Organise an awareness‐campaign. Tell people more about early symptoms like coughing and about ways to prevent and to treat TB. Use posters, leaflets and flyers and try to get more attention by asking the TV or newspapers to report your activities. Advocate against TB. Demand attention and speak as the voice of medical students. Collect signatures and write a statement to put pressure on your Ministry of Health and government to take action against Malaria. Be active on the World TB Day. It is celebrated on the 24th of March within IFMSA and all over the world. Share your plans and ideas with SCOPHians all over the world by sending emails to the SCOPH Yahoo‐Group.
Tobacco Initiative Project (TIP) In the 21st Century 1, 000, 000, 000 people [WHO] will die because of tobacco, 10% of them because of second‐hand smoke. This is the population of China, India, the whole Africa and more than the United States and European Union (EU) put together! The IFMSA can and should play an important role within the fight against this disaster. What we can do best is to get the attention of the general public, to educate our society, to strengthen the image of being a non‐smoker and to advocate for adequate health care policies against tobacco use. We have different kinds of activities in IFMSA to achieve these goals and they are combined under the umbrella of the Tobacco Initiative Project (TIP). You can also use some of these projects and activities presented in this article in your own local committee.
Smoke‐free Party. It’s a party, it is fun and it is serious: second‐hand smoke is deadly and one of the most underestimated risk factors for preventable diseases. In the EU alone, 80, 000 people are dying every year because of second‐hand smoke [WHO]. This activity can raise awareness especially for this risk factor. Furthermore, it can help raise our voices for the creation of health care policies like smoke‐free pubs and discotheques AND it can strengthen the image of being a non‐smoker effectively. Just look for a discotheque and the owner will be happy if you want to organise a party for him. Just create posters and flyers and that’s it! 78