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An Overview of
IFMSA Programs Dignified and Non-Discriminatory Health care Paniz Motaghi - IMSA Iran
dignifiedhealthcare@ifmsa.org
The IFMSA Program ‘Dignified and Non-Discriminatory Health care’ is proposed as a means to structuralise and enhance the actions of NMOs in reducing stigma and discrimination directed towards vulnerable or marginalised populations, both in health and in society, with the aim of reducing health inequities that these cause. Dignifying and Non-discriminatory is a program that aims to empower students to advocate and work on providing an equal and accessible healthcare for anyone. By joining this program, local or national committees can collaborate with other youth groups, institutions, civil society organizations to provide appropriate healthcare and treat human beings in the way they deserve. We all believe that health should be considered as a human rights and medical students as future doctors should learn how to respect human rights and improve quality of health system. These goals cannot be achieved without advocacy campaigns which, together with stakeholders and assistance of professional evidence-based research, are necessary to target authorities and governing bodies that shape health policies and protocols. IFMSA activity is meant to flow from capacity building, to networking, to student mobilisation and concrete actions in advocacy and assistance of the vulnerable populations. The NMOs can prioritise according to their needs. The benefit for having this program is that on the international level there can be exchange of information on best practices and results under this theme and the professionalism in empowerment can start by IFMSA recognised workshops that provide basic skills and knowledge in dealing with such a vast topic. Student mobilisation on the local and national level can encompass a wide range of activities from public outreaching, to advocacy, to health campaigns with the particular and targeted vulnerable population.
Emergencies, Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Action Marjon Feenstra - IFMSA The Netherlands humanitarianactions@ifmsa.org
In order to prevent hazards turn into disasters, we must address the core issues that lead to these such are weak public health systems, lack of preparedness awareness among general public. Such hazards including natural, manmade and biological outbreaks put under pressure existing health systems. Medical professionals are not educated and equipped with the knowledge and skills to react in these situations as this topic is poorly addressed in medical education curricula. Schools, hospitals and other health care and public facilities and industrial zones are often not equipped to respond on emergency nor are built properly to ensure safety of its users causing thousands and millions of people being affected when disaster strikes. 52 53
Unfortunately, emergencies tend to disproportionately affect the poor, children, women, the elderly, and other marginalized members of society, hence aggravating existing health inequities Populations on the move due to man-made or natural disasters put pressure on services and these already vulnerable populations are faced with a health care service of poor quality, unable to prevent disease or treat it, and often denied the service if unable to produce the required documentation. In disasters, human safety is often put into question, especially of the services that are in the forefront such are civil protection or health professionals. They are usually even more endangered in man-made disasters. medical students worldwide | MM 2016, Malta