This newsletter includes updates from the Rural WONCA conference in Cape Town, reports on WONCA’s efforts to ensure patient safety, a video report on the primary care network in Kenya, information on upcoming webinars and opportunities to up-skill in mental health and geriatrics. Do you have an item for the next newsletters? Get in touch!
WONCA Working Party on Rural Health meeting in Cape Town.
UMUNTU NGUMUNTU NGABANTU: The spirit of Ubuntu, which means “a person is a person through other people”, shone brightly throughout the Rural WONCA conference in South Africa last week, where we partnered with The Network: Towards Unity For Health for a week of inspiring discussions, global collaboration, and actionable steps toward improving rural healthcare.
Consensus: The Ubuntu 2024 declaration can be read here. This document challenges us all to go beyond the conference buzz and make real, on-the-ground changes. Key takeaway: If we do not address health equity in rural communities, who will?
Our man in Cape Town: Your WONCA communications officer was lucky enough to attend the conference and spoke to delegates, organisers and students for a short documentary which was played on the closing night of the conference. Watch the video below for a glimpse of the excitement.
Rural Highlights: A special shout-out to Dora Bernal for her powerful John McLeod oration on rural doctors in Iberoamerica, and to the Rural Seeds (Young Rural Doctors) for a special Rural Café session. Other highlights were Prof Malin Fors’ keynote address on Geographical Narcissism and the session on WHO Rural Workforce Guidelines, with contributions from across the global south.
Global Rural Health Summit 2025: Congratulations to Dr Pratyush Kumar (India) who will become the new chair of Rural WONCA, taking over from Bruce Chater (Australia) next year. His election marks the first doctor from a Low or Middle Income Country (LMIC) to chair the working group, and we look forward to the Global Rural Health Summit, which takes place in Bengaluru, India on 4 April 2025 as part of the WONCA South Asia Region Conference.
Closing video of the Ubuntu 2024 Conference
IMPROVING DIAGNOSIS FOR PATIENT SAFETY: Yesterday marked World Patient Safety Day, highlighting the critical role of accurate and timely diagnosis. WONCA’s WHO liaison, Prof Maria Pilar Asteria Peña (Spain), attended the WHO Global Consultation in Geneva and wrote about 9 key areas where family doctors contribute to safe diagnoses. From comprehensive healthcare to addressing cognitive biases, family doctors play a vital role in preventing diagnostic errors.
GERIATRICS TRAINING PROGRAM: The WONCA Ageing & Health Special Interest Group (SIG) has partnered with the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) and the Federation of Geriatric Education (FGE) to offer an internationally accredited e-learning program in geriatrics. The “E-TRIGGER” program, a 12-month course accredited by the European Accreditation Council for CME, offers 60 CEUs and will begin on 26 September 2024, covering topics such as cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and end-of-life care. To register or apply for scholarships, visit IAGG-FGE.
Discounts: WONCA direct members receive a 15% discount on the e-TRIGGER course, and doctors from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) can benefit from significantly reduced fees, ranging from CHF 30 to CHF 120, depending on the country. Additionally, scholarships are available for the first 10 applicants from the Ageing & Health SIG. Full information on discounts is available on the WONCA website.
SUICIDE PREVENTION: Did you know that one in three people who die by suicide had contact with primary care in the previous month? On Tuesday, 10 September we marked the World Suicide Prevention Day by inviting family doctors to enrol in our free e-learning course on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD Minds 101 was designed by our Working Party on Mental Health for family doctors, and is available in four languages. Sign up today and help to better treat depression and prevent suicide.
WATCH – PRIMARY CARE NETWORK IN KENYA: We are pleased to share a short video documenting WONCA’s field visit to Makadara Primary Care Network in Nairobi, to learn about the Hub and Spoke model of primary currently being rolled out across Kenya. With insights from WONCA President-elect Vivianna Martinez-Bianchi, and interviews with community health promoters bringing the gap between the community, primary care facilities, and tertiary facilities. A huge thank you to Dr Mercy Wanjala for arranging the visit and to Dr Anne Mwikya and her colleagues for showing us their efforts to strengthen primary care in Kenya despite significant challenges.
VIDEO: AfriWON field visit to the Makadara Primary Care Network, Nairobi County.
WONCA WEBINARS
BREAKING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER: In April, WONCA hosted a groundbreaking webinar, co-organized with the Waynakay Movement and the Working Party on Planetary Health. Dr Cheryl Chan, YDM Lead, writes about how the event overcame language barriers through live interpretation, allowing non-English speakers to fully participate for the first time. This inclusive approach enabled 80 participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds to engage in discussions on planetary health. Going forward, WONCA is committed to breaking down communication barriers, empowering young family doctors with opportunities to collaborate and learn in a more inclusive and culturally respectful environment through future webinars.
UPCOMING: We are excited to invite you to a special webinar featuring our past-president Professor Michael Kidd, a global leader in family medicine and public health advocacy. As Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Kidd played a pivotal role in shaping government responses and health policy. He’ll share his insights on how you can effectively advocate with your government. Friday, 27 Sept 11:30 – 12:30 UTC. Register here.
WATCH BACK: On September 4, we hosted a webinar titled “Why is Policy Advocacy Important for Family Doctors?” featuring an expert panel of speakers from across Latin America. Gabriel Battistella (Argentina), Dora Patricia Bernal Ocampo (Colombia), and María Sofía Cuba Fuentes (Peru) shared insights on the importance of policy advocacy in primary care. Hosted by Mariano Granero (Argentina), the event offered live interpretation in English, and the webinar recording is now available on YouTube with English subtitles.
MORE WEBINARS, PODCASTS, EVENTS.
TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE: Hosted by the Bahrain Family Physicians Association, this webinar will feature Dr. Alain Montegut, MD, FAAFP, President of Global Primary Care Consulting. Learn about systems-based improvements, Lean Six Sigma principles, healthcare challenges, and steps for lean improvement. Saturday, 21st September at 4:00 PM Bahrain Time (1:00 PM UTC). Register.
HEALTHCARE WITHOUT HARM: The sixth edition of the European Healthcare Climate Summit, hosted by HCWH Europe. This year’s virtual event will focus on “Building climate-resilient and net-zero healthcare: What’s next?” and feature leaders and experts in sustainable healthcare. Attendees will explore the latest advancements, case studies, and innovative solutions to decarbonize healthcare systems and build climate resilience. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and collaborate with peers dedicated to climate-smart healthcare.
RURAL ROAD TO HEALTH: Do you want to learn more about the health of rural and remote communities in Europe and globally? The Rural Road to Health podcast interviews rural researchers, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and those working on rural health innovations. There are more than 50 episodes with guests from 23 countries! Listen in!
WONCA North America Convening Meeting: Phoenix, Arizona. 22 September 2024.
North America Region’s inaugural one-day event. See the schedule.
WONCA Europe Conference: Dublin, Ireland. September 25 – 28, 2024. 10 days to go!
WONCA East Mediterranean Region Conference: Amman, Jordan. 3 – 5 October 2024.
Explore Jordan’s unique blend of history and modernity. The perfect place for learning and exploration. Register today.
WONCA Iberoamericano – CIMF Conference: Panama City, Panama. October 23 – 26, 2024.
Aprovecha un descuento para la Conferencia Iberoamericana de WONCA reservando antes del 30 de septiembre. Más información aquí. Sigue a CIMF en Facebook para ofertas exclusivas en vuelos y alojamiento.
