Regional Director for Africa Sub-region 2015/2016

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

Dear IFMSA friends and Africa Sub-Region Family, It’s with great humility and enthusiasm that I present to you my candidature for the position of Regional Director for Africa Subregion of IFMSA 2015/2016. My name is Okiror Noah Emokol, a Ugandan undergraduate medical student currently in my fourth year of study at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. I am currently the NMO President of FUMSA-Uganda. I am also a member of the IFMSA editorial team working with the Auscultate Africa family– a publication by the African sub region of IFMSA. I also worked with the Kick Ebola Out project ; a transnational project lead by Sierra Leone Medical Students Association in attempt to help the west Africa people curb the epidemic of Ebola in their countries. I am a creative thinker, a motivational team player, a flexible team leader who has developed an ardent passion to create change in the health sector built on my previous engagements in FUMSA and IFMSA activities. I have grown a deep rooted passion for the Federation thereof. I am also a very passionate pan-africanist.

My engagement with IFMSA dates way back to 2011 in my first year when I was joining medical school.

Then, I was invited to attend our NMO gathering in my university in which standing committees were trying to recruit new members. Our NMO by then was still young and yet lacked the enthusiasm that was required to take it to the next level. It was from there that I first joined the Standing committee on Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS (SCORA) which was resident to my university and took active role in it. That marked my beginning of a whole new dimension of learning in the world of health. In my second year of study, I assumed role as Local officer in charge of Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS (LORA) the first cervical cancer campaign was launched in my university in my term of office and I took up active role to see that the event takes place. My learning process and exposure grew. It was then that my colleagues observed potential in me to make things work. I built trust in them. I then quickly moved to take up role as a National Officer for Medical Education (NOME). In 2014, I moved in to become a part of the Organising Committee for the African Regional Meeting as a head of the publications division and later headed the committee till the December the time scheduled for the ARM. I soon moved to become the President of my NMO and nurtured in a new error of growth in my NMO. FUMSA-Uganda is a whole new organisation with better sustainability as result of the undying energies of my team and I. Its from these exposures that I drew inspiration to not just celebrate growth in one NMO but to take it to the regional level and nurture a new era of growth and transformation in the African sub region.

I have studied the state of affairs of the African region through the various exposures. I have offered myself to spear head the African Region’s Transformation. That we may grow with a strong foundation based on unity, sustainabilty through capacity building and precision of growth through regional visibility. That we may become a more formidable region contributing to our beloved Federation and also contributing to our beloved communities in the african region. So that we may envision a future of our sub-region together and lay foundations of growth pillars that future generations of Medical Students in our Region will indeed know and even thrive on. With the right choice of leadership, I believe Africa sub-region will not only be able to maintain the good things that are happening but will also be able to forge a new dimension of growth, and tranformation.

As Regional Director, I have a role to see to it that the Region is maintained and grows positively. My role will involve to support and maintain a highly motivated African Region leaders and members, understanding their NMO challenges on a more individual level so that together we can help them realise their innate capacity to overcome such challenges and tailor our interventions to yield better regional performance.

I also envision that we shall start having more sustainable and productive General Assemblies, building new and maintaining old partnerships, devising new strategies to make regional activities and more international engagements a reality. I will be more than willing to listen to the various creative ideas the members of the federation and region in particular have to better the region. It will be a great honor for me to deliver to this Region and steer its transformation to the next level as described in my Transformation agenda Principles (action plan).

I hope that on the basis of your judgment of my ability to deliver to this great region and Federation at large, you will find me befitting and entrust me with this great responsibility as Regional Director for the African Sub-region 2015/2016. For any inquiries or comments, feel free to contact me on my email, phone number or Skype account and I will be waiting eagerly to share with you.

Yours in sincerely, OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

TRANSFORMATION AGENDA PRINCIPLES As you may have appreciated, Africa sub-region is largely not as active as expected in IFMSA engagements. Moreover, Africa is a region whose challenges are not new but can be tackled if mind is put to think to device creative approaches to tackle these challenges. As a region we have a lot of potential to grow and the inherent capacity to enable us transform the current situation and ensure we are more active and responsive not only to our involvement in IFMSA but our relevance to the countries and communities our NMOs serve. With the right choice of leaders, Africa sub region can transform into a formidable region, whose capacity and engagement in the IFMSA can be of a better degree than it is now. If given the mandate to serve this great region, my agenda will largely be one of creative approaches to solving our challenges to bring a new era based on a few well defined principles. This is the agenda of transformation.

UNITY In Africa sub region we need to build a new spirit of solidarity not only amongst our NMOs but also solidarity between our NMOs and the IFMSA and its officials. A more united voice is necessary if we are to nurture in new members and partners that will support the region. During my term of office I will be able to foster this through the following avenues; I. Careful selection of regional assistants; to ensure that we shall have at least one Regional Assistant who is bilingual (English and French) as a way to help woo our French speaking countries on board. He/she will be tasked to help the new members keep informed and up to date with the rest of the IFMSA members and increase their participation.

II. Representation of IFMSA T.O in all NMO General Assemblies and projects. As a way of showing a spirit of togetherness, I will ensure that I am available to attend any NMO General Assembly or projects so as to show support to the NMOs. In the event that I cannot attend the gathering, I will ensure that I send a video or email with my speech to deliver the message so that the NMOs are well aware that the whole region and indeed the entire Federation is with them in spirit. This will foster more unity and engagement in IFMSA. III. Vision; I together with the NMO presidents will spearhead to see that the Africa Region starts to envision its future by laying down a regional strategic plan that we shall work towards and use to assess our progress towards a better engagement on international platform and on the continent. If we can dream together then we can move together and if we can move together then we can go far.

IV. Dialogue; I will spearhead the dialogues and negotiations between the Federation of Africa Medical Students (FAMSA) and the IFMSA sub-regional leadership. Together we shall lay the foundations of harmonious existence and collaboration to ensure that we are a more united body.

Nothing can stop the force of a united bunch of intellectuals. Once united, the stars are the limit for our NMOs and regional growth.

CAPACITY BUILDING I. Needs Assessment; I will seek to understand the individual challenges that my NMOs in the African Region are facing so as to understand their individual challenges in detail and help them realize the different ways they may be able to tackle their problems. Where they need support from a more powerful position, I will be able to avail myself to help them realize their potential.

II. General Assemblies; As Regional Director, it is a major task to see to it that we have sustainable Regional meetings. Moreover, following our exposures to the dynamic environment of the IFMSA GAs, I feel challenged that we can make our Regional Assemblies more fruitful by enforcing to have Regional Plenaries in which we shall have discussions (Like our Internal operating guidelines) that are tailor made to make our region better.

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

III. Financial sustainability; As a way of making our Regional GAs more productive; I will put in place a regional fundraising committee (including myself) that will be tasked to lobby from different avenues to build partnerships that will yield the region more financial support. Moreover, I will create a regional partners’ contact list that will be used by other Regional directors in the future as a way to have sustainability in our leadership.

IV. Creating a sustainability training tool kit; one of the major issues affecting our NMOs’ sustainability is lack of the capacity to prepare for and have a proper handover. I intend to add to the trainings folder a new tool kit for sustainability. This tool kit will enlighten NMO presidents on how to adequately build capacity among their members to follow in their footsteps. Moreover to also to guide them on how to have a smooth transition of power so that individuals may find less difficulty maintaining contact and engagement to IFMSA. This may even be incorporated in the trainings we shall be having especially for individuals engaged in NMO leadership.

REGIONAL VISIBILITY For us to increase our partnerships and gain more support; our region needs to become more visible both within the region and internationally.

I. Social media; we shall create a social media page that we shall use to share and expose our many national gatherings in our NMOs and also to show case our different projects. When exposed other organisations and individuals will realize our worth as a region and a federation and with such avenues we can become more visible and relevant to them. They will then support us in turn.

II. Communication; As a way to make sure we have members applying to attend various international gatherings that IFMSA is invited to send a delegation; I will ensure that I always re-communicate the different calls on both email and other social media platforms. Moreover, the RD email will be accessed by some of my assistants to ensure that communication is still maintained even when I may not be able to.

This will ensure we have members more aware of what is happening and also enable them participate in such events.

III. Regional Publication Material: As a way of nurturing regional unity as well as visibility, I will work with the regional publications team to come up with other publication material for the region other than the annual magazine. Africa sub region will own its own T-shirts; notebooks, pens and stickers as a way to increase viscibilty and unity.

In conclusion; with the three major principles of Unity, Capacity building and Regional Visibility, I believe Africa sub-region is ready to nurture in a new era of #Transformation. It’s time for Africa and the time is now.

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

CURRICULUM VITAE Okiror Noah Emokol P.O BOX 3636 Kampala +256701-034090, +256773-034090 (whatsapp) okranoah@gmail.com noahokiror11@stud.must.ac.ug skype ID: dr.okra 1.0 OBJECTIVE: To become a professional, informed and innovative community based health care provider, global health leader and researcher in the field of health by working with organisations that will promote my leadership, team work and critical thinking skills.

1.1 PERSONAL PROFILE: An enthusiastic medical student with great leadership, team work, critical thinking and fast paced learning skills built on interest, passion and basic knowledge of the health care system which have been achieved in previous exposures as a student, now looking for ways to better his skills to have a great impact on the health care and leadership systems in Africa.

2.0 BIODATA: Name: Okiror Noah Emokol Age: 24 years Sex: Male Marital status: Single Nationality: Ugandan 3.0 EDUCATION: Institution

Period

Certification

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Dec 2011 – to date

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Secondary School Luzira

Feb - Dec 2010

Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE)

St. Mary’s College Kisubi

2004 – 2007

Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE)

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

4.0 Leadership EXPERIENCE:

The President Federation of Uganda Medical Students Association ( 2015/2016) • Coordination of the Team of Officials to deliver • External representation of Medical Students Nationwide • Chairing of the Executive board of the Federation • Maintaining contacts between the federation and other organisations.

Head of the Publications Division African Regional Meeting International Federation of Medical Students Associations ( Jan – August 2014) • Creation of branding material for the event • Publicising of the material through posters, social media and web posts • Fundraising for the event

Head of the Information, Education , Communication/ Behaviour Change Committee Must Peer Project (2014/2015) • Coordinate Publication of Material for Students to engage in knowledge sharing • Chairing of Executive board meetings in the project • Creation of innovative projects that help peers in behaviour change Chair Organising Committee 10th African Regional Meeting 2014 Uganda International Federation of Medical Students Associations –IFMSA (Aug-Dec 2014) • Maintain communication between National Organising Committee and International organising Committee • Coordinate the organisation of the ARM 2014 • Compile a report of the event to be presented to different stake holders • Chair meetings of the NOC and provide direct guidance to members of the NOC with respect to federation constitution.

National Officer for Medical Education Federation of Uganda Medical Students’ Association (2013/2014) • Coordinator of all Medical Education activities in the Federation.

• Organisation of Open Dialogues on the federation and Medical Education in Particular • Head of the Clinical Rotation Assessment team

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

IFMSA Trainer International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations – IFMSA • Offer trainings to medical students in any field of interest • Nurture sustainability in the Medical Students’ Associations.

Local Officer - Standing Committee on Reproductive Health and HIV (SCORA) Federation of Uganda Medical Students’ Association (FUMSA) (2012 –2013) • Organise Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign Week in Mbarara • Manage and Co-ordinate SCORA activities in Mbarara • Write project proposals for SCORA INTERNATIONAL GATHERINGS: International Federation of Medical Students Associations - IFMSA General Assembly 2015 March Meeting Antalya Turkey

Head of Delegation from Uganda and representative of Medical Students Nationwide

Youth Negotiations on Climate Change April 2015 Representative of Ugandan Youth Addis Ababa Ethiopia International Federation of Medical Students Associations African Regional Meeting 2014

Chairperson of the Organising Committee

East African Health Professional Educators Association Conference-2015 Kigali

Representative of Uganda Medical Students

Regional Integration of Africa Youth Summit 2015 Kampala

Representative Ugandan Youth

International Federation of Medical Students As- Head of Delegation from Uganda and representasociations - IFMSA General Assembly 2015 August tive of Medical Students Nationwide Meeting Ohrid Macedonia

5.0 SKILLS 5.1 Certified organisational Skills Certificate in Project Planning and Management Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation Certificate in Research and Report Writing

Makerere University Kampala (Apr-May 2011) Makerere University Kampala (May-Jun 2011) Makerere University Kampala (Feb – Mar 2011)

5.2 Other Organisational Skills: Leadership, Team work, Management, Evaluation, Public speech, Critical thinking, Strategic planning 5.5 Other certified Skills Online certified course on “Health for all through Primary Health Care”: Conducted by John Hopkins University

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature

5.3 Computer Skills Certificate in SPSS and STATA Certificate in Epi Data and Epi Info Certificate in Computer Applications (CCA) Certificate in IT Essentials

Makerere University Kampala (Feb – Mar 2011) Makerere University Kampala (Feb – Mar 2011) Makerere University Kampala (Jan – Feb 2008) Makerere University Kampala (Jan - Feb 2008)

5.4 Publications: MSI31: Humanitarian action; the power of intention MSI 31: The 10th African Regional Meeting: Human Resources 4 health, a foundation to universal health coverage.

5.5 Awards: National Merit scholarship to pursue Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery 5.6 Other Computer Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe after Effects, application development – (all self-taught).

5.7 Other skills: Writing, Problem Analysis, Community Outreach, Project development, member of the Red Cross Club.

5.8 Languages: Fluent in written and spoken English Other Known languages: French

6.0 Referees: 1. Assoc. Prof. Samuel Maling – Dean Faculty of Medicine Mbarara University samaling@yahoo.com 2. Dr. Wilfred Arubaku – Senior Lecturer; Mbarara University of Science and Technology warubaku@yahoo.com

#Tranformation

OKIROR NOAH EMOKOL | REGIONAL DIRECTOR AFRICA SUB-REGION 2015/2016 Candidature