URGENT: Call for Pre-WHA and World Health Assembly! DEADLINE EXTENDED!

APRIL 7, 2013, 23:59 GMT

Dear IFMSA family,

Greetings to you all! Special thoughts to those who just left from the recently-concluded March Meeting 2013 in Baltimore, USA I hope you all have arrived safely in the comfort of your homes!

I would like to announce the opening of the call for applications for two important events happening this May in Geneva the annual World Health Assembly, and the Youth Pre-WHA workshop.

The 66th World Health Assembly (WHA) will be held this May 20-28, 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. Attended by delegations from 194 Member States as well as recognized international NGOs and other partners, WHA is the annual gathering of the highest decision-making body of WHO. Each year, IFMSA sends a delegation of 8-12 people, composed of IFMSA officials and other leaders and advocates, with equitable regional representation and covering the different global health priorities of WHO and IFMSA. Please see attached provisional agenda (1) for this years WHA.

For the first time in IFMSA history, we will be holding a Youth Pre-WHA Workshop on Global Health Diplomacy and Global Health Governance on May 16-20, 2013, shortly before the WHA. Open to IFMSA members as well as other youth organizations that usually attend the WHA, the workshop aims to educate and empower future leaders in health with enhanced knowledge and understanding of global health issues. Furthermore, the event aims to develop a streamlined plan of action for youth participation at the World Health Assembly. In order to advance interprofessional collaboration in global health, IFMSA has also invited students and youth from other organizations. Attached herewith are additional information (2), tentative program (3), and concept note (4).

Also attached with this email is the unified application form (5) for both WHA and Pre-WHA. Preference will be given to those who can attend both events, as the pre-WHA will serve as the preparation for the delegations advocacy work for the main assembly.

Please fill out this form and send it back to us (youth.pre.wha@gmail.com) by April 1st, 12.01pm GMT.

Participation fee for the Pre-WHA is 430 euros, which includes food, accommodation, workshop venue, and programming. On the other hand, WHA attendance is free, but selected IFMSA attendees are responsible for their own food, accommodation, local transport, and other expenses.

Selected participants to the pre-WHA and delegates to the WHA have to demonstrate commitment to fully participate in the preparations, contribute to the implementation of the advocacy strategy that will be developed during pre-WHA, and sustain involvement during the post-WHA follow-up.

For those who cannot participate in either pre-WHA or WHA, you will still be able to contribute to the IFMSA advocacy strategy for the World Health Assembly through the various online consultations that we will be launching this April. Please keep abreast of updates from the Liaison Officer to the WHO.

For more inquiries, please feel free to email lwho@ifmsa.org and youth.pre.wha@gmail.com.

We look forward to your applications! Let us work together in ensuring our participation in the global governance of health.

Health for all, Renzo