IFMSA Africa Regional Newsletter - November 2005

IFMSA-Africa Newsletter Means of communication for African Medical Students

The way forward for Africa Development of Africa is our responsibility as Africans and therefore calls for our action in our respective countries and Africa in general in order to move forward.

As young medical doctors and future leaders, we must act now. The question is: Why should Africa, with all the riches, lag behind in development?

Why should people die of hunger yet we could prevent it from happening?

Why should women die in pregnancy and childbirth?

Why should we have wars in Africa amongst ourselves?

Why should we die of preventable diseases?

So is the time to act and actively join the coalition to prevent human loss and thus develop the African continent.

Jennifer Mbabazi, Editor in Chief

November 2005, Volume 1

Upcoming Events in Africa 14th-18th November 2005 Peer Educators Training MEDSARRwanda and IFMSA-the Netherlands 1st December 2005 World AIDS Day 18th-21st December 2005 Global Health Workshop IPPNW Congress, Jos, Nigeria December 2005 HIV/AIDS Conference, Uganda 21st January-3rd February 2006 Summer and Winter school, Egypt 19th -21st June 2006 2nd African conference on Sexual Health and Rights, Nairobi, Kenya

IFMSA-AFRICA Leadership 2005-2006 Regional Coordinator Africa Ahmed Ali, Sudan Regional Assistants Africa • SCORA Jennifer Mbabazi, Rwanda Oluwostine Omole, Nigeria • SCOPE Charles Obeng Mensah, Ghana • SCOPH Hossam Hamad, Sudan • SCORP Tana Mohammed, South Africa Mubashar Ahmed, Sudan • SCOME Vacant Liaison Officer WHO Serini Murugasen, South Africa Village Concept Project Rwanda

IFMSA-Africa Newsletter

November 2005

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Activities by Medical Students Village Concept Projects These exist in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Sudan. The goal of the projects is to improve the living standards of the community and to give students the possibility of gaining practical experience in developmental projects and working together as a group and teambuilding.

These involve micro projects like malaria prevention, income generating activities, construction of latrines, improvement of nutrition and temporary health, clinic in the public library of a rural village in western Kenya, HIV testing with pre/post counseling at the clinic with retro viral treatment for HIV positive individuals.

Medical Students Association Health week in Ghana The health week is organized by medical students every year with a focus on a particular theme.

The students travel to rural areas with the main aim being increasing awareness of the rural population into the different infections which include HIV, TB, Malaria and its effects. The students speak to groups of patients awaiting outpatient appointments.

This is done by making short presentations covering the symptoms, signs and treatment e.g. of TB and emphasis on the importance of treating TB as quickly as possible and completing the course of therapy.

Medical students visited village market

For more information visit www.ifmsa.org/vcp

Sudan Medical Missions Project It is voluntary work done by medical students in different areas of Sudan with the main objectives being: • Increase health awareness among communities • Fighting unhealthy practices • Providing emergency courses • Reinforcement of locally based medical stuff How is it done?

• Use of posters, leaflets and booklets • Providing basic health education • Organising campaigns • Conducting surveys and research • Construction of medical units that include focused group discussions, clinics, labs, mobile pharmacies For more information contact the coordinator Ahmed, NPO MedSINSudan.

IFMSA-Africa Newsletter

places where large crowds of people listened avidly to the presentations.

KAP Study in Nigeria This is a survey on safe sex amongst adolescents in different secondary schools. KAP stands for Knowledge, Attitude and Practice.

This is done entirely by Nigerian medical students through campaigns which create awareness on reproductive health problems especially HIV/AIDS in different parts of the country.

This is done entirely by liaison officers in medical student associations in the country.

For more information Helen Okuku NORA –Nigeria

Medical Education Challenges and opportunities with E-Learning Where are we in terms of technology?

From computer assisted learning in computer labs to learning at any place on campus or at home.

How can computer technology help?

Not as a replacement for human teachers, and certainly not to replace bedside teaching. But it adds bits and pieces to the learning environment which is managed by the faculty through the curriculum. Bedsides allowing access to (learning objects), technology also allows new ways to communicate which can be used to manage courses e.g. with email-lists or chat rooms-up to the possibility of group work in virtual teams. In all these cases, computer technology is not used to replace humans but to empower communication and access to information.

November 2005

What do medical students have to learn?

Knowledge (know what to do) • Basic sciences (understanding) • Clinical presentation (recognition) Skills (know how to do) • History taking • Physical exam • Clinical reasoning • Information gathering Attitude (doing the right thing) • Non verbal • Communication • Empathy For more information on medical education, The Swiss catalogue of learning objectives for undergraduate medical training http://www.smifk.ch/ learn medical skills http://webcampus.med.drexel.edu

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1st December World AIDS Day It is very expedient that we as IFMSA members in Africa contribute our quota in anyway no matter how little, in bringing attention to the issue of HIV/AIDS. Some of the activities, you may embark upon include: • Wearing a red ribbon and ask others to do the same • Protecting yourself and your partner this is the first and best way to stop the spread of HIV • Getting tested At school or work, you can support World AIDS Day by:

The World AIDS Day has been declared as the 1st of December every year. Around the world, the World AIDS Day (WAD) marks a celebration of the progress made in the battle against the epidemic and brings into focus remaining challenges.

This day is especially relevant to us in Africa because about 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations.

• Having a dressing up, down or fancy dress day • Putting up some posters (see below) • Get people talking • Selling red ribbons • Organising a creative writing/poster campaign • Setting up a debate or a quiz • Cooking an international meal or having a cake sale • Arranging a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release

• Getting your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their feelings and expand their knowledge about AIDS • Organising a rally that will unite youth/students in your region and call for action against HIV/AIDS • Writing a letter to a local newspaper/community leaders that highlights the problems AIDS patients face and ways to combat them • Organising a fundraising activity for organisations involved in working with HIV/AIDS • Screening a movie that emphasizes the importance of empowering AIDS patients and respecting their rights

As many other activities as you feel are appropriate for this occasion are welcome (the list is not exhaustive).

If you need further help or clarifications on any issue, please do not hesitate to get in contact any of us.

With all the best wishes, Tosin and Jennifer Picture red ribbon: www.aidsinfo.co.za

For many years, World AIDS Day has been organised by UNAIDS, who choose the theme after consultation with other organisations. However, in 2005 UNAIDS handed over the responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign (WAC).

The WAC’s theme for their campaign is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise". This theme is however not specific to World AIDS Day alone but to the work the WAC does throughout the year. It will also remain the focus until 2010.

"Keep the Promise" is an appeal to governments and policy makers to ensure they meet the targets they have agreed to in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Candle light march for World AIDS Day 2004 in Rwanda

IFMSA-Africa Newsletter

November 2005

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Africa Regional Meeting 2005 Hurghada, Egypt Solutions: • We should register early and prevent people from paying the late fee. An email should be sent out early to our regional server to inform everyone about the upcoming GA. • We have to seek for sponsorship within regional and international organisations.

• Payment upon arrival would save costs for transfer rates.

• NMO’s presidents could collect the registration fees.

• Fees and registration could be worked out according to the GDP of the country.

• Registration fees could be put in a common bank account in Europe. One person should be responsible for the bank account.

African delegates at the August Meeting 2005

Summary of the Minutes Introduction to IFMSA Ahmed and Joseph gave a brief introduction to IFMSA. The main concern was the relevance of IFMSA to Africa. An overview about IFMSA services to the African NMO’s was presented. It was suggested that NMO’s should visit www.ifmsa.org to have more information.

March Meeting 2006 in Chile A brief presentation was given by the Organising Committee of March Meeting 2006 in Chile. The major airline from Chile will make a discount for delegates' tickets. The African countries that do not have a Chilean embassy should contact the organizing committee so as to solve the problem for them.

Financial difficulties Many African NMO’s experience difficulties with payments. Problems that were mentioned included the

IFMSA-Africa Newsletter

settling of debts, expensive bank charges and transfer rates, high fees and problems with fundraising.

To discuss the topics in more depth and to find solutions, three working groups were formed: 1. Membership Fee, 2.

Registration Fee for General Assemblies and 3. Travel Assistance Fund and Transport.

3. Travel Assistance Fund and Transport Solutions: • We could try to contact the local airlines to sponsor our transport.

• When we vote for a country to host the next GA we should consider the travelling costs carefully.

• Communication should be clear, sponsorship should understand the need for funding.

Solution: the membership fee can be paid directly at the GA to avoid high transfer charge.

Make Poverty History Three members of MedSIN-UK presented the Make Poverty History campaign. The aim was to recruit the African NMO’s as the White band campaign is focussing on aid for Africa.

A brain storming session resulted. The main issues we dealt with were: • how to work together with Africa • how to implement these projects • how to make white bands cheap and accessible.

2. Registration Fee for General Assemblies The registration fee is expensive and some NMO’s wanted IFMSA to consider us as a special case.

Introduction of such campaigns at GA’s increases awareness and knowledge of participants. Some attitudes of certain countries to others make it difficult to campaign. For example, at the SCOPE

1. Membership Fee Most countries stated that the membership fee is not a problem.

However, Niger experienced a lack of membership involvement and Nigeria mentioned a lack of infrastructure with approximately 25 universities.

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sessions, certain countries refused to sign any contracts with certain African countries hence IFMSA relations are questionable.

Comments should be placed on the server so as to help adapt the campaign for Africa. www.whiteband.org; mph@medsin.org.

Taiwan Students from Taiwan gave a presentation on their campaign to remove ambiguity in IFMSA campaign to a non-political motion.

Communication How can we improve the communication within IFMSA-Africa?

Lack of knowledge about IFMSA seems to be a problem. Also, the internet access is difficult for some African medical students at their schools.

Solutions: • GA members are to teach other members at home about IFMSA. They can go advertising at individual classes. Meeting someone personally will improve the motivation and makes communication easier. NMO’s should also introduce the IFMSA at their national GA’s.

• The transfer of information during handover meetings from the old to the new boards should be considered carefully.

• It would be helpful to find Godfathers, like the Scandinavian countries help African countries: Tanzania & Sweden; IMCC & Rwanda and Norway & Kenya.

• People can subscribe to the IFMSAAfrica list server by sending an email ifmsa-africa-subscribe to @yahoogroups.com. It should also be the duty of GA participants to campaign the server at their universities.

• The list server is a good way to communicate about projects and activities, since it will work as inspiration. Also, any problem can be addressed and implemented. The list server is also meant to help people to express their feelings e.g. anger, sadness, but do keep the quality of discussions in mind.

IFMSA-Africa Newsletter

August Meeting 2005: making friends from all over the world.

Godfather System The Godfather System is meant to help NMO’s. The idea is that the old NMO’s and the new ones support each other. The following Godfather teams were made: • Niger and Cote d'Ivoire can support each other • Rwanda: Burundi, Uganda • South Africa: Malawi, Tanzania • Sudan: Ethiopia • Ghana: Kenya AMSTC 2006 The AMSTC 2006 will be hosted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The name of the conference needs to change, due to technical reasons. An international committee will be set up.

The venue will be at international grounds. When the venue is confirmed, more information can be given about the registration fee. In phase two the national airline will be asked for discount.

In order to bring people to Sudan it is necessary to email deans, HOD’s of faculties and hospitals, as well as ministries of health.

Continuity There is a lack of continuity of IFMSA in Africa. The older students are usually the most active. Younger students need to be encouraged from as early as second year, so they start coming to GA’s.

November 2005

Colophon Editor in Chief: Jennifer Mbabazi, Rwanda Proof reader: Ahmed Ali, Sudan Lay-out: Sophie Gubbels, the Netherlands If you are organising a project or activity, please share it with us! Also, if you want to ask attention for certain topics, do write it down for our newsletter. You can send your articles to ifmsa-africapublications@yahoogroups.com

Important Addresses/ Websites for NMO’S www.emsa-ethiopia.org (Ethiopia) www.fgmsaghana.org (Ghana) www.nimsanigeria.org (Nigeria) www.medsar.org (Rwanda) www.rmsa.org.rw (Rwanda) www.samedsa.org (South Africa) www.ifmsa.org www.ippnw-students.org/africa ifmsa-africa@yahoogroups.com ifmsa-scora@yahoogroups.com ifmsa-scorp@yahoogroups.com ifmsa-scope@yahoogroups.com rvcp@yahoogroups.com (Rwanda)

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