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Introduction to What is HM
Helwan 17, is a medical eligious, non-racia HMSA’s fields of work are “medical” and “health-related”.
HMSA-Helwan is an Associate Member of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations - Egypt (IFMSA-Egypt) which is a Full National Member Organization of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA).
IFMSA-Egypt was founded in 1969 and is registered as a Non-governmental Organization at the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity, under license number 3115-Alexandria IFMSA-Egypt is composed of 27 Local Committees, each representing medical students at a Faculty of Medicine of an Egyptian University
HMSA-Helwan, together with the other 26 Local Committees of IFMSA-Egypt, actively takes part in the implementation of IFMSA-Egypt’s Strategic Plan 2021-2024, with its vision in mind: IFMSA-Egypt serves as the representative organization and leading opportunities hub for medical students in Egypt, making it an integral part of every student’s medical journey and a leading youth, health advocacy organization among stakeholders.
In addition to the sensational work IFMSA-Egypt does in health-related fields, IFMSA also has some great examples to set: IFMSA was founded in May 1951 and, currently, it is composed of 142 National Member Organizations, like IFMSA-Egypt, in 131 Countries, spanning 6 continents IFMSA is the sole representative of medical students worldwide, an NGO affiliated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, a non-state actor registered with the World Health Organization (WHO),
and a collaborator with the World Medical Association on various programs IFMSA is also recognized by the WHO as the official international forum for medical students.
HMSA is administratively affiliated with Helwan University’s Faculty of Medicine, being subject to all regulations and provisions set by the Faculty. HMSA seeks to participate actively in the achievement of the faculty's vision and mission through its activities, whose aim is to provide knowledge, skills, and opportunities to enhance and improve both the personality and the careers of rising physicians For which, HMSA is to collaborate with the faculty's Medical Education Unit and Quality Assurance Unit All Activities of HMSA are under the patronage of the Faculty’s Dean and its Vice-Dean for Education and Students Affairs.
What does HMSA do?
Our mission is to provide knowledge, skills, and opportunities to enhance and improve both the personality and the careers of rising physicians. Our aim is to serve society and medical students all over Egypt through our activities by:
I Empowering medical students in using their knowledge and capacities for the benefit of society.
II Providing a forum for Helwan University’s medical students to discuss topics related to individual and community health,
III education, and science–and to formulate policies from such discussions
IV Promoting and facilitating professional and scientific exchanges as well as projects and extracurricular training for medical students, thereby sensitizing them to other cultures and societies and their health problems
V Providing a link between HMSA’s members, medical students’ associations within Egypt, and international organizations–and to encourage cooperation between them for the ultimate benefit of society.
We pursue our aims without any kind of discrimination among our members, but with transparency, fairness, and respect; We do not advocate for any political or religious groups, but for the autonomy of science, the individuals working in it, and their intellectual property; and we support medical students and the public as a non-governmental, non-profit students' organization.
How can HMSA do so?
HMSA functions through its Standing Committees and Support Divisions which are the bodies responsible for executing, coordinating, and supporting the activities of HMSA. The work of these bodies is coordinated by an Official, elected by HMSA’s General Assembly, or appointed by the Executive Board
HMSA’s Standing Committees are:
● The Standing Committee on Medical Education (SCOME)
● The Standing Committee on Professional Exchange (SCOPE)
● The Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH)
● The Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV and AIDS (SCORA)
● The Standing Committee on Research Exchange (SCORE)
● The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Peace (SCORP)
HMSA’s Support Divisions are:
● The Capacity Building Support Division (CBSD)
● The Projects Support Division (PSD)
● The Publications and New Technologies Support Division (PnSD)
● The Fundraising Support Division (FSD)
● The Research Support Division (RSD)
HMSA’s activities are mainly in the form of Focus Areas and Projects.
Focus Areas
In IFMSA-Egypt, the concept of Focus Areas emphasizes the important areas of interest by which each Local Committee serves the missions of the Standing Committees of IFMSA, enabling Local Committees to participate meaningfully and effectively in their surrounding societies.
The Focus Area is a national concept with which to affiliate the local activities, conducted by HMSA Members, through an enrollment process. Activities affiliated with Focus Areas include, but are not limited to Awareness Campaigns, Celebrations, Workshops, Events, etc.
As of 2021/2022, there are nine focus areas in IFMSA-Egypt, each of which addresses topics within a specific field of work for IFMSA-Egypt, highlighting the stance of medical students through local activities and opportunities that contribute to the core concepts of a Focus Area Focus areas give flexibility and creative space for the young advocates of HMSA to work on community-specific issues, relevant to their own passions and experiences.
Projects
A project is a piece of planned work completed over time and intended to achieve a particular aim. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), it refers to “any temporary endeavor with a definite beginning and end”
HMSA’s projects have a clear timeframe, with a clear beginning, a definite end, and an overview of what happens in between Our projects are unique, but they share identifiable stages in terms of process and function
HMSA Projects and Focus Areas, are as follows: Standing Committee Focus Area Project
● Skilled Medical Practitioners
● How to Educate (Better Medical Education)
● Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)
● Bridging Gaps in Health (BGH)
● Reproductive Health
● HIV/AIDS and other STIs
● Gender-based Violence and Gender Equity-Conjoint with SCORP (GBV)
● Gender-based Violence and Gender Equity-Conjoint with SCORA (GBV)
● Health Equity
● Evidence-based Medicine
● Mental Health
● Climate Change
● Anti-FGM
● Family Planning
● Together Against Stigma - Stigma and Discrimination in Healthcare (TAS)
