Dear WONCA family,
Welcome to your weekly update from the World Organization of Family Doctors. Keep reading for news on developments at the World Health Assembly in Geneva and updates on WONCA webinars and conferences.
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY: The seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA77) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 May – 1 June 2024. This year’s theme is: All for Health, Health for All. WONCA is being represented by Maria Pilar Astier-Peña, pictured above with WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who strongly supports the acceleration of Primary Health Care to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
Side event on PHC transformation: WONCA representatives joined forces with ministers and WHO officials in a packed side event brimming with insightful discussion. “Accelerating Primary Health Care Transformation with Evidence” saw a proposal from Kazakhstan for a PHC Coalition of Countries and the publication of the much-anticipated “Implementing the Primary Health Care Approach: A Primer.”
Heart of the health system: Dr. Mónica García Gómez, Minister of Health for Spain, emphasized that for Spain, PHC is not just the front door but the “heart” of the health system. WONCA remains committed to supporting these essential initiatives. Read our full report of the event here.
Healthy Planet: On day 2 of #WHA77, WHO announced Climate and Health as one of its six strategic objectives. WONCA co-signed a statement on Climate and Health, led by the World Heart Foundation.
WEBINARS
YDM-WP/SIG WEBINAR SERIES: The next webinar in the collaborative series between Young Doctors’ Movement and the WONCA Working Parties and Special Interest Groups is on the topic of Cybersecurity. As telemedicine gains popularity and becomes an integral part of modern healthcare, it is crucial for us, as family doctors, to recognize and address potential threats.
CyberXFM project: Esteemed speakers from WP on eHealth and INTERPOL will help you enhance your knowledge and contribute to a secure digital healthcare environment. All are welcome. 16th June 2024, 13:00 – 14:30 UTC. Register on Zoom.
WHY (NOT) RURAL PRACTICE?: Join a special rural cafe with Ms Anne Davies. Anne is doing research with the Australian National University and looking into why, and why not, doctors choose rural practices. June 22nd, 10 AM UTC. Join on Zoom.
LIVING A LIFE OF ADVOCACY: Don’t forget to register for Friday’s webinar titled “Living a Life of Advocacy – An opportunity to learn from our President-Elect” with keynote speaker Viviana Martinez Bianchi MD. 11:00 AM UTC.
Podcast: Listen to the European Young Family Doctors’ Movement (EYFMD) Podcast episode with Prof Viviana Martinez Bianchi on Spotify.
WORLD FAMILY DOCTOR DAY 2024: We’re currently compiling reports from events held around the world celebrating World Family Doctor Day 2024 for the June edition of WONCA news. Member Organization are invited to file a short report of activities here.
WONCA CONFERENCE UPDATES
8th WONCA Africa Region Conference: Nairobi, Kenya. June 5-8, 2024.
Wishing our colleagues in Africa a successful conference next week! View the final program here.
The John Macleod Oration, named after a founding member of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice, will take place at the Ubuntu Conference in Cape Town. This year’s orator, Prof. Dora Bernal from Colombia, will share her extensive work in rural and marginalized communities. A passionate advocate for rural health and solidarity, Prof. Bernal’s oration will draw from her personal and professional experiences, offering inspiration and insights into the challenges and opportunities in rural healthcare.
WONCA South Asia Region Conference: Bengaluru, India 4 – 6 April, 2025.
Watch the promotional video with welcome messages from the organizing committee members Col (Dr) Mohan Kubendra and Dr Roshni Jhan Ganguly.
Did you miss the May edition of WONCA News? It’s here in PDF format.
