental health disorders. Low‐income countries have 0.05 psychiatrists and 0.16 psychiatric nurses per 100 000 people, compared to 200 times more in high‐income countries.

The WHO identified four more key barriers that need to be overcome in order to increase access to proper mental health care: 1) the omission of mental health from the public health agenda; 2) the inadequate organization of mental health services; 3) the lack of integration within primary care; 4) and the lack of public mental health leadership.

Economic intervention packages are available with modest investment : US$ 2 per person per year in low‐ income countries and US$ 3‐4 in lower middle‐income countries.

The success in these investments is dependant on the effective collaboration of governments, donors, researchers and groups representing mental health workers, patients and their families.

The mental health Global Action Programme (mhGAP) is based on four core strategies derived from the recommendations of the World Health Report 2001. It recommends to 1) Increase and improve information for decision‐making and technology transfer to increase country capacity; 2) Raise awareness about mental disorders through education and advocacy for more respect of human rights and less stigma 3) Assist countries in designing policies and developing comprehensive and effective mental health services. The scarcity of resources forces their rational use 4) Build local capacity for public mental health research in poor countries A call for action to address the gross deficiencies in mental health coverage was published in the Lancet in 2007. It calls upon the global health community, ministries of health, donors and health care professionals to embrace the priorities set by the WHO and includes more specific recommendations on the

25

identification of priority package of service intervention, on research priorities and a strengthening of data‐collection and monitoring mechanisms.

What can be done by medical students?

What do you the medical students around you know about mental health? Does your community is aware that mental health is an essential and inseparable aspect of health? Do the media still portray mentally ill people as dangerous?

As future healthcare leaders medical students have a responsibility to ensure at their medical curricula includes education on the best care for people with mental health problems. Medical students need to be informed. With the proper background, students can contribute to knowledge transfer. In fact, many studies demonstrate the cost‐ effectiveness of mental health health promotion and prevention measures.

Within the IFMSA, Mental Health Initiative Project (MHIP) invites all to come together for to address the most urgent mental health issues. This working group endeavors to promote education among medical students on mental health issues and to promote student‐led Mental Health projects at the local and international level. It provides platform that will enable medical students to network and share their ideas.

You can join the MHIP by visiting our yahoogroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifmsa‐mhip

Web links http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health. http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/ The World Health organisation’s page on mental health. It features many reports on evidence and research, policy and services and advocacy. Download link to the the mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). http://www.thelancet.com/series/global‐mental‐health A series of articles published by the lancet in 2007 that includes a global call for action to scale up mental health services. http://www.globalmentalhealth.org The Movement for Global Mental Health aims to improve services for people with mental disorders worldwide. The website features the activities of the movement and tons of useful resources on mental health.

26

Tuberculosis

Historical View Consumption, phthisis, phthisis pulmonalis, scrofula, wasting disease, white plague, king's evil, vampirism or Koch's disease. Many names were given to the monster to which 2 billion people worldwide are exposed to and which makes this disease one of the most fastest spreading infectious diseases: tuberculosis.

The study of tuberculosis dates back to "The Canon of Medicine" written by Ibn Sina in the 1020s. He was the first physician to identify pulmonary tuberculosis as a contagious disease & developed the method of Quarantine in order to limit the spread of tuberculosis.

The bacillus causing tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was identified and described on March 24th 1882 by Robert Koch for which he was awarded with the Nobel Prize in 1905.

In the 20th century, tuberculosis killed an estimated 100 million people. Hopes that the disease could be completely eliminated have been dashed since the rise of multi‐drug resistant strains in the 1980s. The following resurgence of tuberculosis resulted in the declaration of a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in 1993.

Epidemiology Annually 8 million people become infected with tuberculosis and worldwide 2 million people die from the disease. The annual incidence rate varies from 356 per 100,000 in Africa to 41 per 100,000 in Americas.

Tuberculosis is the world's greatest infectious killer of women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS. According to Stop‐TB Partnership which IFMSA is members of, 20 countries represent 80 % of all TB cases in the world.These countries are: India, China , Indonesia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa, Ethiopia, Philippines, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russian Federation ,Viet Nam, United Republic of Tanzania, Brazil, Uganda, Thailand ,Mozambique, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Cambodia &Afghanistan.

According to regional prevalence Asia Pacific & Africa are the most infected regions due to the extremely low socioeconomic standards in these regions.

Within the last decades Europe & America have experienced resurgence of TB, which is referred to the strong correlation between TB infection with HIV/AIDS

27

Medical background Risk factors People with low socioeconomic standards exposed to inadequate hygiene stadards (slums, over crowded areas with insufficient ventilation) Inadequate education and poor access to health care (patients with HIV/AIDS, non vaccinated groups) Symptoms Inactive TB does not give you symptoms you can notice. Active TB gives you symptoms you can notice.

Sadly, symptoms may not appear until the disease has already caused damage. Symptoms of active TB include: A cough that lasts two weeks or more, especially if you cough up fluid or blood comes from your lungs when you cough, fever, excessive weight loss, night sweats and loss of appetite.

Many of these symptoms can be confused with other illnesses. If you have these symptoms or if you think you might have TB see you doctor. Your doctor can give you tests and make diagnosis to see wether you have TB or not.

Main Goals Of WHO & Other Major Institutions WHO and other organizations work on 3 main goals: ‐

Raising awareness about the disease and how to control it.

‐

Supporting government policies in treating and eradicating the disease through ministries of health and hospitals.

‐

Encouraging research towards understanding of the disease.

‐

Inventing new drugs esspecially towards resistant strains aiming to control, eradicate and decrease the burdens of TB towards global health & economy.

more

updates

and

What Can Medical Students Do? What is effective Medical students can play a main role towards their society by raising awareness about the disease towards the public, high risk groups and their colleagues at universitie through awareness campaigns and celebration of WTBD. These measures are seen as highly effective to prevent TB, which is seen as the most powerful tool regarding disease control and eradication.

28

What is not effective Activities like massive X‐Ray screenings, treatment of patients, vaccination any other specific measure are not as effective for students to do. Medical students cannot support activities like these as they cost a lot of money and a lot of efforts. Moreover these measures are already implemented in the main plans and duties of health authorities in many countries. What medical students can do though is advocate the importance of this process and encourage authorities to allocate more financial resources for this goal.

Important Links: www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/default.htm

www.stoptb.org

http://www.who.int/topics/tuberculosis/en/

29

Malaria

History Malaria is a life‐threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It was once thought that the disease came from fetid marshes, hence the name mal aria, (bad air). In 1880, scientists discovered the real cause of malaria a one‐cell parasite called plasmodium. Later they discovered that the parasite is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, which requires blood to nurture her eggs.

Epidemiology Today approximately 40% of the world's population mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries are at risk of malaria. The disease was once more widespread but it was successfully eliminated from many countries with temperate climates during the mid 20th century. Today malaria is found throughout the tropical and sub‐ tropical regions of the world and causes more than 300 million acute illnesses and at least one million deaths annually.

90% of deaths due to malaria occur in Africa south of the Sahara mostly among young children. The endemic countries are distributed in Africa, Central and South America, Asia and Pacific Island. 45 out of the 109 endemic countries belong to African region. Around 80% o the cases reported in this continent were centred in 13 countries: Nigeria, Democratic republic of Congo, Ethiopia, the united republic of Tanzania and Kenya.

From the reported cases out of Africa 80% were in India, Sudan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Papua Nueva Guinea and Pakistan.

Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds. Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage. Pregnant women and their unborn children are also particularly vulnerable to malaria, which is a major cause of perinatal mortality, low birth weight and maternal anaemia.

30

Clinical Background There are four types of human malaria Plasmodium vivax, P.malariae, P. ovale and P. falciparum. P. vivax and P. falciparum are the most common and falciparum the most deadly type of malaria infection.

Malaria symptoms appear about 9 to 14 days after the infectious mosquito bite, although this varies with different plasmodium species. Typically, malaria produces fever, headache, vomiting and other flu‐like symptoms. If drugs are not available for treatment or the parasites are resistant to them, the infection can progress rapidly to become life‐threatening. Malaria can kill by infecting and destroying red blood cells (anaemia) and by clogging the capillaries that carry blood to the brain (cerebral malaria) or other vital organs.

Malaria & The World It has been considered as the disease with major morbi‐mortality in the World, contributing to stop the development socioeconomically in a lot of countries. It’s been calculated that malaria is responsible of the decrease of 1.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of poor countries.

Malaria, together with HIV/AIDS and TB, is one of the major public health challenges undermining development in the poorest countries in the world. As is figured in the 6th MDG from UN where it’s combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Target 6.C: have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases: ‐

incidence and death rates associated with malaria

‐

Proportion of children under 5 sleeping under insecticide‐treated bednets.

‐

Proportion of children under 5 with fever who are treated with appropriate anti‐malarial drugs.

The most important fact of this disease is that is preventable and treatable so is in that point where all physicians, politicians, economists, NGOs of the world should join their effort to fight against malaria.

It’s seems to be only a problem from developing countries but the increase of travellers to endemic countries and the phenomenon of immigration make this disease a problem worldwide.

31

What Can Medical Students Do? The malaria situation makes necessary an effort from all countries in the world. That’s why IFMSA as representatives of 1 million medical students in the world should take a step forward the transnational project ICOM (international campaign on malaria). This project was born in October 2003 which was followed with workshops about malaria during IFMSA general assemblies and regional meetings. The goals of the project are: educate medical students worldwide about malaria and equip medical students worldwide with skills to become active participants in achieving effective malaria control. To achieve these goals some trainings malaria trainers were held in the past years.

There are few points where medical students could help on the eradication of malaria. The prevention and control of malaria could be different depending on the country.

In free malaria countries the efforts should focus on reduce the incidence of imported malaria. Awareness campaigns in immigrant’s collectives, in travellers and promoting the visits to the travellers’ health centres could be actions to do. Aware about the importance of the chemoprophylaxis could be another point to focus as its efficacy is well‐known. Another way to help poor countries could be organising events like “swim for malaria” to collect money that will be used to buy impregnated nets for endemic countries. Coordinating projects to help endemic countries on educate the local community on malaria is other view to fight against malaria.

In the case of endemic countries education programs on malaria to the local citizens, preparing theatres, plays, games to show how this disease is infecting and teach by actions how it could be prevented. The most important thing is educate and train new health promoters to control the epidemic.

IFMSA as future physician should encourage all medical students to think about this major public health issue by including malaria in their curricular and tackle the importance of preventing before curing.

Useful Links http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html (WHO‐malaria fact sheet) http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/ http://www.who.int/malaria/wmr2008/ (world malaria report 2008) http://www.who.int/tdr/svc/diseases/malaria (tropical disease research) http://www.cdc.gov/Malaria/ (info about malaria from cdc) http://www.tropnet.net/index_2.html (info about malaria epidemiology in Europe) http://www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com/Default.aspx (project info)

32

Tobacco

Introduction Tobacco as one of the main causes of death in the world, nowadays, kills over 5 million people annually.

According to WHO, the tobacco epidemic killed over 100 million people in the 20th century worldwide.

Regarding active smoking, in the USA male smokers are estimated to be 24% of the whole population, whereas women smokers are thought to be 19% of the whole population. This means that 73.378.800 men and 58.091.550 women smoke. Respectively, 292.000.000 male smokers and 219.000.000 female smokers exist in Europe, 4.085.000 male smokers and 3.440.000 female smokers in Australia.

Clinical Aspects Talking about tobacco though the medical aspect of this epidemic should not be neglected. Starting talking about risk factors, concerning active smoking on the one hand, results of surveys have shown that smoking is responsible for 87% of lung cancer situations, and for 30% of cancer in general. Smoking can be defined as an important risk factor for cancer of urine bladder, pancreas, breast and stomach.

Regarding the respiratory system, smoking is held responsible for many diseases of which long term bronchitis; COPD and deterioration of asthma are some.

An interesting aspect concerning cardiovascular diseases is that smoking can double or even multiply by four the risk of having coronary disease as well as double the risk of having strokes.

Referring to how smoking can affect diabetes, the fact that heavy smokers have an increased chance of having diabetes mellitus type II. Another highlighting part of risk factors of smoking is its effect on sexual health. Men often suffer from incompetence and bad sperm quality, whereas women tend to become less fertile at a percentage of 28%.

Pregnancy and women smoking is the main topic of conversation as the latter can cause miscarriage, premature labour and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Passive smokers deal with the same problems. They tend to be less open to the severity of the diseases caused by active smoking, but it depends on the frequency of getting in touch with second hand smoking during the day. Remarkable is the fact that passive smoking has been defined as a “group A” carcinogen.

One might wonder what medicine about the symptoms of smoking says. A variety of symptoms can be displayed of a range from “softer” to “harder” symptoms. Aesthetic issues as teeth problems, bad mouth smell, broken nails, wrinkled skin rang among the softer symptoms, whereas coughing, dizziness, lack of breath and deregulation of blood pressure rank among the hard symptoms. Fascinating is the fact that being in a room full of smoke for just 5 minutes deregulates you blood pressure for half an hour.

33

Role and Activities of International Organizations Fortunately, many actions have been made in order to change the situation that exists today, so as to take a glance at a more hopeful and tobacco free future. Talking about actions we must underline the FCTC. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is a multilateral treaty with more than 150 Parties.

It was the first step in the global fight against the tobacco epidemic with a view of reducing both the supply of and the demand for tobacco.

Parties to the WHO Framework Convention have committed to protect the health of their populace by joining the fight against the tobacco epidemic. To help countries fulfill the promise of the WHO Framework Convention, WHO has established MPOWER, a package of the six most important and effective tobacco control policies: monitoring the epidemic and prevention policies (MPOWER), protecting people from second hand smoke (MPOWER), offering help to people who want to quit (MPOWER), warning everyone about the dangers of tobacco (MPOWER), enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (MPOWER), raising taxes and prices (MPOWER). These policies are proven to reduce tobacco use.

Role of Medical Students Are medical students callow concerning tobacco prevention and cessation? IFMSA gives medical students the chance to become part of actions against tobacco. SCOPH and the Tobacco Initiative Project give medical students an enormous benefit to become active in tobacco issues by participating in anti‐tobacco sessions, trainings, updates or working groups during SCOPH or General Sessions at IFMSA General Assemblies, by exchanging ideas through the official yahoogroup of SCOPH and TIP, by gaining knowledge regarding tobacco’s various effects, stressing on the tobacco industry’s policies and action in particular, through activities or materials at IFMSA General Assemblies and workshops in each NMO. Regarding prevention of tobacco at young age people, namely children, medical students can be part of a team of students who have been trained by the tobacco workshop’s trainers to intervene with children at schools.

What can be more important than showing children the healthy way to live? Children are the future of our society!

Conclusion Reality? Reality is that tobacco kills one person every six seconds nowadays. View? Our view is to change reality, to make our society tobacco free. Let’s all give a hand to this purpose and contribute to sensitize our society about tobacco!

34

Prevention of Alcohol Related Hazard

Introduction The Alcohol Related Hazard is a major Global Public Health burden. European citizens are the leading alcohol consumers, followed by the Americans. However the problem is rising, without leaving any region unaffected. Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) Disability‐Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Unintentional injuries alone account for about one third of the 1.8 million deaths, while neuro‐psychiatric conditions account for close to 40% of the 58.3 million DALYs. The burden is distributed among the countries as is shown on picture on right hand side. \

Being one of the raising causes of many types of cancers ‐ incl. oesophageal, liver and breast cancer ‐ stroke and hypertenstion, cirrhosis, acute and chronic pancreatitis and additionally increasing significantly the frequency of road, fall and fire injuries and the cases of violence, suicide, assault and child abuse and neglect, alcohol consumption is one of the major fields for public health professionals and politicians to focus.

Strategies To Prevent Alcohol Related Harm There are several effective strategies to reduce alcohol related harm. Regulation of the physical availability is important to restrict alcohol consumption and the related hazard. Implementing minimum purchase age, restriction of the hours of daily sale and the density of outlets are essential for the prevention of the alcohol related hazard. Establishing and respecting governmental monopolies for the sale of alcohol and an increase in alcohol taxation have positive influence for the restriction of the alcohol consumption. In parallel, drink ‐ driving countermeasures are effective to reduce alcohol consumption, incl. random breath testing, lowering Blood Alcohol Concentration ‐ BAC limits and administrative license suspension. Regulation of alcohol promotion, banning alcohol advertisement is also essential to fight alcohol.

35

Finally doctors should be educated to give short interventions and to raise awareness against alcohol consumption, during their daily practice with their patient or at‐risk drinkers. This is one of the most effective ways to fight this major public health issue.

The effectiveness of peer and college education in schools is also a topic to be discussed. There are several studies concluding that neither education, nor public health services or warning labels are effective strategies on reducing the harm. These methods should be further evaluated using long‐term research projects.

Role Of IFMSA And Other International Organizations People’s and especially young people’s health is seriously affected by alcohol related harm. That’s why our role is double as a federation of future physicians and as a student organization. There are three levels of intervention that each doctor shall be active in, to counteract the global burden of alcohol related hazards. Individually the doctor shall intervene with patients and at‐risk drinkers during the daily clinical practice∙ socially the doctor shall encourage the alcohol control policy advocacy∙ globally the doctor shall cooperate for the implementation of the Global Strategy against Alcohol that WHO, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) and a series of other NGOs, including IFMSA are already working on. Additionally as a student NGO, our role is not limited in raising awareness or educating our own members, but also cooperating with our partner student organizations aiming to raise efficiently the topic within the relevant political and societal forums.

IFMSA should emphasize the importance of medical students and international NGOs in the fight against alcohol with the formation of the Global Strategy against Alcohol. Utilizing our strengths and opportunities we shall work intensely to raise awareness against alcohol, advocate for the relevant health policies and educate medical students on how to meet the needs of their triple role as doctors, individually, socially, globally.

What Can Medical Students Do? Alcohol is a major global burden and should be addressed so. Street action activities, public campaigns and events and awareness activities should be organized, focusing not only on the health problems related to alcohol, but primarily on the social aspect of the problem: violence and injury prevention, road safety and protection of third parties. Such activities draw the attention of international and national media, which can multiply the impact of our SCOPH actions, when used properly. The decades of the IFMSA, SCOPH and NMO publications are also a strong tool within the academic circles on a global level.

36

Advocacy for the alcohol control policy development or reinforcement is also a major field in which the Federation can be effective in. Through our participation in student networks, such as the Informal Forum of International Student Organizations (IFISO), in special multi‐disciplinary networks, such as the Alcohol Policy Youth Network (APYN), and through our interventions in international health and political forums, the federation can be a strong partner for the formation and implementation of the Global Strategy.

SCOPH meetings and a series of alcohol advocacy trainings are core events to get our members trained and educated on how to treat the problem. Through SCOPH medical students can build a strong network of future doctors who will fulfill their triple role concerning the problem. As individuals they will be able to intervene briefly with their patients in their daily practice, detect the problem at an early stage and treat the at‐risk drinkers properly. As vital members of their society they will advocate effectively for the alcohol control policies and finally globally they will continue participating in relevant networks of health professionals.

During the last years within SCOPH we have scaled up to the existing need by cooperating internationally with the foundation of APYN, organizing lectures to raise awareness within medical students, participating in the NGO Alliance for the Global Strategy against Alcohol and cooperating closely with GAPA and WHO. Today, more than ever, medical students are ready to work as equal partners in the field of Alcohol Policy, responding to the evident need and contributing to meet the needs of time.

Useful Links WHO Management of Substance Abuse – Publications and Documents www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/alcohol/en/ WHO SEARO – Management of Substance Abuse www.searo.who.int/en/Section1174/Section1199/Section2278.htm Institute of Alcohol Studies – IAS www.ias.org.uk Global Alcohol Policy Alliance – GAPA www.globalgapa.org Alcohol Policy Youth Network – APYN www.apyn.org European Alcohol Policy Alliance – Eurocare www.eurocare.org DG SANCO – Europa Public Health – Alcohol http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/alcohol/alcohol_en.htm The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth http://camy.org Center for Science in the Public Interest http://www.cspinet.org/alcohol The Marine Institute‐ Alcohol Industry Watchdog http://www.marininstitute.org/

37

SCOPH in the regions

38

Regionalization

The process of regionalization within IFMSA started in 2001‐2002. Why? Good question! Given the advent of the era of globalisation, the word has become so inter‐connected that it has become necessary for any global organization to ‘regionalize’ to survive and thrive.

Regionalization within IFMSA relies on people who are the most obvious experts on their own respective regions, having the most experience in them in terms of issues to be addressed, contacts with externals and the regional IFMSA members themselves. Regionalisation also goes a long way to decrease any bureaucratic inefficiency, and allows for a much faster and smoother running of any organization.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has itself such a structure since many years, as do the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to name a few.

In these organisations, national departments from different countries within the same region cooperate.

Why do these NGO’s and why does IFMSA want countries within a region to cooperate more? Of course all countries are different, even “neighbouring countries”. Every country is unique and has its own special situation. Nevertheless, NMOs in the same region often face comparable situations, pursue similar interests, and run similar projects.

Combined with the socio‐cultural and geographical advantages, it is, therefore, easier for countries within the same region to work together than it would be to achieve the same degree of cooperation among countries all over the world.

This also paves the way for better God‐fathering, which is the process by which older NMOs help establish and develop newer ones. With such a structure, it is hoped that all the NMOs can benefit their region in one way or more, paving the way for stronger regions the world over.

Will this regionalisation lead to the divide of IFMSA into regional organisation? Will IFMSA no longer be a worldwide organisation? No, that’s not at all what’s it about! In fact it’s the other way round. If anything, regionalisation opens the way for more inter‐regional cooperation, with more follow‐up and clearer interaction. The Regional Assistants would be better able to communicate the differences and experiences within their regions, and work together to improve the federation. Strong Regions make for a Stronger IFMSA, and this cannot be over‐emphasized!

39

The regions will not form new, separate organisations and IFMSA will remain united and strong. Juan Manuel Muñoz, Vice‐President for Internal Affairs 2001/2002, underlines this point: “We are not going to establish new regional organisations. The position of the Executive Board is to strengthen and keep the importance of other regional students' organisations, not to compete with them.”

Regionalisation also allows externals, such as the WHO, to more easily relate to IFMSA activities, whether for funding, sponsorship, material support or otherwise.

For these reasons, among others, IFMSA was encouraged to undertake this re‐structuring.

Consequently, IFMSA has adopted the same regions as the WHO, namely: Africa, Americas, Asia & Pacific, East Mediterranean, and Europe.

Mission Statement Through regionalisation, our mission is to promote communication and cooperation between National Member Organisations to foster high quality regional projects. By increasing communication between officials and National Member Organisations, and between National Member Organisations, we will improve infrastructure both on a national and international level. Through common external representation, we will gain support on a regional level for National Member

40

Africa

Every year millions of Africans die needlessly of diseases those are preventable and treatable. The important problems Africa is facing now are weak and fragmented health systems; inadequate and poor management of human resources for health; recurrent natural and man made disastes ; and extreme poverty.

Development of Africa is the responsibility of all African including the medical students. African countries will not develop economically and socially without substantial improvement in the health of their people. The health care interventions, treatments, diagnostic and preventive methods that are needed in this region are KNOWN, the challenge that faces us is to deliver these to people who need them and the best way to do this is to establish well functioning health plans and strategies. So, we as medical students should respond to improve and save the land we love and care for it.

SCOPH Africa has had many steps towards these goals. It looks that more organized than ever before. It now knows itself, its problems, needs and opportunities. It is the time to ACT. The time to see forward not to the past.

HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria, the Maternal and Child health are considering the main public health issues in Africa.

Also the lesser known problems of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, and other non communicable conditions such as mental illness and injuries.

SCOPH Africa active projects and Activities: Student Against Malaria – ICOM branch.

TMT (training malaria trainers).

Anti TB campaign.

Good life project (Mental Health project)

41

Children activities: Help on Pain Ending (HOPE).

Save the African Child.

Medical missions.

National health week project.

Gender based violence project.

Sickle cell project.

Anti tobacco project.

Think global project.

SCOPH Africa regional yahoo group: Ifmsa‐scoph‐africa@yahoogroups.com

42

Americas

SCOPH Americas includes all the SCOPH groups in NMOs of PAMSA. PAMSA includes all IFMSA members within North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean.

SCOPH Americas has a very vibrant group of SCOPHians who work tirelessly on projects and campaigns to improve health in our countries. Some include the anti‐tobacco campaign, lifestyle diseases campaigns focussed on diabetes and hypertension, rural medicine campaigns (brigades), mental health initiative project, teddy bear hospital, child eye sight screening, cancer awareness, organ donation, and many more! We achieve success in our campaigns because of the dedication of our members.

The major causes of mortality in the Americas are non‐communicable diseases, of which those with highest mortality rates are cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms, and respiratory diseases. SCOPH Americas tackles each of these health issues through our various campaigns and we hope that our efforts will help in the improvement of health within our region.

43

Asia and Pacific

Asia and Pacific region exhibits a plethora of language, cultural, religious, climate and socio‐economic diversity. Due to this diversity, it is difficult to isolate a shortlist of the MOST significant Public Health problems. In the less developed areas of the Asia‐Pacific, many of these public health issues pertain to poverty‐related illness such as AIDS/HIV, TB and malnutrition. Whereas in the more developed areas, a different set of diseases, including obesity and mental illness, form health issues of serious concern. In the countries of our region close to the equator, tropical illness carries a large burden of disease where Malaria affects a large population. In parts of the Asia‐Pacific further from the equator, diseases linked to more temperate areas again carry a large burden of disease.

SCOPH In The Asia‐Pacific Despite having a smaller number of NMOs compared with other regions, SCOPH‐AP’s member countries are highly active, producing Public Health events and activities of a very high calibre. Projects and activities in our region include: East Asian Medical Students' Conference (EAMSC): "AIDS in the Asia‐Pacific".

Gabaldon Project 2008/2009 – includes teeth‐brushing initiatives, public health research, surveys on childhood growth and nutrition and Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) education.

Red Party Project – partying to raise money for AIDS/HIV research.

Medical Students’ Aid Project – providing much needed medical resources and supplies to developing hospitals.

DRC Project: HandUp Congo – a community development project, investing in public health infrastructure.

Fiji Village Project – medical students from multiple countries working together to improve public health provision in Fiji.

Food Safety Project – educating about food safety and hygiene to lower the incidence of food‐borne illnesses.

Teddy Bear Hospital – aims to promote better health practices in children in Grades 1‐2.

Various Indigenous Health Projects – including conferences, dialogue activities and events.

These are just a small selection of the many amazing projects active within our region. To complete an exhaustive list would be impossible within the scope of this article. However by getting in contact with

44

your SCOPH‐AP regional assistants and joining up to our yahoo group, you can learn a lot more about the activities within our region and become more involved.

SCOPH‐AP Vision One of the most exciting aspects to SCOPH in the Asia‐Pacific (SCOPH‐AP), is the growth that we have been experiencing. We have nine additional SCOPH NMO memberships underway!! This year, SCOPH‐ AP is also strengthening its relationship with the Asian Medical Students’ Association, a powerful transnational medical student body operating within our region. The potential within this relationship is immense, where project infrastructure, knowledge and contacts can be shared, together strengthening and improving Public Health endeavours in our region.

With the massive economic growth and development that has been occurring in our region to date, we as AP SCOPHians have a vision to match this growth with our own SCOPH‐AP development. To do this we need ALL the Asia‐Pacific countries on board. Together we can bring about a positive change and improve the health for all in our region.

SCOPH Asia‐Pacific Yahoo Group Inspired? It’s easy to come and join us, simple click on the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifmsa‐scoph‐asiapacific/join

45

East Mediterranean

EMR‐ Standing for Eastern Mediterranean Region composes of 14 NMOs, all of us making an amazing family. The members of the region extend over 2 continents which makes this region special. NMOs are from both West Asia and Northern Africa. Even though we are separated by geographical boundaries we have many things in common and all work toward a common goal. SCOPH members of the EMR have removed all the borders in between and for many years have worked together to promote a healthy life in the region. Many topics and concerns are tackled by the EMR SCOPHians most importantly include: Smoking, Chronic Diseases and children’s projects in addition to many such as Mental Health, TB, Viral Hepatitis and Illegal Drugs.

In the EMR there are projects that are run by individual NMOs to tackle the health issue of concern in their respective countries such as Viral Hepatitis in Egypt, Anti‐drug Campaign in Bahrain and Care for Street Children in Sudan. Other projects being organized are global and initiative projects such as TBH, Anti‐Tobacco campaigns, Anti‐TB campaigns and many more, and let’s not forget world health days that are celebrated every year most importantly world diabetes day and world cancer day.

Communication between the EMRians are in various ways but we have our yahoo group that is the pivot to us all, ifmsa‐scoph‐emr@yahoogroups.com

46

Europe

We cannot have a talk about Europe if we don’t mention some geographical facts that are very important in order to have the chance of a general opinion about the oldest continent on earth. Let’s remember the basics… Europe is one of the smallest continent after Australia although it has 11% of earth’s population so it is a little bit crowded there. Of course it is impossible that so many people have a soft life without having some conflicts on the regions, on the customs, religion and of course the money that means resources. These many conflicts during this long period of 2 milleniums ended with some concrete borders that divide today the continent into aproximativly 50 countries. Hmm… So many countries on such a small space would say the Americans, Asians and expecially the polar bear. That’s right and that’s why we are also divided into spiritual regions that usually have the same clime, the same religion, the same traditions in general, the same way of living after all. There is one more big difference between Europe and other continents. We also use to have a lot of Councils, Uninons that are European forums and their caractheristic is that they act locally but think globally! I think I have heard about this before, but I don’t rememeber where. Can you help me?

Oh… now I remember that I might have heard it in IFMSA meetings. Yes I checked out the website and I know it from the SCOPH meetings more exactly where you can meet the NPOs from the NMOs in Europe that are about 43 and also NPOs from the other continents. I remember that we also had some interesting disscusion on public health issues at these meetings and some interesting topics for projects which can help you as individual to have a vision about what is happening around you, in your country as well as in Europe, why not?

Let’s think of the most important public health issues of Europe. Every day you hear in your family, at school, in hospitals, on the street, on the radio that are some concrete problems of public health that interfere a lot in peoples’ lives and give a lot of troubles in dealing with everyday activities. These problems are cancer, nutrition and alchohol. It is a craziness on media, on doctors, on researchers, on the government about the way to live with cancer because it has a lot of social, emotional, personal implications and cancer actually remembers how important is every day because some time you might not be capable to do the basics. Nutrition gives also headaches for ill people and for those who treat chronic diseases because it is the biggest risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and some other. We all

47

have them and we became customized with that but it isn’t at all a normal condition, it is pathological. In the end alcohol has a different treatment from region to region because of tradition and the legislation. It is a popular problem in the North because of the mentality, they act like dinking is a normal activity like eating for example, and it might be more soft in the South where people make abuse when they use alcohol more in social events. I know that the majority of facts in the world as classified as the most three important but just another helth problem, I think tobacco has to be mentioned. Everybody knows it but there is still a long road to be taken until it will be ok living without it. As conclusion there are a lot of public health problems because we have a lot of bad habbits…

Projects in Europe are many… There are projects for old people, for children, for adults, there are campaigns on blood donation, on organ donation, projects that raise the awarenss for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, TB. As I have told you in the beginning there are a lot of countries, a lot of public health issues that are more specific from region to region and this is a good reason for the diverse projects that develop on the continent. Although there are some projects that are general for everybody and I refer to the projects dedicated to children that are the same everywhere. And when I say children what can you think more about than Teddy Bear Hospital? And there is also Tabacco Initiative that fight with tobacco every month in most NMOs and this is absolutely great!

Dear reader, we hope that you enjoyed this article that was written by regional assistants for Europe. Now we hope that you understand better why we are two, right?

48

SCOPH and your NMO

49

How to establish SCOPH in your NMO

Once your NMO is recognized by IFMSA you can start your own SCOPH group. Below are some simple steps towards starting a SCOPH within your NMO:

o Appoint an NPO and LPOs. o Make a plan of action o Inform your NMO, your faculty, and university about your new group and your plans o Recruit members o Start projects

Appoint an NPO and LPOs The LPO is the local public health officer, and is the person responsible for coordinating SCOPH activities within their local committee (ie. their medical school). The NPO is the National Public Health Officer. This person is responsible for coordinating the activities of all the SCOPHs within the NMO (ie. all the medical schools represented by their association).

These people are integral to the development of SCOPH, they are in charge of running SCOPH within the NMO. They are the heads of the committee and provide leadership and support for the members. They guide the committee to come up with project ideas, and facilitate the planing and execution of these projects. In essence they are the backbone of SCOPH.

The persons chosen for these positions should be hardworking, good planners and organizers, accessible, approachable, reliable, and responsible.

Some responsibilities of the LPO are (but are not limited to): General management of the SCOPH group including membership recruitment Coordinating projects Reporting to and keeping in contact with the NPO Keeping him‐/herself updated about international SCOPH activities

50

Some responsibilities of the NPO are (but are not limited to): Keeping in contact with the LPOs and organizing regular reports Coordinating National projects Encourage the sharing of information between local SCOPHs To asses the country’s health situation and come up with project ideas to target these issues To liaise with externals to garner support for the SCOPH Giving regular reports to and keeping in contact with the SCOPH Regional Assistant

It is also good to appoint a council to assist the public health officers. These support persons can be responsible for projects, marketing, fundraising, etc, depending on your personal needs.

Plan of Action It is important before beginning your term to first come up with your plan of action for the year. What is your vision for SCOPH and its impact in your community? How will you achieve this? It is important to be realistic about your plans. Activities chosen will be dependent on your resources: financial, personnel, and time.

They should be well laid out to present to your SCOPH members and others. You should decide what public health issues you would like to tackle and come up with ideas on how to do this. It is also helpful to come up with a draft timeline for your activities.

Having a good and clear plan of action will help to recruit members and also to get current members interested in the plans for the year.

Make your presence known It is important to let the student body, your faculty, and your University know about the SCOPH, what your group has done in the past, and what your plans are for the year. This is important when seeking support from these groups. It is also good to get in contact with key externals who may be integral to the establishment and ongoing of some projects.

Recruit Members Your members are the body of SCOPH and probably the most important persons in a SCOPH! They are your idea makers and work force. They are the ones who help plan projects and actually carry them out. It is therefore very important to have a good number of members.

51

To recruit members they have to be interested in the group. For SCOPH this is easy because we are about health and our target group are medical students! But even with this advantage, membership recruitment still requires some work on the part of the officers. Presenting your plans for the year is a useful tool in membership recruitment. People will be drawn to your activities and want to get involved.

Other means of recruiting members is through introducing your group at your local and national assembly, announcements in classes, invitations to participate in projects, flyers, posters, stickers etc.

Once your activities have started, this will also help to attract more people to your group, so it is important to promote your activities well.

Start Projects!

Once you have a workforce then its time to start work! Please bear in mind that your workforce could in the beginning consist solely of you and a few friends, but even with small numbers it is possible to achieve much. It is important to ensure that projects are well planned and well executed. It is also important to do a report on yours projects and to send these to the NPO or to the regional assistant.

52

How to hold a productive SCOPH session

Part I ‐ A local SCOPH Session Description: A local SCOPH Session is a meeting organized by Local Public Health Officer (LPO). Time and duration depends mostly on LPO (usually few‐ 2 hours).

The main goals of a local SCOPH session: to inform people about SCOPH and IFMSA‐ Local Committee (general information) to promote projects and other SCOPH activities to form a team (to find help and coordinators for every project you would like to organize) to create a plan of action for next weeks to make simple training and brainstorm

Tools: Power Point presentations (with short information about every project and activity, many pictures from different actions, information from other Local Committees of your NMO‐ successes, ideas) Short movies about projects or public health problems Discussion with former coordinators Discussion with LPO

Promotion of a local SCOPH Session: posters and leaflets private messages, emails information on mailing lists, Facebook and other messengers text messages asking friends from other students groups for their help with promotion short presentations before some lectures information in a students newspaper

53

Advices: Start to organize the meeting few weeks earlier. Write everything you must do in a paper e.g. to find and to book a room, to find a video or a computer. Ask other coordinators or your Local President for help.

They will tell you where you can find the stuff you need for your meeting‐ you are not the first person who organize a meeting like yours.

Pay much attention on presentations you will do and on your knowledge about SCOPH and projects. A general impression and your behavior will be really important‐ the better impression‐ the more people will want to work with you).

Part II ‐ A National SCOPH meeting Description: A National SCOPH meeting is a meeting organized by National Public Health Officer (NPO, NOPH) just for members of that particular Standing Committee. Time and duration depends mostly on NPO (usually one or two days). NPO needs to think of a place for the meeting, accommodation and other necessary things e.g. food.

The main goals of a National SCOPH Session: to share ideas for projects and activities to inform about successes, progress to discuss public health problems to motivate each other to promote projects and coordinators to integrate SCOPHians to build a team to create a new campaign or project trainings about e.g. time management, marketing, team building, problems solving

Tools: Power point presentations made by NPO and LPOs, Project Coordinators Short movies about projects or public health problems A general discussion in one big group Discussions in small groups Guest speakers, trainers

54

Promotion of a National SCOPH Session: information on mailing lists, private messages, emails Facebook and other messengers

Advices 1. Before the meeting‐ writing an agenda.

Description: SCOPH Session agenda is a plan of topics you are going to discuss with members of your meeting, prepared few weeks before the session. Usually is based on suggestions and ideas of all members, their expectations and experience.

A) Use mailing list and private messages while writing an agenda.

B) Analyze activity of your coordinators and think of problems they usually face on, think of their experience.

C) Ask personally your best coordinators for preparing some presentations or facilitating some discussions. Some of them for sure are waiting for that kind of invitation!

C) Don’t choose too many topics for your Session. Put everything in an order and decide what is the most important for you and start with it.

D) Creating an agenda of the meeting can bring a lot of fun to you and your SCOPHians but don’t except that everyone will give you some input. Don’t worry if only few people do this. Remember that the last word belongs always to you and you should be ready for difficulties.

E) Try to mix in your agenda different methods‐ general discussion, work in groups, some quizzes. You will show your SCOPHians that you are creative.

2. During the session‐ moderate the meeting.

A) Moderate the meeting all the time. Everyone wants to have an amazing SCOPH brainstorm during the meeting but please be careful with it. Sometimes it can give a great effect but sometimes you can see that after discussion you realize that you know even less than before. Always know what you want to get with the discussion and control it.

B) Brakes and energizers are as much important as the topics of your session so observe people all the time and watch if they start to be tired.

Brakes should be short‐ if you give them too much time it will be really hard to get the group in one place again!

Energizers are special kind of funny games. The rules are usually the same‐ to sing, to move, to dance and to laugh.

It’s good if you leave the time for brakes and energizers in the agenda. That will help you to achieve everything you expected‐ you will see how much time you need for everything.

55

3. During the meeting‐ small working groups.

Form few little groups of participants. Each of group works on different public health topic and tries to create a new campaign and project. On topics for SWG think earlier‐ when you build an agenda of your session. Please remember‐ for that kind of work you must have a lot of time, working on topic in a short time can be not so effective. In the end each of group presents the result of their discussion.

4. During the meeting‐ a secret event.

Surprise your SCOPHians with a secret event! Spend as much time with them as you can. Prepare some competition, game or SCOPH party, take group pictures, funny pictures. Be creative. That will great not only for new SCOPHians but also for old coordinators.

5. After the meeting‐ evaluation (methods).

Evaluation is as much important as the session. You will see if they think your session was useful for them and how much they liked it. It will help you to make a better session next time.

Methods‐ examples: General discussion about positives and negatives facilitated by NPO or coordinator.

Discussion in small groups facilitated by few coordinators.

Filling in a short and easy questionnaire.

Writing positives and negatives on small papers by every participant

6. After the meeting‐ certificates.

Prepare certificates for all participants of your meeting. They work really hard and for sure they deserve it.

They will be happy and really surprised!

Part III ‐ A SCOPH Session during a National GA Description A SCOPH Session is a meeting organized during National GA. Time and duration depends on President of NMO. NPO doesn’t need to think of a place for the meeting, accommodation and other necessary things e.g. food because everything is made by OC.

The main goals of a SCOPH Session during a National GA are usually the same as for National SCOPH meetings: to share ideas for projects and activities to inform about successes, progress to discuss public health problems

56

to motivate each other to promote projects and coordinators to integrate SCOPHians to build a team to create a new campaign or project trainings about e.g. time management, marketing, team building, problems solving

Tools Power Point presentations made by NPO and LPOs, Project Coordinators Short movies about projects or public health problems A general discussion in one big group Discussions in small groups Guest speakers, trainers

Promotion of a National SCOPH Session: information on mailing lists, private messages, emails Facebook and other messengers

Advices: 1. See advices for a National SCOPH Session.

2. Have fun!

Workshop is a real life, I can’t predict what happen. But for sure just you see some problems so don’t think of it that much. Your SCOPHians will be joyful because you give them a chance to meet you and another coordinators!!! And the most important thing!!! Have fun!!! If you have fun, coordinators have it as well. The same is when you smile:‐)

3. The first day is more important than the second!

If you have a two days meeting the first day is the more important than second‐ people are not tired and full of energy. Discuss with them main problems and main ideas on that day. On the second day (after a good SCOPH party…) they are more tired and sleepy so their work is not so effective. So for that day choose something funny and easy.

57

4. Trainings are as much important as discussions about projects and public health problems.

Due to trainings you will improve their skills and help them to work more effective on their projects. You should teach them how to work, how to get money and to organize a great event. For sure they except that from you.

Part IV – A national SCOPH project workshop Description A National SCOPH project workshop is a meeting organized by National Public Health Officer (NPO, NOPH) or Coordinator just about particular SCOPH Project e.g. tobacco, alcohol, mental health. The time and duration depends mostly on NPO (usually one or two days). NPO needs to think of a place for the meeting, accommodation and other necessary things e.g. food.

The main goals to share ideas for one particular SCOPH project to inform about successes, progress to discuss public health problem to motivate each other and build a plan of action for next months of work to promote project and coordinators to integrate coordinators to build a team to create a new campaign or project or to develop that project trainings about e.g. time management, marketing, team building, problems solving

Tools Power Point presentations made by NPO and LPOs, Project Coordinators Short movies about projects or public health problems A general discussion in one big group Discussions in small groups Guest speakers, trainers

Promotion of a national SCOPH project workshop information on mailing lists, private messages, emails Facebook and other messengers

58

Advices See advices for a National SCOPH Session and a Session during a National GA Experts and guest speakers Try to invite many experts in that field. That will be really attractive for everyone and will help you to develop that project.

Don’t forget about some interesting training Try to find a topic for training which be related close to that project.

59

SCOPH Meetings

Meetings ummmm!!! In SCOPH meeting are essential to move forward, simply because every SCOPHians must be aware and updated about SCOPH’s work. The purpose of the meetings is bidirectional, for the members to know what SCOPH is, how it functions, what the projects are and what new events and projects are coming up, and for the officials to stay updated about what is going on, who needs help and how can they offer their experience.

Meetings in IFMSA in general and for SCOPH in specific are either during the GAs (General Assembly), Regional Meetings or online. So how are those meetings conducted and what are the benefits of attending them?

General Assembly During the General Assemblies held twice a year one in March and the other in August, there are set sessions for Standing Committees. During these sessions all the SCOPH members get a chance to meet each other and get introduced to SCOPH and get updated on its wor k. The session is usually run by the SCOPH Director, and he/she is helped by the regional assistants. Sessions are set so that the members get an introduction about SCOPH, updates about what have occurred since the last GA, new projects that have been established, projects that have been organized around the world, in addition to the talk of externals from WHO or other NGOs that relate to Public Health topics. SWG (Small Working Groups) time has a role in the meeting too and there are chances for the SCOPHians to work on projects and topic that matter to them.

Regional Meeting Each region organizes its own regional meeting annually, during which Standing committees meet.

Regional meeting have a greater role that GA SC sessions, simple because the regional meeting are set to meet the need of the members and to tackle their questions in a one to one matter. The agenda for the sessions are set based on what the members ask for, and during the session the Regional Assistant that runs the session tries to meet the demands of each NMO and set the basis of good communication between all NMOs. All Regional meetings are set so that new NMOs are welcomed and get introduced to SCOPH, its structure, goal and projects, in addition to NMO presentations and project presentations by the NMOs of the region that facilitates the exchange of ideas and thoughts between SCOPHians. SWG time targets Public Health topics that are of concern for the region and allows well established NMOs to pass their experience to the new welcomed families. Regional Meetings as the GAs have sessions where externals from WHO or other NGOs are invited to talk about a Public Health issue related to the region, and these session are usually of great benefit since they provide important information each health care provider should know to improve in the quality of services provided for the public.

60

Taking part in a Regional Meeting has a advantage for both new NMOs and old ones: For the new NMOs it is the 1st step to understand SCOPH’s work and a way to learn the best way to establish a good solid base for SCOPH. For the old NMOs, is the best way to be updated about the matters of the region, new established projects, train new members in the NMO and gain knowledge from the externals.

Online Meetings Online meetings are newly established for the NMO since earlier these meeting were only organized by the officials to talk about administrative issues. However; with the great dependence on internet and networking and the need for direct and personal communication between the NPOs and their Regional Assistants introducing such a way of communications makes SCOPH work easy.

Online meetings are organized and set depending on the members of each region and when is the best time for them and are run by the Regional Assistants. Don’t miss your online meetings, they are the best way to stay on track and get all the help and information you need.

61

Planning your SCOPH Project

Here are some steps in planning your SCOPH project: o Needs assessment o Set goals o Plan of Action o Detailed project plan o Getting relevant externals involved o Fundraising o Promotion of the project o Execution o Evaluate the project o Ensure sustainability o Report of the project

Needs assessment Identify the important public health issues in your community. Projects must always be chosen based on whether they are important or not and if they are relevant to the target population. Sometimes this needs assessment may involve getting relevant data from health sources. This is especially important when presenting a project to externals, you must be able to show that your project is needed and that benefit can be gained from it.

Set goals for the project Goals represent the idea and ideal of the project and what you would like to achieve both in the short and long term. The project must be clearly defined so that the scope of the project is known and understood.

Plan of Action The plan of action includes who your target population is and how you intend to reach them. The means of delivery must be suited to the population. For example formal medical lectures are probably not appropriate in a rural village.

62

Establish what your resources are in terms of time, funding, equipment, and human resources. Assign members to manage different aspects of the projects so they are actively involved in the planning stage. If they are a part of the planning process then you will get more ideas for the project and will get more support from your members. Allow them to choose which aspect of the project they are most equipped to and interested to assist with.

Detailed project plan This is where you do a step by step plan of how the project will be carried out. You should assign people to different tasks and ensure that their roles are well defined to avoid anything being neglected and double‐ assigned. It is important to remember the importance of delegating people to assist in the planning of the project. It is impossible for one person to be able to manage everything effectively on their own. Delegate responsibilities and monitor the progress of each section.

Externals Establish contact with other groups with particular interest in your project. They will be able to provide extra resources in the form of funding, human resources, and promotion.

Fundraising You must decide how you will raise funds for the project. This could be done through allowances granted through your NPO or University or through your own fundraising ventures. Be creative when coming up with fundraisers. A simple food or sticker sale, or a walkathon can help yield funds to start off a project.

Promotion Promote the project in your NMO, the University and the community. There are many ways of doing this, i.e. through flyers, posters, stickers, announcements etc. Ensure that your name or logo is on all promotional material. This helps to create a corporate image for you so that when people see or hear of you again, they will remember your past work.

Have the project After managing your well laid plans, comes the execution of your project. Good preplanning is important to ensure a smooth running of the project. Follow your plans for the events so as to not leave out important details or get flustered. However remember that even with the best planning things can always go wrong. It is important if this happens to remain cool and focused and be creative and flexible to manouevre through these problems.

As project coordinator it is very important to keep your members motivated. They look to you for guidance and support. If you fall apart at the slightest sign of trouble then your members may also lose

63

focus and the project could suffer. At stressful moments never hesitate to ask for help and never forget to delegate! Take a deep breath, review the plan and see what needs to be changed to suit the new situation. It is good to get input from others at this time so that you will receive new ideas and different approaches.

Evaluate the Project Once the project is completed it is important to consider the following: Were the objectives of the project met?

What difficulties were faced and how can you overcome them?

How can you improve the project?

How can you get more people involved in the project?

Evaluating is important so as to ensure that when next the project is undertaken we would have learned from the past experience and can pass on that knowledge to others.

Sustainability To ensure sustainability of the project you must monitor the effectiveness and progress of the project and monitor the use of resources. You should always look for ways to improve on what has been done in the past (again the importance of evaluating the project). It is also important to do a full report on the project so that project coordinators will have information from your experience to use in their plans and so that other groups interested in adopting your project will have a working model.

Reporting It is important to record what you have done and share it with others. Report everything that was planned, any challenges and recommendations. This will help garner more awareness to your group and more support for the project. If externals were involved then a report should be given to them and all support persons. It is also good to submit the report to your NPO and maybe your faculty so that they are always aware of your work.

In SCOPH all reports from LPOs should be sent to the NPOs, and then the NPOs should send reports to the regional assistants who will then report to the SCOPH Director.

64

SCOPH Activities

65

SCOPH Focus Days

While most SCOPH activities are yearlong there are some health days that we celebrate internationally.

These world health days are excellent opportunities for SCOPH to work together, on the same day, on the same project, internationally so that we can have a global impact!

Remember to always share your activities with us all through our yahoo group ifmsa‐ scoph@yahoogroups.com. By sharing with each other we can all learn from each other and improve the work we do.

October 1s t Oct ‐ International Day for Older Persons The United Nation’s International Day for Older Persons focuses on issues that affect older persons and the great contribution they make to our societies. SCOPH takes an active part in dealing with issues related to older people through its aging and health projects. For more information on geriatric medicine go to: iagg.com

10th Oct ‐ World Mental Health Day World Mental Health Day is an initiative under the World Federation for Mental Health. The day seeks to draw attention to and educate people on mental health issues. SCOPH supports this day particularly through our Mental Health Initiative Project. For more information visit: wfmh.org

November 14th Nov ‐ World Diabetes Day This is one of the most important days in our SCOPH calendar. This day is organized by the International Diabetes Federation. The aim of the day is the spread information about diabetes and a different theme is chosen for each year. Each year SCOPH has projects worldwide on this day and we are able to reach thousands of people to better educate them on diabetes. For more information see: worlddiabetesday.org

15th Nov ‐ World COPD Day This day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. The aim of the day is to better educate people about the disease and its management. For more information see: goldcopd.com

66

20th Nov ‐ Universal Children’s Day This day is coordinated by UNICEF. Every year activities are carried out to raise awareness to children’s issues and to improve their welfare. SCOPH carries out numerous projects related to child health. This day is a very special one in which we should all ne involved.

December 3rd Dec ‐ International Day of Persons with Disabilities This day highlights the issues faced by persons with disabilities and seeks to educate people on their rights. This is a particularly important day for SCOPH to get involved as we target this group of people that are too often forgotten.

January 30th Jan ‐ International Leprosy Day Leprosy, a very stigmatized disease, is thankfully decreasing in incidence. This is largely due to the use of multidrug therapy in the treatment of the condition. However unfortunately not everyone has been able to benefit from this. The major cause of this deficit is the lack of knowledge of many affected and at risk persons of the possibility of treatment. World leprosy day seeks to increase peoples knowledge of the management of leprosy, to decrease the stigma and allow for those affected to get the help they need.

SCOPH has a great role to play in this kind of campaign. We can help spread the word about the disease, to let people know it is a curable disease and the stigma associated is unwarranted.

February 4th Feb ‐ World Cancer Day This day raises awareness about cancers and how to prevent them. Since 2007 the International Union Against Cancer has adopted a 5 year campaign titled “Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World”, which focuses on preventing cancer with healthy lifestyles. The focus is on children as lifestyle habits adopted now will have an impact in later years. SCOPH has the opportunity to get involved and support this theme through our various activities. Every year we carry out projects to educate people on cancer and the risk factors, and we definitely intend to continue this tradition. For more information see: www.worldcancercampaign.org

Theme of the March Meeting

67

March

24th Mar ‐ World Tuberculosis Day Tuberculosis has for many people become a forgotten disease. What many of us do not realise is that this is still a particularly important disease that causes numerous deaths worldwide each year. Even more, with the increased prevalence of AIDS in our societies, tuberculosis has come again to the forefront.

World tuberculosis day seeks to increase public awareness of the disease. Through our educational campaigns, SCOPH can help to raise awareness. For more information see: stoptb.org

April 7th Apr ‐ World Health Day This event is sponsored yearly by the WHO and aims to increase awareness of a particular public health issue. A different theme is celebrated each year. SCOPH gets involved each year by supporting the chosen theme. For more information see: who.int/world‐health‐day

25th Apr ‐ World Malaria Day World Malaria Day seeks to educate people on this very serious disease. Persons are told about the effects of the disease and how to reduce the environmental risk factors for contracting it. Through SCOPH’s International Campaign On Malaria (ICOM) medical students can get involved in the fight against malaria. For more information see: www.rollbackmalaria.org/worldmalariaday

May 31st May ‐ World No‐Tobacco Day This celebration day seeks to educate people on the dangers of tobacco use and on what we can do to reduce tobacco related problems. SCOPH supports this day through our Anti‐Tobacco Campaign. For more information and campaign material see: www.who.int/tobacco/wntd

June 1st Jun ‐ International Children’s Day Children are so important that we celebrate two Children’s Days, International and Universal Children’s Day. Both days are geared towards promoting the rights and care of children worldwide.

14th Jun ‐ World Blood Donor Day World Blood Donor Day seeks to recognize those who have helped save lives by donating blood. It is also a great opportunity for us to promote blood donation so as to encourage past blood donors and attract new

68

ones. As medical students we can be very effective in promoting blood donation campaigns, especially given the niche of University students we are surrounded by. For more information see: wbdd.org

26th Jun ‐ International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking This day seeks to raise awareness of the negative effects that illicit drugs have on the individual, families, and the society at large. SCOPH can play an integral role in spreading this message amongst our peers, our elders, and children.

July Theme of the August Meeting

September

10th Sep ‐ World Suicide Prevention Day This day draws public attention to the many lives that are lost to suicide each year. It seeks to get everyone involved in the prevention of suicide. SCOPH gets involved in this campaign though our Mental Health Initiative Project. Activities include educating people on the warning signs for depression and suicide, and on where people can go for help. Visit this web site for more information: www.iasp.info/wspd

28th Sep ‐ World Heart Day This event, organized by the World Heart Federation, seeks to increase public awareness on the effects of cardiovascular disease, the risk factors and how to minimise them. Each year is celebrated under a different theme. SCOPH gets involved in this day through our various healthy lifestyle projects and especially through the Trans‐Obesity Network (TON) campaign. For more information see: www.world‐ heart‐federation.org/what‐we‐do

69

List of World Celebration Days

October 1st International Day for Older Persons ‐ (SCOPH & WHO LO) 1st Weekend WHO walk event ‐ (WHO LO & SCOPH) 2nd World Habitat Day ‐ (SCOPH involving SCORP & UNFPA LO) 10th World Mental Health Day – (SCOPH & WHO LO) 11th International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction ‐ (SCORP & SCOPH) 16th World Food Day ‐ (SCOPH involving WHO, UNFPA & UNICEF LO) 17th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty ‐ (SCOPH & WHO involving UNICEF & UNFPA LO)

November 14th World Diabetes Day ‐ (SCOPH & WHO LO) 25th International Day for Prevention of Violence Against Women ‐ (SCORA involving UNICEF LO & SCOPH)

December 1st World AIDS Day ‐ (SCORA involving UNICEF WHO & UNFPA LO & SCOPH) 3rd International Day for Disabled Persons ‐ (SCOPH involving WHO & UNICEF LO) 5th International Volunteers Day ‐ (UNESCO LO) 10th World Human Rights Day ‐ (SCORP involving SCOPH)

January 30th International Leprosy Day ‐ (SCOPH involving WHO LO)

March 8th International Women's Day (SCORA with UNFPA & UNICEF LO) 22nd World Day of Water ‐ (SCOPH, SCORP involving UNFPA, UNICEF & WHO LO) 24th World Tuberculosis Day ‐ (SCOPH with WHO LO)

April 7th World Health Day (WHO LO with SCOPH)

70

13th World Day of the Book ‐ (UNESCO with SCOME) 22nd Earth Day ‐ (SCOPH) 25th International Malaria Day ‐ (SCOPH, UNICEF, WHO)

May 15th International Day of Families ‐ (UNFPA & UNICEF LO involving SCORP & SCOPH) 28th International Day of Action for Women's Health ‐ (SCORA & SCOPH involving WHO, UNICEF LO) 31st World No‐Tobacco Day ‐ (SCOPH with WHO LO)

June 1st International Children's Day ‐ (UNICEF LO involving SCOPH) 1‐7th International Volunteers' Week (UNESCO LO) 5th World Environment Week ‐ (SCOPH with WHO LO) 14th World Blood Donor Day 17th World Desertification Day ‐ (SCOPH involving WHO LO) 26th Int. Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking ‐ (SCOPH, SCORA involving WHO & UNICEF LO) 26th International Day for Victims of Torture ‐ (SCORP)

July 11th World Population Day ‐ (UNFPA LO)

August 1‐7th World Breast Feeding Week ‐ (UNICEF LO involving SCOPH & UNFPA LO) 6th Hiroshima Day ‐ (IPPNW LO)

September 8th International Physiotherapy Day ‐ (SCOPH) 8th International Literacy Day ‐ (UNESCO involving SCOME) 19th International Day of Peace ‐ (SCORP & IPPNW) 21st World Alzheimer’s Day ‐ (SCOPH & WHO) 28th World Heart Day ‐ (SCOPH & WHO)

71

World Public Health Conferences 2009

January 2009 22nd Netherlands Heart Days ‐ Willemstad, Curacao, Dutch Caribbean, Netherlands Antilles

February 2009 24th Biomedical Approaches to HIV/AIDS Prevention ‐ San Francisco, California 27th 2009 Faculty Student Multidiscipline Global Conference – Churchill, Australia

March 2009 02nd 4th Regional Pneumococcal Symposium – Johannesburg, South Africa 03rd IFMSA March Meeting – Hammamet, Tunisia 10th Lifestyle Strategies for Prevention and Intervention: Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes ‐ Loma Linda 25th 7th European HIV Drug Resistance Workshop – Stockholm, Sweden 25th 17th UKPHA Annual Public Health Forum – Brighton, United Kingdom

April 2009 19th Harm Reduction 2009: IHRA's 20th International Conference – Bangkok, Thailand 21st World Drug Safety Congress Americas 2009 ‐ Washington DC, Washington 26th International Students’ Meeting on Public Health – Istanbul, Turkey 27th 12th World Public Health Congress – Istanbul, Turkey

May 2009 01st 18th Annual HIV Conference of the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center ‐ Florida 06 17th European Congress on Obesity ‐ Amsterdam, The Netherlands 03rd 12th World Congress on Cancer of the Skin 2009 ‐ Tel‐Aviv, Israel 08th 25th International Papillomavirus Conference ‐ Malmö, Sweden 12th 16th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine ‐ Victoria, Canada 14th Heart Foundation Conference 2009 'Hearts in Focus : Celebration, Collaboration and Challenges' – Brisbane, Australia 15th American Conference for the Treatment of HIV (ACTHIV) – Denver, Colorado 17th NeisseriaVaccines2009, International Workshop on Neisseria Vaccines – Varadero, Cuba 17th Physicians Week 2009 – Sydney, Australia 18th Occupational Health and Safety Forum ‐ Dubai, United Arab Emirates 28th Epidémiologie sociale et inégalités de santé – Toulouse, France

June 2009

72

07th Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology 2009 Annual Conference Ft.‐ Lauderdale, Finland 17th ESPNIC ‐ European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care – Verona, Italy

July 2009 17th Discovering Openness in Health Systems metro ‐ Washington DC, Distric of Columbia 20th 16th International Meeting of the Psychometric Society ‐ Cambridge, United Kingdom

August 2009 IFMSA August Meeting – location to be confirmed

September 2009 02nd Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth Conference 2009 – Melbourne, Australia 04th Breastfeeding: A Key Public Health Issue ‐ Canberra, Australia 09th Second ENSEC Conference: Promoting Social and Emotional Education in Children and in Young Persons ‐ Izmir, Turkey 23rd Disaster Management 2009 ‐ New Forest, United Kingdom

October 2009 11th 8th International Congress on Coronary Artery Disease ‐ ICCAD 2009 – Prague, Czech Republic 13th Legionella 2009 – Paris, France 14th Fifth International SIVUS Conference on Mental Retardation – Dhaka, Bangladesh 20th International Conference in Modeling Health Advances 2009 ‐ San Francisco, California 28th International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH) 9th World Congress ‐ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

73

SCOPH Projects

74

Majority of activities of SCOPH are carried through the SCOPH Projects. They are the backbone of SCOPH activities and serve as an excellent forum for SCOPHians to be involved. Hence, in the following pages, the Development Assistants for Projects (Louise and Chris) and their team have put up a tremendous effort to give you an overview of the projects active in SCOPH. Get involved in a project of your interest!!

Projects

75

IFMSA Campaign on Malaria (ICOM)

About 40% of the world’s population, mostly those living in the poorest countries are at risk of acquiring malaria. Furthermore, every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, 500, 000, 000 are infected every year and more than 1, 000, 000 die. The response of the IFMSA is called – ICOM: IFMSA Campaign on Malaria!

This is an umbrella project, which consists of different activities within your own local committees. This article tries to introduce you to some of them in order to get ideas for your own activities to tackle Malaria!

What do we want to achieve Education on nets (prevention), symptoms (seek a doctor), medication and to medical students.

Educate the society in the affected areas concerning the use of nets against mosquitoes, concerning the symptoms of having malaria to seek a doctor early and in raising awareness for the availability of effective medication (may be free).

Raise awareness and the knowledge of medical students worldwide concerning Malaria. To train us as future physicians to play an active role through advocacy and through treating and preventing this disease.

In order to achieve these goals we need to get active on the local level – let’s organize activities on the World Malaria Day, 25th of April!

World Swim against Malaria (www.worldswimagainstmalaria.com) The biggest swim event of the world can also be a big event for the IFMSA. It raises the worldwide awareness concerning malaria and puts pressure on our politicians as well as simply being fun. It is also a fundraising event with 100% of the funds being used to buy nets ‐ one net costs just $5 and just 8 nets save a life statistically!

Health Education Campaign Our main goal should be to raise the awareness and to educate society concerning the symptoms, the treatment and possible prevention of this disease. This can be done through educating kids and teens through educational games e.g. competitions on drawing, short stories or even poems or to create posters and flyers to spread your malaria messages to the general society.

Bite Back The Malaria project consists of 3 steps. As students complete each activity, they will receive a wristband – one will say “B” for believing, another “U” for understanding, and the final one will have a “G” for giving – spelling out “BUG.”

76

B: The campus community is encouraged to sign a petition to show its concern over malaria.

U: Increasing awareness is the key. Movies about malaria are shown and health information distributed.

G: A donation campaign “Send Nets to Save Lives” is raised. It only costs $10 to provide an insecticide‐ treated bed net that can prevent this deadly disease.

Peer Education Training – TMT (Train Malaria Trainers) An active training session at previous preGAs, which can also take place in your country! Create a peer education network by training medical students with the skills needed to act out interventions for the community or to educate other medical students on Malaria.

Anti-Tuberculosis Initiative Project (Anti-TB IP) Many names are given to the monster – tuberculosis pathogen, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) admitted 2 billion of world population has been exposed to. Thus TB is one of the most virulent diseases worldwide. In the 20th century, tuberculosis killed an estimated 100 million people. Hopes that the disease could be completely eliminated have been dashed since the rise of drug resistant strains and the resurgence of tuberculosis has resulted in the declaration of a global health emergency by the WHO in 1993.

Annually, 8 million people become infected with tuberculosis, and 2 million people die from the disease worldwide. The annual incidence rate varies from 356 per 100,000 in Africa to 41 per 100,000 in the Americas. Tuberculosis is the world's greatest infectious killer of women of reproductive age and the leading cause of death among people with HIV/AIDS. According to Stop TB Partnership which the IFMSA is member of, there are 20 countries that represent 80% of all TB cases and represent much of Asia, Africa and South Pacific countries such as Thailand and the Philippines. Within the last few decades Europe & America have also shown a resurgence of TB and it has been strongly correlated with HIV/AIDS co‐infections.

What can medical students do effectively?

Medical students play a main role towards their society by raising awareness about Malaria to the general public, high‐risk groups and their non‐medical student colleagues inside their universities. This is highly effective and represents the real power of medical students. The prevention of the disease is the most powerful tool regarding disease control and eradication of TB. So what can you do?

77

Organise an awareness‐campaign.

Tell people more about early symptoms like coughing and about ways to prevent and to treat TB. Use posters, leaflets and flyers and try to get more attention by asking the TV or newspapers to report your activities.

Advocate against TB. Demand attention and speak as the voice of medical students. Collect signatures and write a statement to put pressure on your Ministry of Health and government to take action against Malaria.

Be active on the World TB Day. It is celebrated on the 24th of March within IFMSA and all over the world. Share your plans and ideas with SCOPHians all over the world by sending emails to the SCOPH Yahoo‐Group.

Tobacco Initiative Project (TIP) In the 21st Century 1, 000, 000, 000 people [WHO] will die because of tobacco, 10% of them because of second‐hand smoke. This is the population of China, India, the whole Africa and more than the United States and European Union (EU) put together! The IFMSA can and should play an important role within the fight against this disaster. What we can do best is to get the attention of the general public, to educate our society, to strengthen the image of being a non‐smoker and to advocate for adequate health care policies against tobacco use.

We have different kinds of activities in IFMSA to achieve these goals and they are combined under the umbrella of the Tobacco Initiative Project (TIP). You can also use some of these projects and activities presented in this article in your own local committee.

Smoke‐free Party.

It’s a party, it is fun and it is serious: second‐hand smoke is deadly and one of the most underestimated risk factors for preventable diseases. In the EU alone, 80, 000 people are dying every year because of second‐hand smoke [WHO]. This activity can raise awareness especially for this risk factor. Furthermore, it can help raise our voices for the creation of health care policies like smoke‐free pubs and discotheques AND it can strengthen the image of being a non‐smoker effectively. Just look for a discotheque and the owner will be happy if you want to organise a party for him. Just create posters and flyers and that’s it!

78

Smoking‐ologist This transnational project is integrating the concept of role‐play simulation in its activities. The participants will reflect on the role profile of a doctor who is a smoker (Smoking‐ologist) in an artificial social setting where smoking is a medical specialty (Smoking‐ology), implying that the smoker doctor promotes smoking. Such a concept will expose the participants to first‐person experiences of personalities, motivations and backgrounds of doctors who are smokers.

Peer Education & Advocacy The idea is to train medical students to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to make interventions at high schools and universities and furthermore, to train other medical students who are the next generation of doctors. One step is the EuToCom (European Tobacco Control Meeting) of the IFMSA, sponsored by the EU. Collect signatures in order to hand them over to your Ministry of Health; signatures from medical students, by the general public – simply as many as you can, or a symbolic number.

Smoke‐free National Assembly This might be the easiest way to raise awareness concerning second‐hand smoke. Be the one who proposes this bylaw change at your next national meeting!

Join our Group! Visit: smokefreeparty-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or Email: tip@ifmsa.org/scophd@ifmsa.org

Transnational Obesity Network (TON) – Keep on Balance!

Today we do not need to convince anyone that overweight children and obesity is a global epidemic. What seemed for over fifteen years to be a problem of rich and lazy societies, has recently turned out to be even more dangerous for the whole world.

Nowadays, thanks to WHO researches we know how it could be possible that these symptoms of an ill society could develop under so many different circumstances.

Natural History ‐ revolution killed evolution The process of deep and social transformations due to economical and cultural globalization is no doubt a huge achievement of modern civilization. People all around the globe can enjoy successes of technology and engineering. Forget about the dark, almost medieval past – shamanism, poor nutrition and infectious diseases. Unfortunately traditional medical knowledge, as well as simple common sense is lost much faster than new systems are developed. Building fast food restaurant chains is a lot easier and appreciated more by poorly educated societies than the establishment of a diabetes mellitus or neoplasm screening program.

79

Mission: children are future of the world!

The 2005 WHO report clearly confronts us with a horrific situation! Chronic diseases such as stroke, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, were responsible for 35 million deaths worldwide. In developing countries almost 30% of children are overweight or obese. In the United States of America and most of the European Union the present situation is even more dreadful, with obesity rates above 40%! Excessive, culturally accepted smoking, poor diet composed of highly processed food and low economic standard of living take a heavy toll with 80% of chronic diseases occurring in middle and low income countries. Obese children have doubled the chance of developing severe vascular problems or diabetes mellitus in adult life. If we correlate this data our future looks gloomy and terrifying. Unless worldwide action is taken we will witness an apocalypse that we have made for ourselves...

Action! Together we can make a difference…

Chronic diseases have been tackled by the IFMSA Standing Committee on Public Health for many years. In the year 2004 during the PreGA in Zlatibor ‐ Serbia, a group of motivated students took part in the ‘Global burden on Chronic Diseases’ workshop. After careful analysis of risk factors and the current global situation it was decided to start an international initiative. Since this time, constant work has taken place and finally in 2008 we could proudly announce the creation of the Transnational Obesity Network (TON).

You will never walk alone!

In many NMO’s medical students have been trying to tackle the danger hanging upon children and young adults in their societies. In some countries they have had spectacular successes, while in other they stumble in darkness. International cooperation was the chance to equalize these efforts and maximise the results. The aim of this project is to unite global efforts in the promotion of healthy lifestyles. TON will soon play the role of a platform for sharing ideas, educating local health leaders and cooperating actions in regions. Everyone interested in the topic will have an opportunity to find out new ways of getting through to endangered people, especially children. Constant work, peer‐education and an exchange of resources is our only chance to reduce risk factors and educate young people how to live a healthy life.

Life without disabilities, diabetes, vascular diseases, a world in which premature death and social tragedies are replaced by physical activity and a balanced life style! Do you want to join us? Together we can make a difference!

80

Smile X

Hello there, IFMSA folks! We are proud to introduce to you “Smile X”, the craziest project of our association!

Smile X is a project that gives medical students the opportunity to be in contact with the most beautiful kind of medicine: the clown‐therapy. Inspired by doctors like Patch Adams and Dr. Marc Christensen, Smile X is a transnational project that was created in Italy and that now exists in 4 countries. After a hard learning process on clown techniques, medical students visit paediatric wards in order to try to establish a joyful relationship with the little patients. In general the clowns are divided into pairs and dressed up with the famous red noses. They develop games, gags and music presentations with the children, although the hospital’s dynamics are always respected.

Our aims are to create a less stressed atmosphere inside our hospitals, giving children back their playful and spontaneous universe of childhood that may be lost with the admission. Moreover, we try to offer medical students tools and techniques to approach our patients in a friendlier way, which will eventually make medical treatment more comfortable for both patients and ourselves. Smile‐X is about organizing clown therapy courses for medical students (held by doctors and students), creating a network to exchange all our experiences and to promote our idea of a harmonic doctor‐patient relationship. Our goal is not become clown doctors for the rest of our lives. We also do not think that all of us, once graduated will carry a red nose in their coat. What we really want to learn is how we can be better doctors and how we can be closer to patients’ problems!

Paint your nose and come to play with us. Become a clown‐therapist too! To join us, or to get more information, please contact project.smile@yahoo.com! Our team will be glad to talk to you and believe me... I'm not joking this time ☺.

81

Teddy Bear under Christmas Tree

“Santa is here!” – looking out through the patient rooms’ door the children are shouting with disbelief and happiness. Santa and his helpers are visiting them, singing carols and distributing gifts. For this moment the children and their parents are able to forget about their illnesses and fears and they can simply rejoice in the Christmas atmosphere even in a hospital setting.

This is the reason why every year more and more medical students and local committees of IFMSA‐Poland join the project “Teddy Bear under Christmas Tree” ‐ the initiative, which aims to bring happiness to children who have to stay in hospital over Christmas. The project attracts medical students and gives them the opportunity to learn how to interact with hospitalized children and to gain experience in organizing charity events, which include parties, lotteries, movie evenings and concerts. All of these help to collect money to buy the gifts for the little ones. The students involved in the activities experience great satisfaction and assure us of taking part again next year, always considering their work as a great success for the families, themselves and their local committees. Doctors, media and parents are impressed by the initiative and look forward to supporting us in the project. “Teddy Bear under Christmas tree” won the 1st prize in the category "The Best Presentation" in the Projects Presentations sessions during the 57th General Assembly of the IFMSA in Ochio Rios‐Jamaica.

You can also join Santa’s team!

Please contact: aleksandra.herbowska@gmail.com npo@ifmsa.pl

82

Teddy Bear Hospital

The Teddy Bear Hospital must be one of the most playful projects run by medical students because it is so popular within SCOPH of the IFMSA and within the European Medical Students Association – EMSA! Let’s see: “Hospital for Teddy Bears”? Sounds weird? The idea behind is quite simple in fact! We aim to introduce the clinical examination to children aged between 4‐6 in a playful way in order to reduce their fears and at the same time provide an opportunity for medical students to learn more about pediatrics and interaction with children.

Let the magic begin, children become parents and teddy bears their ill little ones! Through their own personal toy and without the stress of being the patient children come in contact with the hospital scenery. Parallel to this, through the role of parents children feel safe and interested in what is going on in front of them. They learn how to be responsible and realise that visiting a doctor is not something they should be afraid of.

And the game starts! Does your belly hurt? We should give you a little of this fantastic syrup “Strawberrex”. Is your Teddy sick because of too much chocolate? Daddy’s kiss was not enough to make it feel better? Don’t worry our doctors are there to help you! The teddy‐doc’s must face poisons, broken tails and beaks but through using their imagination they always manage to apply the right treatment!

In the end, children feel so comfortable with us, that they start asking us questions about auscultating their own hearts, taking pride in the fact that “they are not afraid of doctors”! When we ask them what they want to become when they grow up we love getting the answer, “DOCTOR!!!” The procedure shown above is just the main concept, since medical students in different countries have adjusted this to their needs, circumstances and limitations as well as course ideas!

It is therefore not coincidental that more than 30 National Member Organisation’s (NMO’s) have chosen to run this project and that thousands of children play with us each year. It’s such a simple and attractive idea and importantly it has to do with children, our future. ‐ Public Health without prevention is just not an option!

83

Community Support

“A community is a group of people that share common elements: language, customs, values, geographical situation, roles, and so on. One of the main goals in a community is to follow the same objective”

The medical students are the voice, the communicators and the people that are closest to the community. We are the people who have the time and the enthusiasm to contribute actively for our communities, can prove that we as future medical doctors can have a positive impact on our environment and that in the end, all our efforts are definitely worth it.

We as medical students are often confronted with pain, suffering and sorrow but we also see joy and gratefulness. We can see how patients have doubts about their health and sometimes because of the lack of time they sometimes do not get satisfactory answers from our attending professors.

Our main objectives are: Offer patients easy access to information about their diseases.

Provide information about common and avoidable illnesses and their drug management.

Help to identify situations that can threat the patients’ health and promote a healthy lifestyle.

The community support project can be set up by creating and coordinating groups that are able to work in the communities’ primary attention centers. Within group discussion or one‐to‐one consultancies all people from the community have the chance to ask questions. During the whole day students will try to clarify all the doubts in the best way possible, keeping up the quality of primary care attention.

The amount of people you can reach in one setting can be set according to the quantity of medical students involved, keeping a 1:10 ratio. This way the students will be able to speak to 2 or 3 persons at the same time, trying to keep the conversation as interesting and dynamic as possible. All students can participate in this project even those at the beginning of their medical careers.

Also physicians and all people interested in basic health knowledge can get involved in specific activities.

With this project not only the community wins but also all involved students because their medical skills will be tested; they will see themselves confronted with unexpected situations since every patient has different questions, even different ways of focusing and describing the same problem.

The community support project allows the establishment of strong relations between public and private entities and the students, eventually facilitating the coordination of actions and making the planning of activities easier and quicker. Additionally, students will be prepared to act faster during crisis and tragedies in communities, giving their best and most efficient attention.

84

National Health Week

Presently the National Health Week is being organised mainly in African National Member Organisation’s (NMO’s). It is the most effective project we’ve ever seen in IFMSA to reach and educate our communities.

The project in Ghana is already celebrating its 40th birthday and this year they reached around 2, 000, 000 (!) people in rural areas to teach them about health. The impact of this project is magnificent and even harder to imagine. There is no other single activity within IFMSA, which is comparable – and it can also become reality in your country…

But how is it possible?

The idea is to coordinate all medical students of a faculty or even all national medical students to visit the rural areas of the country. They get a week off by their dean to attend this project and are sent by a hired bus to all parts of the country. Teams of 2 – 3 students spend a few days or up to a week in one region of the country. The local doctor organises their accommodation and food and the possibilities to reach as many people as possible. They approach people at the church, the market or at faculties, talking to them about one common topic, e.g. healthy lifestyle or maternal health.

In all, two million people are reached in Ghana every year. This number might seem completely unrealistic to you but I have seen it with my own eyes when I joined the National Health Week of Ghana two years ago. A few hundred teams of medical students spread all over the country ‐ my own team which consisted of 3 people reached at least one or two thousand people during this week. And this happens just in Ghana, a relatively small country with 3 medical schools ‐ in Nigeria 28 medical schools organise projects like these … think of the potential!

How to start a National Health Week?

If you want to use this project idea to promote public health in your country you have to consider three things: availability and transport of students and the local community.

Availability In Ghana medical students are supported by their government and every medical student has one week off to join this event. For the beginning you can also start with one school which means you will have to contact your Dean to ask for one week off or at least for one day.

Transport The medical students can be sent by bus to different areas of your country or your region. You can look for money from the government, university, a sponsor or share the costs amongst participating students.

85

Local Community You have to think about what is the best way to approach the locals. To make this possible you will need to get in contact with the local doctor or the traditional chief of this area/village. They will need to organise accommodation and food for the students and arrange meetings at the church, market, schools, and faculties and wherever else you can approach lots of people.

This is a unique project in IFMSA. It pushes the idea of being ‘effective’ to its limit and the organising countries can be more than proud of it. Every NMO of IFMSA should think about how to adapt this project idea to its own countries needs, it’s a fantastic concept which can be organised all over the world – also in your NMO.

Contact scophd@ifmsa.org for further information.

Marrow

Every year, thousands of people worldwide with blood born diseases such as leukaemia reach a stage in their illness where their only chance of survival is through a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

Unfortunately, only about 30% of patients have access to a Human Leucocyte Antigen identical sibling, and so 70% will need an unrelated donor for a bone marrow transplant to become a viable option. A database called ‘Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide’ (BMDW) is an amalgamation of all the unrelated bone marrow registers throughout the world and comprises of a list of people willing to donate stem cells. However, despite amalgamating all of the world’s registers, there are just 11 million potential donors on BMDW (compared with a world population of approximately 6 billion).

Marrow was inspired by Karen Morris, a student who suffered from Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. Karen had a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor but sadly she died post‐transplant in September 1998. Despite this, Karen’s spirit continued to inspire others to work towards saving lives. One of those inspired individuals was a previous close friend, James Kustow, a medical student from Nottingham University. Driven by Karen’s strength and determination he realized that as a medical student, he had access to many young people who, he felt, may wish to help save lives. From this simple analogy, James Kustow founded Marrow in honour of Karen and it gives us great pleasure to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year and we have now grown to exist in over 30 medical schools across the UK.

86

Marrow is a volunteer student organisation whose ultimate aim is to give every student the opportunity to join the bone marrow register. In the UK Marrow works in association with the UK’s largest national bone marrow register, The Anthony Nolan Trust (ANT) charity, who is recognised by the WHO as part of the international bone marrow and stem cell register ‐ BMDW. Today, we contribute over 25% of the potential donors recruited to ANT bone marrow register and fundraise over £45 000 annually for the trust.

We have even gone on to inspire international Marrow groups in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Austria. Furthermore, last year Marrow was awarded with the Rex Crossley ‘Best International Project 2008’.

Marrow helps to take back lives from leukaemia by organising donor recruitment clinics in universities across the world and by raising the charitable funds needed for these lifesaving activities. Students run the entire clinic, from welcoming others to counseling potential donors and taking their blood samples for tissue typing. Each Marrow within a country is then, like the UK, linked to a national bone marrow or blood donation organization that carry out the tissue typing and take over the care of potential donors.

If you are interested in starting Marrow in your country of residence then please contact marrow@medsin.org. You may also sign up to the UK’s Marrow central at www.marrowcentral.co.uk to gain further insight to the world of Marrow.

Organ Donation

O

Have you ever given any thought about how many people are on waiting lists for an organ transplant, how many transplants are actually done in a year or sadly how many of those waiting, died waiting? Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are waiting for an organ transplant, and thousands die every day waiting...

With the development of new biomedical technologies, organ transplantation has become a widely accepted procedure, and a technologically accessible practice in almost all major medical centers.

However, people are still unaware of the process of organ and tissue donation and transplant, of its ethical and religious implications, and of its importance in saving lives.

87

Medical students should take the initiative, and launch a campaign to promote organ and tissue donation through educating medical students and other students in our countries about the topic, and emphasizing the importance of this act, leading to its acceptance. In other words, we believe that by raising public awareness on the importance of organ and tissue donation, we can encourage people to list themselves as potential organ donors. The campaign also comprises of lectures, round table discussions and assuring an interdisciplinary approach to the issue of organ donation.

In 2005 this project was restructured, and applied for the transnational status at the IFMSA’s August Meeting (AM) in Egypt. The project received final recognition as an IFMSA transnational project in March Meeting (MM) 2006 in Chile, and at the same General Assembly (GA) was awarded the best ‘IFMSA Educational Project’. In April 2006 the first seminar on Organ Donation and Transplantation for Medical Students, held in Split, Croatia, was organised. The seminar was attended by a majority of medical students, but also by physicians and patients who had had an organ transplant. During the seminar, cooperation with Euro Transplant International Foundation, Croatian Donor Network, Donor Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Croatia and a number of governmental and non‐governmental organizations were established.

Since then, educational activity has included a pre‐GA workshop on organ donation and transplantation prior to the AM2006 in Serbia and all National Member Organisation’s (NMO’s) participating in the project are constantly organizing different types of local educational and promotional campaigns. In December 2006 petitions were organized in Serbia whereby members of IFMSA Serbia who worked on the project Organ Donation and Transplantation, collected signatures from citizens on several very busy places all around town. Melhim Bou Alwan, the 2007 coordinator of the IFMSA transnational Organ Donation project organised a very big and successful seminar on Organ Donation and Transplantation in April 2007, Lebanon, and last year Goran Mijaljica, 2005‐2006 coordinator of the IFMSA transnational Organ Donation project, gave his take on organ donation at the European Regional Meeting of the IFMSA in Brijuni. We intend to provide seminars in 2009 and more information will be available in the next few months.

The application process for participation in the Organ Donation Project is quite simple – please contact the current project coordinators, penelopa777@yahoo.com and markojovic10@yahoo.com to get the necessary information.

88

Global Health What is Global Health and Why is it important?

Global health is a broad subject that looks at the local, national and international determinants of health and healthcare delivery. Global Health assesses the wider influences of health such as poverty, debt, globalization, healthcare financing, human rights, famine, environment, violent conflict and the movement of populations. It draws from a number of disciplines including politics, economics, sociology, demography, anthropology, epidemiology and philosophy.

It is thought that students who have studied global health are better equipped to understand root causes in addition to the clinical manifestations of ill health. Global health education in your medical curriculum or through involvement in extra‐curricular projects such as the one’s featured in this booklet, helps to foster a generation of health professionals who are committed to health for all, as enshrined at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Alma‐Ata, in 1978. We see health professionals as having a commitment not only to their patients but also to the health of international society as a whole.

The growing number of health professionals who are committed to global health equity can form a powerful group of advocates for health for all.

Globalization is changing the structure of societies and the way in which decisions about health are taken. Many societies are becoming more multicultural, and an appreciation of global health helps medical students to understand both the reasons for increased population movement and the social, economic and cultural factors underlying patients' ill health. Furthermore, decisions about health and healthcare are also increasingly influenced through global trade agreements such as TRIPS and GATS, and it is important for health professionals to understand the influence of such global policies on their work.

If you are interested in finding out more about global health activities within the IFMSA, please email thinkglobal@ifmsa.org.

89

EQUIP “SCOPH’s REMEDY to medical supply disparities”

Do you live in a country where hospitals use the most advanced medical technology or one where hospitals lack basic equipment? Either way, check out EQUIP: IFMSA’s new transnational effort to engage students in medical supply collection and redistribution (www.amsa.org/cph/equip.cfm).

EQUIP Goals: Based on 3 E’s: Environmental benefit, global health Equity, and cost‐Effectiveness, EQUIP aims to:

1) Increase awareness of medical surplus amongst IFMSA members.

2) Increase the number of equipment recovery programs in clinical facilities in developed countries.

3) Maximize the utilization of donated supplies in developing countries.

EQUIP Motivation: Each year, thousands of tons of usable medical supplies valued at $200 million are discarded from United States (US) hospitals alone. This tremendous amount of waste negatively impacts not only the environment through landfill use, but health care budgets through expensive regulated waste disposal.

Conversely, clinical facilities in developing countries face daily challenges meeting their medical supply needs. The most needed supplies include gloves, sutures, drapes, gauze, syringes, beds, IV tubing, catheters, sponges and dressings. While US regulations prohibit the reuse of surgical supplies domestically, many of these materials are readily reusable and receivable for oversea use.

Working with REMEDY: AMSA‐USA has partnered with REMEDY (Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World), a not‐ for‐profit organization that trains hospitals to develop supply recovery models (www.remedyinc.org).

Operating room staff are trained to save certain exposed‐but‐unused surgical supplies that will be sorted, sterilized, resorted and eventually distributed to clinical facilities in resource‐poor countries. Med‐Eq, a branch of REMEDY, is the “eBay” of surplus charitable medical supplies where donors and recipients can exchange goods (www.med-eq.org).

90

EQUIP Progress: Since EQUIP’s 2008 launch, over two dozen AMSA‐USA chapters have expressed interest in starting recovery programs at their local hospitals and have received teaching packets from REMEDY. Lessons learned from this pilot project phase will be shared with SCOPH and other National Member Organisations at future IFMSA General Assemblies’. The more students that take initiative, the more supplies will be recovered, redistributed, and reused!

Get involved!

If you live in a country with surplus supplies: Volunteer to help if your hospital has a recovery program.

Start a recovery program if your local hospital does not have one.

Transport donated supplies when you go on international exchanges.

Encourage your hospital to join Med‐Eq. Spread the word and write to local media about medical surplus.

If you live in a country lacking supplies: Identify the most needed supplies at your clinic.

Connect with international charities that distribute supplies.

Ask international exchange students to bring needed supplies.

Conduct utilization studies of the donated supplies.

Spread the word and write to international media about your supply needs.

Please tell us what you decide to do so that we can help (npo@ifmsa-usa.org). Thank you for making a difference!

91

Crossing Borders

Crossing Borders is a network of healthcare students whose mission is to remove barriers to healthcare for refugees and asylum seekers. By educating future healthcare professionals, campaigning for policy change and running voluntary projects we hope to realise our belief that refugees and asylum seekers should receive the highest standard of healthcare irrespective of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or immigration status.

Education and Projects: We want to educate medical and healthcare students about refugee and asylum seeker health needs, thus creating a cohort of future health professionals who will be well prepared to provide high quality care that meets their needs. What have we done? Educational resources about refugee and asylum seeker health issues have been compiled into a DVD called Refugee Health Resource Pack and have been distributed to universities across the country to those who are interested in including this as part of the medical school curriculum. We submitted a motion to the British Medical Association Medical Students Conference 2009 to make it compulsory for refugee and asylum seekers’ healthcare issues to be included in the core curriculum in medical schools.

Through local and national projects we seek to improve the health and healthcare of refugee and asylum seekers through projects with local communities and organisations. Through practical engagement in these projects we also aim to inspire and educate our volunteers about refugee and asylum seeker health issues. In addition, we support campaigns such as “Defend Primary Healthcare” against the government’s denial of healthcare to failed asylum seekers. Cross borders and join us! Contact: crossingborders@medsin.org

92

International Students’ Network on Ageing and Health (ISNAH)

The idea of the ISNAH project was first raised in 2000 as a result of an international meeting on Ageing in Porto. ISNAH is like an umbrella that pays attention to the elderly, trying to create awareness within medical students, doctors and the general population. The project is also called “Transversal to IFMSA Standing Committees” as it involves all Standing Committees.

Information dissemination: This focuses on promoting awareness among health care professionals on global population ageing and special needs of the elderly as well as their rights and sexuality by a website, surveys and formative sessions. Furthermore, our goal is to offer professional and research exchanges to students.

Curriculum Development: Despite the ongoing ageing of the population, basic geriatric training does not exist in all the medical faculties around the world. Thus we need to demonstrate this deficiency and furthermore, participate in the development of the need of curricula changes.

Are you thinking about joining ISNAH? All we need is your name as the coordinator of ISNAH in your National Member Organisation, to be in contact and to work with you. You can also get an insight into what ISNAH is at: http://www.mediaweb-site.com/isnah/. Hope to see you soon and involved in ISNAH!

Mental Health Initiative Project (MHIP)

Mental health receives increasingly more attention in the field of global health. Recently, The Lancet published a series of articles that urge global health stakeholders (government, decision maker, policy makers, professionals etc.) to increase and to expand the coverage of services for mental health disorders worldwide. Growing from this global momentum for mental health, the Mental Health Initiative Project (MHIP) was born during the Jamaica 2008 August Meeting. The MHIP is a small working group that operates within the SCOPH. It endeavors to promote education among medical students on mental health issues and to promote student‐led Mental Health projects at a local and international level.

As a rule, the MHIP aims to debunk common myths about mental health and combat the stigmatization of people suffering from mental illnesses. We also recognize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach; psychiatrists, psychologists but also community workers, nurses, general practitioners and researchers are equally important when dealing with mental health issues. While mental health remains a neglected aspect of the global health agenda,

93

MHIP’s action strives to promote equitable access to mental health resources, especially in middle‐ and low‐income settings.

Many mental health projects are budding in every country. The MHIP aims to rally all NMOs with mental health activities. In the near future we will provide a platform that will enable medical students to network and share their ideas. As more and more countries from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds join this initiative, it will become increasingly important to stress the cultural influence on many mental health aspects.

What’s next for the MHIP? It animated working groups in regional meeting in January, building the momentum for the next general assembly in March. A survey run for the March Meeting theme event revealed that the interest for mental health issues ranked highest. The MHIP will stress the psychological consequences of conflicts by holding an interactive lecture on post‐traumatic stress disorders.

In sum, the MHIP objectives are clear: at an international level it creates a students’ network and educates future physicians on the global importance of mental health issues and at a local level it promotes activities that consolidate public health perspectives in mental health. This task has never been more relevant, for there is a strong evidenced‐based set of actions recommended and proven cost‐effective to alleviate the burden of mental disorders.

You can join the MHIP by visiting our yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ifmsa-mhip

Eating Disorders Project Ludwig Feuerbach once said: "Man is what he eats". We wanted to prove him wrong! That is how our polish project Eating Disorders began because not a single person who suffers from eating disorders ‐ albeit against the general publics’ beliefs that the majority of sufferers eat nothing ‐ is “zero”! Almost everyone in today’s world is threatened by bulimia and anorexia. Through meetings with school pupils in secondary schools and using peer education tools we try to educate school children on significant but non‐scientific information on how to avoid eating disorders and their associated illnesses.

How to notice the danger before it’s too late…

We discuss the symptoms, behavior anomalies, calculate Body Mass Index’s (BMI) and discuss the proper and current optimal energetic demands for those students who we meet with. Every meeting is a challenge ‐ you never know where the discussion with the 14‐year‐olds is going to take you! We often end up analyzing the diets for ski‐jumpers or answering questions on if you can catch

94

diabetes from touching each other’s hands.

Every medical student after taking a short course provided by our project coordinators can give his interpersonal skills a try! We provide these courses because the ability to communicate well in these situations is just as important and as vital as medical knowledge. Eating Disorders won the 2nd award in category "The Best Presentation" in the Projects Presentations sessions during the 57th General Assembly of IFMSA in Monterrey ‐ Mexico.

According to statistics almost 4% children at the age of 10‐14 suffer from anorexia and with almost 8% from bulimia. This means that each time we visit a classroom full of school children we come across one ill student affected by an eating disorder ‐ so don’t underestimate the problem! Together we can fight against this terrible situation and bring help!

Want to join our cause or are you interested in learning more about eating disorders? If so you may contact:

National Project Coordinator “Eating Disorders” IFMSA-Poland at kaminska.magda@interia.pl or Aleksandra Herbowska, NPO 2009 IFMSA-Poland at npo@ifmsa.pl

95

Fashion Show versus Anorexia and Bulimia Project

Information on eating disorders are little known in Mexico and Latin America, due to small economical resources, and also because the research done has mostly targeted women, even though nowadays men care more about their appearance. The Fashion Show versus Anorexia & Bulimia is a project led by young medical students who aim to increase awareness regarding the major prevalence and incidence of eating disorders among young men and women in today’s society. We want to show that there is no need to starve to death and get so thin in order to look beautiful.

To accomplish this, we try to reach as many young students as possible and provide information regarding eating disorders as well as to launch an intense promotion of the Fashion Show through mass media. We think it is a good idea to contact a clothing brand as they may like to support the project and this will encourage young healthy men and women to participate in the catwalk fashion parade. This must be done as part of the organizing process. If any profit is made from selling tickets to these events then it can be donated to a foundation dedicated to eating disorders. However, it may be ideal to have a no‐cost event in order to reach more people.

As medical students we are mission it is to address this project should be open to It is really important to spread fashion tendencies and trends happiness can be reached only

obligated to embrace this project whose huge social problem, however this everybody so everyone can participate. the information on the fight against the that make people believe that by being thin.

The main objective is to encourage people to love themselves just the way they are. No one should ever be in a position to change for someone else in order to feel better about themselves. As we say in Mexico….

If you would like any more information on this project, on how to set it up or just to ask a few questions, please don’t hesitate to contact: markosaucedo@gmail.com

96

First Aid Course The teaching of first aid is a major cornerstone of SCOPH projects and due to its importance it has been taught continuously for decades without regard to local, national or international barriers.

Why 1st Aid? We have been holding courses in teaching first aid for several years now. They usually target an audience consisting of children aged between 10 and 13 years. At this age children are no longer interested in playing with teddy bears and sexual education is probably not a useful topic for them at this time. On the other hand an interesting and dynamic presentation in teaching this age group some of the theoretical and practical principles aspects of first aid is something kids of this particular age enjoy. Furthermore the knowledge and skills they acquire will be able to help them in crucial situations of their life.

How? The coordinator of the first aid course (usually LPO) forms a team of 10‐20 people. The team usually works together actively for one to two semesters. The coordinator is in charge of organizing the events, which usually includes finding a patron (usually a well known doctor or professor), making sure the team is well educated in the topic, assembling the teaching materials (CPR figurine, ppt, first aid equipment) and as the most difficult task, he is in charge of setting up a schedule of all coming trainings.

Outcome Ever since the first course in first aid, we have been boosted by the enthusiasm of the university students, the praise of the staff and the support of our university administration and officials.

The whole organization and its members have gained respect as students who care not only for their studies in public health but also act as role models who are not afraid to show their commitment by performing extra work and giving back to society.

Quick Facts In the last year we have held first aid courses in 47 elementary schools, 172 classes of students adding up to about 4000 children aged 10‐13 years in the Czech Republic.

97

Once upon a time...

IFMSA members from the local committee of Brno held a first aid course in their hometown. They had a three hour course at an elementary school for the students of the 7th grade. About a week after their visit an accident occurred in which a student found one of his classmates unconscious.

He did not hesitate and applied the knowledge he had acquired shortly before in the first aid course. He checked for basic life signs, put his classmate into a stabilized position and called an ambulance. Suddenly the unconscious friend who was heavily poisoned started to regurgitate. A spokesperson of the ambulance company confirmed, that if it had not been for the students’ abilities and actions, the poisoned boy would surely have suffocated and died. Luckily for him, this did not happen thanks to the young rescuer who knew exactly what to do.

SCOPH-Exchange

“Exchange your ideas, exchange your experience, exchange projects ‐ (Ex‐)change SCOPH”

Have you ever thought about volunteering in a public health project? Or do you know about a project which needs volunteers? If yes then SCOPH‐Exchange is exactly the right thing for you! SCOPH‐Exchange is a platform for Volunteer‐Based Projects of IFMSA. Essentially, SCOPH‐Exchange provides a network for these projects and at the same time gives medical students from all over the world the opportunity to support these projects as a volunteer and to gain experience in the different fields of public health.

Many projects around the world are confronted with the problem of not having enough people involved to realize their idea or keep a venture running. Resources are limited and therefore coordinators are more than grateful for every helping hand. The IFMSA and its National Member Organisation’s (NMO’s) offer a wide range of projects for students who would like to temporarily participate as a volunteer, either abroad or in their own country.

Orphanage Initiative Project

Presently there are approximately 100,000 orphans or children abandoned by their parents in Romania. The staff in orphanages is highly overburdened with the large number of children. The Orphanage Initiative Project, which is coordinated by IFMSA‐ Norway and IFMSA‐Romania gives medical students the chance to participate actively

98

in the daily work of an orphanage and give children the attention they really need.

SCOPH‐Exchange Projects: • • •

Romania: Orphanage Initiative India: Calcutta Village Project Burkina Faso: Primary Health Care & Disease Prevention B il C

Do you know about a project, which could join SCOPH‐Exchange? Joining the SCOPH‐Exchange Network is easy. All you have to do is to contact SCOPH Development Assistants on projects (contact details below) and fill out a single form. If you are involved in a volunteer‐based project you can give medical students from other NMOs the chance to participate and work as a volunteer in your project. In exchange students from your NMO have the chance to participate in all the other projects within SCOPH‐Exchange.

Visit: www.ifmsa.org/scoph‐exchange ‐ Contact: Development scophda.projects@gmail.com‐ We will be glad to assist you! ‐

Assistants

on

Projects

–

99

Annexes

100

Useful Links for a SCOPHian

Alcohol Policy Youth Network ‐

http://www.apyn.org

Alzheimer’s Disease International ‐ http://www.alz.co.uk/adi/wad/ CARE International ‐ http://www.care.org/ Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention ‐ http://www.cdc.gov/ European Public Health Alliance ‐

http://www.epha.org

European Public Health Association ‐ http://www.eupha.org European Commission Public Health Page ‐ http://ec.europa.eu/health/index_en.htm Fogarty International Health Centre ‐ http://www.fic.nih.gov/ Framework Convention for Tobacco Control ‐ http://www.fctc.org Global Alcohol Policy Alliance ‐

http://www.globalgaba.org

Global Health Council ‐ http://www.globalhealth.org/ Global Initiative for COPD ‐http://www.goldcopd.com

IFMSA website ‐ http://www.ifmsa.org/ Int. Association for Suicide Prevention

‐ http://www.iasp.info

International Community of the Red Cross ‐ http://www.icrc.org/ International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking ‐ http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/about‐ unodc/26‐June.html International Diabetes Federation ‐ http://www.idf.org International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ‐ http://www.ifrc.org/ International Obesity Taskforce ‐ http://www.iotf.org/ International Osteoporosis Foundation ‐ http://www.iofbonehealth.org/ International Union against Cancer ‐ http://www.uicc.org Malaria Charity Swim ‐ http://www.worldswimagainstmalaria.org Medecins Sans Frontieres ‐ http://www.msf.org/ Oxfam ‐ http://www.oxfam.org/ Pan American Health Organisation ‐ http://devserver.paho.org/ People’s Health Movement ‐ http://www.phmovement.org/cms/en/node/592 Project Hope ‐ http://www.projhope.org/ Roll Back Malaria Partnership ‐ http://www.rollbackmalaria.org

101

Stop TB partnership ‐ http://www.stoptb.org/ The United Nations ‐ http://www.un.org/ The World Bank ‐ http://www.worldbank.org/ UNICEF ‐ http://www.unicef.org/ United Nations Development Program ‐ http://www.undp.org/ VISION 2020: The Right for Sight ‐ http://www.v2020.org WHO general website ‐ http://www.who.int/en/ World AIDS day ‐ http://www.worldaidsday.org.au/ World Arthritis Day ‐ http://www.worldarthritisday.org/ World Blood Donor Day ‐ http://www.wbdd.org/ World Cancer Research Fund International ‐ http://www.wcrf.org/404.htm World Diabetes Day ‐ http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/ World Federation of Hemophilia ‐ http://www.wfh.org/index.asp?lang=EN World Federation of Mental Health ‐ http://www.wfmh.org/ World Federation of Public Health Associations ‐ www.wfpha.org World Heart Day - http://www.world-heart-federation.org World Hepatitis Alliance ‐ http://www.aminumber12.org/ World Kidney Day ‐ http://www.worldkidneyday.org/ World Lung Foundation ‐ http://www.worldlungfoundation.org/ World No Tobacco Day ‐ http://www.worldnotobaccoday.info/

102

IFMSA and SCOPH related Abbreviations

AF

Application Form

AIESEC

Assoc. Int. des Et. des Sciences Econ. et Commerciales

AM

August Meeting (GA)

AMDA

Association of Medical Doctors in Asia

AMEE

Association for Medical Education in Europe

AMSA

Association of Medical Students in Asia

AMSE

Association of Medical Schools in Europe

CCC

Constitution Credentials Committee

CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDs

Chronic Diseases

CIOMS

Council for International Organizations

CP

Standing Committee of European Doctors

EB

Executive Board

EBM

Executive Board Meeting

ECOSOC

UN Economic and Social Council

EMSA

European Medical Students’ Association

EPSA

European Pharmacy Students Association

EUPHA

European Public Health Association

FAMSA

Federation of African Med students’ Association

FC

Financial Committee

GA

General Assembly

GS

General Secretariat

HLM

Honorary Life Member

IADS

International Association of Dentist Students

IAESTE

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical exp.

IDF

International Diabetes Federation

103

IMISO

Intersectorial Meeting of Int. Student Organisations

IPPNW

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

IPSF

International Pharmacy Student Federation

IVSA

International Veterinary Student Association

LORE

Local Officer on Research Exchange

LEO

Local Exchange Officer

LO

Liaison Officer

LORA

Local Officer of Reproductive Health & AIDS

LOME

Local Officer for Medical Education

LORP

Local Officer for Refugees and Peace

LPO

Local Public Health Officer

LTP

Leadership Training Programme

MM

March Meeting (GA)

MSF

Medecins sans Frontieres

MSI

The Medical Student International

NORE

National Officer on Research Exchange

NEO

National Exchange Officer

NETWORK

Network of Comm. Or. Ed. Inst. for Health Sciences

NGO

Non‐Governmental Organisation

NMO

National Member Organisation

NORA

National Officer on Reproductive Health & AIDS

NOME

National Officer on Medical Education

NORP

National Officer on Refugees and Peace

NPO

National Public Health Officer

OC

Organising Committee

PAHO

Pan‐American Health Organisation

PC

Project Coordinator

PWG

Permanent Working Group of European Hospital Doctors

SC

Standing Committee

104

SCORA

SC on Reproductive Health and AIDS

SCORE

SC on Research Exchange

SCOME

SC on Medical Education

SCOPE

SC on Professional Exchange

SCOPH

SC on Public Health

SCORP

SC on Refugees and Peace

SG

Secretary General

SO

Standing Orders

STIs

Sexually Transmitted Infections

STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

SWG

Small Working Group

TAF

Travel Assistance Fund

TDC

Technical Data Card

UICC

International Union against Cancer

UNAIDS

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

UNESCO

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNFPA

United Nations Population Fund

UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund

VCP

Village Concept Project

VPI or VP‐I

Vice‐President for Internal Affairs

VPE or VP‐E

Vice‐President for External Affairs

WFME

World Federation of Medical Education

WFMH

World Federation for Mental Health

WFPHA

World Federation of Public Health Associations

WHO

World Health Organisation

WHO‐Europe

WHO Regional Office for Europe

WMA

World Medical Association

WoCo

Working Committee

105

106