– By CHINEDU NWADURU, ABH PRESS
Commencing on the November 19, the Federation of African Medical Students Associations (FAMSA) opened her annual General Assembly for the 32nd time at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Over 400 delegates from across Africa, and 25 speakers from across the globe were gathered on Monday at the ICC to officially commence the General Assembly-which will feature the Scientific Conference and the electioneering procedures to elect a new executive board for the Federation.
Speaking to the audience, the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus via a video recording; expressed his delight at the conference and the projected impact of the resolutions of the conference on the health policies – especially for Africa.
The keynote address on the theme of the Conference- Repositioning Healthcare in Africa For Sustainable Development – was delivered by Dr Clement Peter Lugala, the Officer-in-Charge WHO Nigeria on behalf of the Regional Coordinator for Africa – Dr. Matshidiso Moeti who had to reschedule her plans of attendance on the grounds of an emergency meeting.
Lugala stressed the need for a collective effort among major stakeholders in Africa – especially the students in improving the healthcare in Africa for good.
The Conference is scheduled to last till Friday, November 23 – with ten plenary sessions to span across topical health issues in Africa including outbreak and disaster management, Maternal and Child Health, Medical education, Social determinants of Health and Health Financing and Policy to mention a few.
The delegates are to be engaged in high impact , problem solving activities and sessions, interact with the panellists and form strong relationships that may prove pivotal to the sustaining of the healthcare in Africa – ranging from certified courses to a three-day “Reso-hackathon session”
Some of the speakers confirmed to be in attendance as include Mrs Toyin Saraki, Professor Stephen Obaro, Mr Adam Thompson, Dr Pauline Bakinbinga and Professor Kayode Odusote.
With Johnson and Johnson and WHO as key sponsors among others including Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airways, IBCityInfo; the entire continent of Africa awaits the resolutions of the GA.