( M S I 32 )
Introduction
from the SCOPH International Team Skander Essafi, Director on Public Health scophd@ifmsa.org
Dearest SCOPHeroes, I am very happy – but at the same time sad – to write this second and last welcome SCOPH letter for MSI this term. Our Public Health Journey has been full of achievements, challenges and struggles, all of which have made it unique and lovely. I must say that it has been an honor for me to serve this Standing Committee and to keep it as true to its mission as possible. International activities on Public and Global Health were diverse and promised for a better commitment. We had several Workshops during our IFMSA events: “One Health,” in collaboration with the International Veterinary Students Association, Healthy Cities, Universal Health Coverage, Food and Health, Alcohol and Health, Global Surgery, as well as Public Health Training and Universal Health Coverage Workshops on the sub-regional level. SCOPH Sessions at the five Regional Meetings and at the General Assemblies have been successfully carried out by the magnificent members of the SCOPH International Team members and support persons, to whom I am extremely grateful. SCOPH was also present at the external level on several occasions: The Prince Mahaidol Awards Conference in Bangkok, the World Congress Public Health in Kolkata, The World Health Summit in Berlin, the World Health Conference on Tobacco and Health in Abu Dhabi, the several climate change discussions and high-level
59 60
meetings, the Global One Health Conference in Madrid, and last but not least, the WHO Conferences including the World Health Assembly and the global coordination mechanism on NCDs. A new change was brought to our federation and we applauded the development of the IFMSA Program on Healthy Lifestyles and Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Lots of efforts have been put on it as we are aiming to come up with all the necessary tools to reflect the activities taking place worldwide, and resonate the great impact created and showing the example for the implementation of further similar programs. Furthermore, to focus on setting standards for our beloved standing committee, we are aiming, by the end of this term, to amend our SCOPH Regulations and adopt a new SCOPH Strategic plan as well as guidelines for Public Health Exchanges and Trainings. Stay tuned for more news! You are welcome to consult most of the documents on those meetings and workshops on the SCOPH Database available on our servers and website! I would like to thank every single person who has made of SCOPH an incredible source of motivation towards improving global public health and wish you a great read of Morning SCOPHian. If you haven’t joined the ride yet, our doors are always open. Keep shining, It is health that brings us altogether! Orange Hugs, Skander.
On behalf of the SCOPH Dream Team, Arthur Mello (Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues), Cynthia Waliaula (Regional Assistant for Africa), Sergio Menchaca (Regional Assistant for the Americas), Wonyun Lee (Regional Assistant for the Asia Pacific Region), Hani Hafez ( Regional Assistant for the Eastern Mediterranean Region) and Pauline Bos ( Regional Assistant for Europe).
medical students worldwide | AM 2015, Macedonia