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Message from Prof. Erik Holst Fund Dr. Konstantinos Roditis, MD, MSc
Chair, Prof. Erik Holst Fund Board of Directors
Surendra Sapkota NMSS-Nepal
Prof. Erik Holst Fund is always proud to witness the progress of its past awardees. This is why we report from the participation of our 2015 awardee Mr. Surendra Sapkota from Nepal at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Turkey. Erik Holst Fund will always be on its awardees’ side, to assist them whenever needed, as well as to watch as they move forward in fulfilling their aspirations. “The first ever WHS on May 23-24 convened by UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and hosted by the Government of Turkey brought together approximately 9000 participants from 173 Member States, including 55 Heads of State and Government, representatives from the private sector, civil society, NGOs, media and academia, as well as youth advocates and activists. The objective of which is to identify solutions to reshape the humanitarian system to efficiently address the growing humanitarian needs through closer partnerships and a strengthened principled basis. The world humanitarian summit was preceded by youth pre forum on May 21/22 that gathered around 200 youth delegates from around the world.
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I did get selected through IFMSA and received my invitation letter for the WHS long time ago. It was a pleasure to see, learn many things through hundreds of side events, special sessions and round table talks, the theme of which revolved around humanitarian issues including natural disasters that is having a major impact around the world affecting an average of 218 million people every year leading to an economic impact of some $250 to 300 billion per year, Climate change which is already affecting millions of people, Migrants, Global health, Providing education in crisis, Regional action for global challenges and many more. While we witness and hear thousands of lives being lost in war hit zones, or due to Ebola outbreak in Africa or the earthquake in Nepal or civil war in South Sudan, as a medical doctor and health professional we understand
that people lose access to health, education and food. Bombings of hospitals has brought health crisis in war affected countries. Children are the one who are severely affected. UNICEF estimated earlier this year that nearly 250 million children live in regions affected by conflict. More than half of the world’s 60 million displaced people are under the age of 18. Many commitments were made during the summit a few being Education cannot Wait fund, Grand Bargain, Global Preparedness Partnership and One billion coalition for resilience. During the summit IFMSA has also stressed upon these humanitarian issues. “As future health care professionals, we call upon states and civil societies to strengthen cooperation with all relevant stakeholders’ military and community leaders to regain respect of the International humanitarian law and medical ethics to put an end to the epidemic of violence on health care workers” said Karim M. Abdeltawab, IFMSA LRP at the WHS plenary. It was a moment, truly inspiring and motivating to see UN Secretary General addressing the closing ceremony. He urged action on New Crisis Prevention and Aid Distribution Promises made at World Humanitarian Summit. As he said this summit is not an end point but a turning point.”
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