August & September 2020
Imprint Contributors Laura Lalucat Eglė Janušonytė Klaudia Szymuś Mohamed Hichem Smaali Abra Zahid Areej Abdalmagid Fatima Rodriguez Yara Hisham Othman Shweta Poduval Ieva Berankytė Christos Papaiouannou Shaimaa Adel Arsene Koumbem Alicia Abad Londoño Layout Design Klaudia Szymuś Safia Abdulla
Publisher International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) International Secretariat: c/o IMCC, Norre Allé 14, 2200 Kobenhavn N., Denmark Phone: +31 2 05668823 Email: gs@ifmsa.org Homepage: www.ifmsa.org
Contact Us vpprc@ifmsa.org
The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization representing associations of medical students worldwide. IFMSA was founded in 1951 and currently maintains 136 National Member Organizations from 126 countries across six continents, representing a network of 1.3 million medical students. IFMSA envisions a world in which medical students unite for global health and are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to take on health leadership roles locally and globally, so to shape a sustainable and healthy future. IFMSA is recognized as a nongovernmental organization within the United Nations’ system and the World Health Organization; and works in collaboration with the World Medical Association.
This is an IFMSA Publication © 2019 - Only portions of this publication may be reproduced for non political and non profit purposes, provided mentioning the source. Disclaimer This publication contains the collective views of different contributors, the opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of IFMSA. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the IFMSA in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.
Notice All reasonable precautions have been taken by the IFMSA to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material herein lies with the reader. Some of the photos and graphics used in this publication are the property of their respective authors. We have taken every consideration not to violate their rights.
FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM SCORA IT AND PC Dear readers, With October first approaching fast, you might have noticed that this is the last newsletter of the term 2019/2020. It is with many mixed feelings that we can reflect on how 365 days passed since we got to start thinking about the first newsletter of the term. The SCORA Newsletter turned out to be a great tool to showcase what SCORA members were up to but also update you all frequently about what was ongoing from the International Team and Programme Coordinators side. This term tried to build up on various previous experiences in terms of member engagement and I feel confident enough to say that the Newsletter was a great example to depict the perspective we were working from. The more we advanced in the term, the newsletters had more articles written by members, more contributions and in loads of activities submissions. It was a shared space where you could get updated, find the inspiration you were searching for and get a greater insight into the International Team and Program Coordinators work. We hope it brought you closer to other members of the SCORA family being fellow LORAs, active members, NORAs, International Team members or PCs. The future of the SCORA Newsletter is in your hands, make sure you take an active role and shape this amazing tool that serves many purposes in SCORA. Use it wisely and never be afraid to submit your articles, share your thoughts and embrace the challenge to be featured in the next newsletter! All the best, Lalu on behalf of the International Team and SCORA Program Coordinators
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5 BIMONTHLY REPORTS 15 ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENTS 18 OGA SUMMARY 19 ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION CAMPAIGN 20 CSE FEST 21 VIRTUAL EUREGME 2020 22 SDG AND SRHR 25 HOW TO: HANDOVER 26 COMING SOON IN SCORA 27 HIV&AIDS ARE A SYMPTOM, EDUCATION IS THE CURE 30 ASA CAMPAIGN: ARTWORK COMPETITION RESULTS
SCORA DIRECTOR LAURA LALUCAT scorad@ifmsa.org
In charge of activities and capacity building of SCORA and supporting the IT Coordinating SCORA sessions at the General Assemblies The link between SCORA members and the Executive Board Anything you don’t know who to reach out for!
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - Worked on handover manuals (D and IT);
- OLMs CSE fest preps and event
- Worked on intersectional IFMSA data collection;
- V2V preps and event
- Regulations shared and chasing you all to share the Active status with NMOs;
- Handover OLMs
- Follow up of OGA;
- OGA evaluation OLM
- Evaluation of OGA; - Certificates for ST; - Worked on abstract for open education conference; - Planning around certain pending tasks to wrap up till the end of the term; - TO deletion of GDPR, revising MSI articles, CSE Fest inputs, trying to outline and schedule all work till end of term.
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - Reports: GA, Global priorities and end of term;
- SCORA IT Monthly OLM
- GA follow up: compiling recordings and finalising the outcomes;
- SCORA IT Goodbye OLM
- Hackathon stream follow up;
- V2V
- Finalised SCORA IT handover manual;
- ASA webinar
- Prepared and delivered a V2V session; - ASA and BCAM campaigns follow up; - Intersectional IFMSA contributions to data analysis; - CSE fest preparations and assistance; - TO deletion of GDPR; - Revising MSI articles.
LIAISON OFFICER FOR SRHR ISSUES INCL. HIV&AIDS EGLĖ JANUŠONYTĖ lra@ifmsa.org
Focal point with all SRHR external relations Representing SCORA on international level meetings with external partners Coordinating Policy Documents development
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - SCORA sessions: external sessions preparations;
- OGA Plenary, Presidents, SCORA sessions,
- Theme event preparations and co-facilitation;
Theme event, SCORA debate
- The PACT development of advocacy calendar;
- TOM0
- The PACT tasks and preparing for advocacy working group handover;
- OLM with SCORA D
- Input for the working documents for the fututr ICPD;
- ICPD platform OLM
- UNFPA campaign coordination;
- SCORA ST OLM
- Ipas report finalization, helping out with ASA campaign;
- Handover OLMs with LRA-elect x2
- WHO RHR catching up on adolescent health ToR;
- OGA follow up TO OLM
- Adding all SRHR external and projects to new database;
- EBe OLMs
- Working on ILO endorsement from IFMSA.
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - New collaboration with UNFPA started;
- ICPD OLM
- ASA campaign webinar overview;
- Ipas OLM
- Ipas moodle and report follow-up;
- UNFPA regional partner OLM
- Following UNGA happenings and Beijing+25 progress;
- The PACT steering committee meeting
- World Health Summit side event organizing;
- The PACT advocacy working group
- NORA starter pack external parts;
meeting
- The PACT finalizing pending tasks, connecting LRAe;
- AMEE 2020
- Reporting GA, IFMSA impact, final reports;
- T4all UNFPA session
- Multiple handover meetings.
- IFMSA Kurdistan policy-making workshop - Handover OLMs - TOM1 - IT/PC call, EB elect meetings - SCORA IT Monthly Meeting - SCORA IT Goodbye Meeting
GENERAL ASSISTANT KLAUDIA SZYMUŚ ga.scora@ifmsa.org
Coordination of SCORA X-Change Providing members with transparency by newsletters, quarterly updates and other general publication means Collecting SCORA IT monthly reports, taking minutes during Online Meetings
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - 2nd call for SXC: promotion, opening of call for pax and amending the form, coordination with
- OGA sessions
the OC;
- OGA plenaries
- OGA preparations: SCOME session, sex-positivity session, SCORA Buddies group, preparations
- OLM with SCORA RA EU and SCORA DA
for elections;
CB
- Handover manual: SCORA GA part;
- OLM with SCORA-D
- Updating SCORA Regulations from SCORA Plenary;
- SCOME Social Accountability Session ST
- Answering emails on SXC, Newsletter and other tasks;
OLM
- SCORA X-Change goes virtual: evaluation and distribution for OCs; - Newsletter 5: design and content (transparency article); - Newsletter 6: table of contents created and shared for input;
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - Preparations for trainings in PMSA-Palestine and QMSA-Qatar;
- SCORA IT Monthly OLM
- Candidature for IT preparation;
- SCORA IT Goodbye OLM
- Uploading Newsletter to Database;
- OLM with NORA PMSA-Palestine
- Follow up on SCORA X-Change hosts proposals - feedback;
- OLM with NORA QMSA-Qatar
- GDPR deletion;
- Webinar for PMSA-Palestine Family
- Newsletter #6 draft and design;
planning 101
- SCORA X-Change follow up on hosts, application period and opening subsidiary call;
- IT interview
- Handover manual - parts written;
- Handover OLM with SCORA GA-elect
- Handover process;
- ASA webinar
- Monthly Report shared with the IT.
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT FOR CAPACITY BULDING
MOHAMMED HICHEM SMAALI da.scora@ifmsa.org
Organising online trainings and improving existing workshops Creating new manuals, evaluating and following up already issued ones The main contact person regarding Sub-Regional Trainings Connecting trainers
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - OGA and SCORA sessions preparations;
- OGA
- Certification for SCORA CB events;
- OLM with SCORA D
- V2V preparations.
- OLM with SCORA GA - OLM with PC SRHR
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - Certification;
- Handover OLM
- Writing Newsletter sections;
- V2V
- V2V Training preparations;
- Monthly OLM
- Database uploads;
- Goodbye OLM
- Handover manual.
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT FOR MEMBER ENGAGEMENT ABRA ZAHID
da.me.scora@ifmsa.org Activating non-SCORA-active NMOs The main contact person regarding major SCORA campaigns, creation of toolkits and manuals Updating the SCORA Database Coordinating Open Spaces
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - OGA Preperations: Sessions preperation, development of buddy system;
- OGA ST OLM x2
- Completion of database tracking sheet;
- Individual OLMs with SCORA RA AP and
- SCORA Activation work continuation for TaMSA-Tatarstan;
ST member for sessions preperation
- SWG creation for ASA Campaign.
- OLM with SCORA RA EU for SCORA Activation - ASA SWG OLM - Individual OLMs with MHASA PC
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - SWG on ASA Coordination;
- AM ST Follow up
- SCORA Activation TaMSA Tatarstan and update of tracking sheet;
- Africa webinar on ME
- Annual Impact report 19/20 (Campaign Section);
- SCORA IT Monthly OLM
- Reform SCORA Database sheet completed, final cleaning and sharing of database with
- SCORA IT Goodbye OLM
members (still to be done);
- TaMSA Tatarstan on SCORA Activation
- SCORA IT Handover manual;
- ASA Campaign with MHASA PC and SWG
- Handover preparation of DA ME and DA PRC.
- Handover of DA ME and DA PRC
REGIONAL ASSISTANT FOR AFRICA AREEG ABDALMAGID
ra.scora.africa@ifmsa.org The link between SCORA IT and NMOs from Africa Activating non-SCORA-active NMOs in Africa Coordinating Regional sessions at General Assemblies and SCORA Sessions at African Regional Meeting Assisting in organising Sub-Regional Trainings and solving SCORA-related problems within Africa
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - OGA preparations.
- OGA - SCORA ST OLMs - OLM with NORA MSAKE-Kenya, MEDSARRwanda, EMSA-Ethiopia and AEM- Burkina Faso - NORAs follow up OLM - Regional Team OLM
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
- SCORA IT Monthly OLM - SCORA IT Goodbye OLM - OLMs with the African Spotlight Week Organizing Committee x3 - Webinar on external representation in Africa - Webinar on Capacity building in Africa - OLM with NORA UMMSA-Malawi and NORA EMSA-Ethiopia - RT OLM
Tasks - SCORA Africa Spotlight week.
REGIONAL ASSISTANT FOR AMERICAS FATIMA RODRIGUEZ
ra.scora.americas@ifmsa.org The link between SCORA IT and NMOs from Americs Activating non-SCORA-active NMOs in Americas Coordinating Regional sessions at General Assemblies and SCORA Sessions at American Regional Meeting Assisting in organising Sub-Regional Trainings and solving SCORA-related problems within Americas
Meetings
Aug
Online meetings:
Tasks - Enrollment process: JAMSA-Jamaica, IFMSA Argentina, IFMSA Costa Rica, IFMSA Guatemala,
- OGA, ST preparation x2
TTMSA-Trinidad and Tobago, AMMEF-Mexico, IFMSA Paraguay, ASCEMCOL-Colombia, IFMSA
- OGA, Session preparation x2
Brazil, DENEM Brazil;
- RT Monthly meeting
- OGA, sessions preparations and facilitation;
- RT weekly meetings x3
- OGA, SCORA plenary preparation;
- SCORA RA for Africa x2
- Handover SCORA IT, constructions and preparation;
- OLM with NORA JaMSA
- Handover process, Regional format;
- OLM with NORA ASCEMCOL
- SCORA Regional session (facilitation and preparation);
- OLM with NORA elect IFMSA Quebec
- Joint session with SCOPH (facilitation, coordination and preparation).
- OLM with NORA Honduras - NGA IFMSA Peru: SOGIESC in Exchanges - OLM with IFMSA Peru Violence to victory V2V workshop session (adaptation) - webinar SCORA UCSUR - Human Trafficking - Modern Slavery - webinar SCORA SOCEMURP- We are together, panel - IFMSA Guatemala: SCORA Camp - AMMEF, SCORA Race (evaluation panel)
Sep
Tasks
Meetings Online meetings:
- Handover meetings with SCORA D and starting the work;
- RT Weekly metings x3
- SCORA IT handover manual;
- SCORA IT Monthly OLM
- Regional team handover manual;
- SCORA IT Goodbye OLM
- Preparing the work for the future: Drive preparation, ordering carpets and preparing files for
- SCORA ST OLM
SCORA RA elect;
- IT/PC calls
- Follow up manual- OGA, 2020.
REGIONAL ASSISTANT FOR ASIA-PACIFIC SHWETA PODUVAL
ra.scora.asiapacific@ifmsa.org The link between SCORA IT and NMOs from Asia-Pacific Activating non-SCORA-active NMOs in Asia-Pacific Coordinating Regional sessions at General Assemblies and SCORA Sessions at Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting Assisting in organising Sub-Regional Trainings and solving SCORA-related problems within AsiaPacific
Aug
Meetings
Tasks
Online meetings:
- OGA Attendance and SCORA Sessions preparations;
- OGA Session preparation OLM with
- AP Week Follow-up Report;
SCORA DA ME
- End-Term Report for SCORA IT;
- pre-OGA Sessions OLMs
- Handover manual;
- AP Regional Plenary
- SCORA Active status reporting for SCORA D and SCORA DA ME.
- IFMSA OGA Plenaries - OGA SCORA Sessions - AMSA KG Webinar on Maternal Health and COVID-19 - OGA ST OLM #4
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - RT End-of-term work;
- SCORA IT Monthly OLM
- Handover manual;
- Handover OLM for RA AP 20/21
- AMSA KG SCORA Activation Follow-up;
- RT Monthly OLM
- Updating NORA Database;
- SCORA IT Goodbye OLM
- Intersectional IFMSA SWG Report Work;
REGIONAL ASSISTANT FOR EMR YARA HISHAM OTHMAN ra.scora.emr@ifmsa.org
The link between SCORA IT and NMOs from EMR Activating non-SCORA-active NMOs in EMR Coordinating Regional sessions at General Assemblies and SCORA Sessions at EMR Regional Meeting Assisting in organising Sub-Regional Trainings and solving SCORA-related problems within EMR
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
Tasks - OGA preparations.
- OGA - SCORA ST OLMs - SCORA IT Monthly OLM - RT Monthly OLM - SCORA ST member x6
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
-SCORA IT Monthly OLM - OLM with SCOPH RA - OLM with NORA Qatar
Tasks - SCORA Handover manual parts.
REGIONAL ASSISTANT FOR EUROPE IEVA BERANKYTÄ–
ra.scora.europe@ifmsa.org The link between SCORA IT and NMOs from Europe Activating non-SCORA-active NMOs in Europe Coordinating Regional sessions at General Assemblies and SCORA Sessions at European Regional Meeting Assisting in organising Sub-Regional Trainings and solving SCORA-related problems within European
Aug
Meetings Online meetings:
- OGA - OGA ST OLMs, including follow-up - TOM0 - Handover OLMs x2 - ET OLM on virtual EuRegMe - EuRegMe ST OLM - OLM with SCORA DA CB
Tasks - OGA session preparation and delivery, contact with externals for one of the panels; - Online EuRegMe preparation and Sessions Team coordination (session distribution, agenda, finalization of the Survival Kit); - Input to WHO pocketbook on adolescent health SRHR section; - Answering queries regarding position, resources, OGA matters and SCORA Activation; - Elect tasks (applied for the extended Youth Taskforce on Beijing +25, IT/PC Call work with SCORA D-elect, filled external meeting approval for October); - CSE forum preparation with PC for SRHR and SCORA D.
- OLM with ANEM - Portugal NORA - OLM with SCORA D-elect - OLM with SCORP RA EU - Platform for the Future of the ICPD Led by Young People
Sep
Meetings Online meetings:
- EuRegMe 2020 virtual - EuRegMe20 ST OLMs - EuroTeam meetings - CSE Fest 2020 - OLM with SCORA D elect - Onboarding and steering committee call with the PACT and LRA - Collaboration OLM with UNFPA Africa and LRA - Handover with RA EU Elect - Monthly SCORA IT OLM - SCORA IT Goodbye OLM - IT/PC call interviews
Tasks - European Regional Meeting 2020 - virtual: Sessions preparation finalized, evaluation conducted; - Debrief with the Sessions Team and European Regional Team - CSE Fest for Europe - session prepared and conducted - External Affairs for Africa - materials prepared and conducted - SCORA Handover manual - position specific part written - Handover for successor conducted - European Regional Team end of term report written - LRA - elect work: work on proposals, preparatory tasks for the term
ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENTS Coordination of both GAs and 5 RMs both in face to face and online formats Regulations and strategy changes and creation of new sections Coordination of the International Team with frequent updates and support to every member New Capacity Building workshop and transition to online workshops Creation of more opportunities for members’ active engagement.
The ICPD+25 in Nairobi UNFPA and IFMSA campaign “Youth against Covid” Collaboration with WHO Reproductive Health Research department and releasing publications on adolescents SRHR SRHR advocacy working group in the PreWHA 6 policy documents adopted at IFMSA GAs
Increased transparency and interactions on FB group Giving the Newsletter current form Emergency sessions database for SCORA X-Change OCs Centralized system of reporting and evaluating exchanges Introducing Code of Conduct to SXC Opening 2nd call of SCORA X-Change for the first time! Online IPET Facilitator Sessions Team member of EMR16, AP Week, MM20 and OGA Conducting virtual SCORA X-Change as a response to COVID-19-related cancellations Policies work: ASA, Obstetric Violence and Menstrual Health
Online IPET coordination SCORA CB Regulations Coordination of IDAHOT campaign SCORA Sessions Team Member for MM 2020 and AM 2020
Worked on SCORA Activation Regulations, SCORA Activation guidelines for inactive NMOs and SCORA NMO directory and worked with 10 inactive NMOs Celebrated 8 international days Evaluation of SCORA Strategic Plan 2016-19, new Strategic plan for upcoming term Created SCORA Open Space for anonymous feedback, comments and queries 2 SCORA Open spaces (one each for Menstrual hygiene day and Pride month) SCORA Database: Cleaned up and ready to be shared with our members Online IPET facilitation SCORA ST Member in MM2020, OGA AM 2020, Virtual AP week 2020 2 International SCORA policies - Access to Safe Abortion and Abolishing Child Marriage
African Regional Meeting sessions in Lilongwe, Malawi December-2019 Choosing the host for the SCORA Africa Boot Camp (SABC) 2020 Self Help Series for the African Region Coordination of the Regional Anti Female Genital Mutialtaion (FGM) campaign SCORA Activation of 4 African NMOs Policy documents throughout the term for the MM and the AM 2020 Coordination of Maternal Health and Rights campaign SCORA Sessions Team Member for the AM 2020 SCORA Spotlight Week for the African region increasing the SCORA visibility in Africa
NORAs buddy system, including the 100% of the active NORAs in the Americas Region One day IPAS, facilitated as a national workshop in two NMOs, ASCEMCOL and IFMSA Guatemala HEAT, SRT Peru, facilitated 1st generation of HEAT facilitator in Peruvian lands Feel the pride, Regional campaign, including one regional rainbow hands project DENEM Brazil, activation process Multiple enrollments process, with the 90% of the SCORA active NMOs in the Americas Multiple webinars facilitated, supporting NORAs, LORAs and general members AMMEF CB series Americas CB series
SCORA Activation Process initiated for 3 NMOs (SMMAMS Malaysia, RMSA Afghanistan and AMSA Kyrgyzstan) and 1 is now active and the other 2 are nearly active Online IPET Facilitator SCORA Sessions Coordinator at AP Week 2020 SCORA Sessions Team Member for MM 2020 and AM 2020
Initiation of SCORA EMR facebook and database EMR regional campaigns (anti-FGM, COVID-19) EMR16 SCORA sessions and Pre-EMR Ipas coordination SCORA Sessions Team at OGA Activation of PMSA-Palestine and re-activation of IMSA-Iran Conducting NORA Weekend online
SCORA Activation initiated in 6 European NMOs! Virtual EuRegMe 2020 happened at the very end of the term, but with an incredible Sessions Team and participants IPAS Trainer in MM20 All of the Policy Document work done in the term! Work in the SWG for renewing the Policy Document Toolkit
Great increase in the number of enrolled and reported activities, through continuous promotion Online IPET facilitator Creation of CSE Fest 2020 Coordination of IDAHOT and SRHR awareness campaigns ST member in OGA20 Contribution to policy documents on Ending GBV and Abolishing Child Marriage Close work with external partners (ILGA, WHO RHR, UNFPA)
Programs promotion and Increase in the number of enrolled and reported activities Constant communication and capacity building to the activity coordinators Coordinated IDEVAW, IWD and anti-FGM EMR campaigns Coordinated the Intersectional IFMSA SWG Coordinated the CoC Committee in MM20 SCORA Sessions Team member in MM20 and OGA Contributed to the Ending GBV, Obstetric Violence and Abolishing Child Marriage Policies
Sessions team OGA20 Access to Safe Abortion Campaign Good number of enrolled and reported activities
SCORA INTERNATIONAL TEAM AND PROGRAM COORDINATORS THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE THIS TERM!
ONLINE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AUGUST MEETING 2020 For the first time ever, we have gone online to offer you the best possible GA experience ever, well at least after panama. This year, SCORA has still tried to provide the participants with the most updated knowledge on SRHR related topics throughout sessions’ content while still exchanging initiatives, activities and good practices while offering a safe space for everyone to speak up freely. This year we have tackled Global Health Essentials for SRHR and SRHR in health emergencies while also speaking about Adolescents health and then taking it one step forward Sex-positivity approaches and
step forward Sex-positivity approaches and sexual pleasure. Follow up is accessible here. You will find all recordings, outlines of the sessions, and minutes that are fully available for your usage. Make sure you share them with your members as it is designed so anyone can take advantage of it. If you have any comments or suggestions for future General Assemblies, or if you have any questions or inquiries, feel free to reach out at scora@ifmsa.org anytime.
FULFILLED CAMPAIGN
international safe abortion day 28TH OF SEPTEMBER
As an essential reproductive healthcare service, access to safe and legal abortion is key to protecting women’s and girl’s health and human rights and achieving gender, social and economic justice. To this day, unsafe abortion remains an important issue worldwide, disproportionately affecting the developing world. The pandemic makes it even more urgent to continue advocating for safe and legal abortion for everyone, everywhere. To celebrate International Safe Abortion Day, a campaign is taking place during the last week of September. Infographics were shared across social media platforms. 3 training sessions on different topics regarding abortion were delivered by SCORA
members to around 50 fellow SCORAngels. An artwork competition was organized and some pieces are shared in this newsletter. Finally, a webinar was held on September 28. During this fruitful discussion, we were joined by 3 amazing speakers: Cecilia Espinoza, Senior Advocacy Advisor at Ipas; Laura Lalucat, SCORA Director 2019-2020; and Abra Zahid, SCORA DA ME 2019-2020. All of these initiatives could not have taken place without the help of our spectacular SWG members: Barbara Nyaga, Jimmy Chau, Mai El Nabawy, Kartikeya Ojha, Naveera Fayyaz, and Oana Cioloca.
CSE FEST Dates: 04-06.09. CSE Fest is an online capacity building event dedicated to Comprehensive Sexuality Education. This event aimed to educate SCORA members from all regions on soft skills useful for CSE activities, promote successful activities from NMOs and discuss IFMSA's work for CSE. The topic of this edition was "CSE in the Digital Era". Day 1 included five capacity building sessions on the following topics: "How to start your CSE project", "Receiving recognition/support for CSE activities", "Delivering CSE online", "Creating methods for CSE" and "Impact assessment & Evaluation". On the second day we had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Petar Mladenov, representative of the UNFPA for a thought provoking Theme Event on CSE in the digital era. Joining him in a panel discussion were members from the SCORA IT and NMOs. Finally, on day 3 we had presentations of CSE activities from all 5 regions of IFMSA and an interesting discussion about what next steps of SCORA and IFMSA should take for CSE. We would like to welcome all the members for their enthusiastic engagement and participation and the Sessions Team members for their diligent work to make the event come true (Cecilie from bvmd Germany, Francesca from SISM Italy, Oana from FASMR Romania, Sofia from ANEM Portugal). If you missed the chance to take part in this event, you can find the follow up material in this link.
VIRTUAL EUREGME 2020
As many other events, EuRegMe 2020 went virtual. With the tireless efforts of the European Regional Team and SCORA Sessions Team (Marina Kushnirenko from HCCM-Russian Federation, Francisco Duarte from ANEM-Portugal and Erica Clemente from SISM-Italy), we had incredible 3 days of European SCORA sessions. We covered topics that were relevant for the region, important for working and not burning out in SRHR and even tackled some areas that are rarely spoken about in IFMSA settings. A safe, welcoming space was achieved - even though virtually. Finally, SCORA had three incredible joint sessions with SCOME, SCOPH and SCORP, allowing for much - needed inter - standing committee collaboration. Agenda: Day 1 (On our Region): SCORA Introduction and Team-Building; CSE: A Human Right Day 2 (Building our Capacities): Key principles of Inclusive Language and Why They Matter; How to Rest and Recover while you fight for social change; Day 3 (SCORA goes Current!): SRHR Laws in Europe: our role; Sex Workers - an SRHR perspective Joint sessions: SCORA/SCORP: Child Abuse: A doctor’s responsibility? SCORA/SCOPH: Gender Equality in Health Systems Management SCORA/SCOME: Health Workforce and Women in Global Health
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND SRHR In 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted a brand-new development agenda with the title Transforming our world: the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Within this agenda the UN proposed 17 Sustainable Development Goals over 17 main themes. IFMSA is an officially registered non-governmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council since 2003. IFMSA furthermore has special recognition and collaborations with several UN agencies, such as the WHO, UNAIDS and others. Therefore, IFMSA shares, along with all partners, the social responsibility to promote, advocate and achieve the SDGs. SRHR is an indispensable topic when discussing the SDGs. Several goals can be directly or indirectly connected to SCORA’s field of work. Below we present a few examples of how SRHR can be included in the 2030 agenda.
GOAL #3: ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES Relevant targets: 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
GOAL #4: ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL Relevant targets: 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations Relevant indicators: 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all
GOAL #5: ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS Relevant targets: 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences Relevant indicators: 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels
GOAL #10: REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES
Relevant targets: 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
GOAL #16: PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL AND BUILD EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS Relevant targets: 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels Relevant indicators: 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
Of course, there can be many more correlations between the SDGs and SRHR, such as the impact of climate change and gender or ending poverty and gender. What is important to remember is that our activities, from smaller to larger ones, can and do contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, even without us realising it. If you want to build your capacity on the SDGs and learn more about IFMSA’s contribution to the Global Goals, you can check the following links:
1. Medical Students for SDGs | Report on IFMSA’s and its NMOs’ contributions towards reaching the SDGs 2. Shadow Reporting on the SDGs 3. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
HOW TO HANDOVER It is said that “handover ends once your successor’s term ends” and we couldn’t agree more. Handover is a long term process and can certainly influence a person’s term whether it is at a local, national or international level. There are different ways to organise a handover process and all of them are good as long as the successor and predecessor are comfortable with it. With this said, we would like to provide you with some diverse tips coming directly from the IT and PCs on how to have the best handover ever! Tip #1: Create a handover tab for your official Gmail account and include the most important emails of your term Tip #2: Trust your successor, make sure you don’t overstep and leave them space to get started. It can be very uncomfortable for them to have you around 24/7 without leaving them space to try out their own way to do things. Tip #3: Knowing what to include in a handover takes time. Keep notes of everything you wish you would have known throughout the term - this will make the handover more comprehensive! Tip #4: Throughout the term, you keep improving your soft skills. Include this knowledge on how to deal with people and situations in the handover. Tip #5: Create a list of your network and how to reach these people/organisations. Starting from the scratch is hard, so it’s easier with a list of contacts and what we can use them for and what they are specialists of. We hope that with these short tips your handover will be helpful and comprehensive so your successor wouldn't be scared jumping into the term!
COMING SOON IN SCORA We will have 2 SRTs happening in near future:
SRT
TACSE at the HelMSIC National SRT 2020 from the 24th of October 2020 to 28th of October 2020 in Thessaloniki, Greece IPET at the Sudan-SRT, from 15th - 19th November 2020 in Port Sudan, Sudan Stay tuned on upcoming promotion of these!
With October first, be ready to meet the new SCORA IT and PCs. The IT 2019/20 will be becoming to
NEW TERM
history and the next one will take over the steering wheel. The introduction will happen in SCORA communication channels.
SCORA X-CHANGE
SCORA X-Change has opened its subsidiary call. We
Deadline: 12th of October
FB group (click here).
still have 22 spots left. Should you have any questions, contact SCORA General Assistant and follow the SCORA X-Change
HIV&AIDS ARE A SYMPTOM, EDUCATION IS THE CURE Article by Alicia Abad Londoño from bvmd Germany
I would like to start with the definition of structural violence that Dr Gene Richardson gave in an interview: “Institutionalized racism, gender inequality, lack of access to water or clean water, lack of access to adequate housing. All that sort of social mechanisms that prevent a population or a group of persons from becoming as healthy as they should be can be thought of as structural violence.” I understand this as a systematic way of preventing someone, through putting disadvantages and discrimination, from meeting their basic needs of which public health is a major component. Nonetheless, one important part of the idea of “structural violence” that has not been much discussed, and that for me has one of the biggest potential problems in solving structural violence, is the lack of a culprit. This characteristic of not being able to hold a specific person accountable adds a different level of difficulty to the complex question of “where do we start?”. Where do we start treating structural violence in the war against HIV&AIDS and other infectious diseases?
Problems in solving structural violence, is the lack of a culprit. This characteristic of not being able to hold a specific person accountable adds a different level of difficulty to the complex question of “where do we start?”. The first step - just like in other problems - is to recognize it exists and to start addressing it as something negative. In other forms of violence, a great risk in society is the “normalization” of it, and structural violence is not an exception. The general idea that “everybody had the same opportunities but they chose not to use them” is the perfect representation of how much we already normalized structural violence and transferring this to the public health crisis of HIV&AIDS scenario, is just as common to assume the “choice” people have in regards to contracting HIV, instead of acknowledging the inevitable situation they were put into. For the majority of people, most of them married women in developing countries, contracting HIV was NOT their choice but a consequence of poverty, gender inequality, lack of education and many other obstacles they had in life. Rebuilding the idea of HIV patients as blamable, to seeing them as victims of the situation is essential to solve the HIV&AIDS epidemic. We may never be able to point a finger to someone, but instead making every person in society accountable is a good place to start.
For the majority of people (...) contracting HIV was NOT their choice but a consequence of poverty, gender inequality, lack of education and many other obstacles they had in life. Rebuilding the idea of HIV patients as blamable, to seeing them as victims of the situation is essential to solve the HIV&AIDS epidemic.
I also, see the imminent correlation these obstacles have with the spreading of HIV and other infectious diseases and relate to the great task Dr Gene Richardson is embarking: “Things like gender inequality and how it drives the HIV epidemic, there are no real equations for that. And so, that is what a lot of us are working on now. How can we show more scientifically, what is apparent to everybody who has their eyes open?”. To obtain scientific proof of this correlation would mean that the socio-economic situation of these women would be treated as the root of the epidemic and the contraction of HIV would be seen only as a symptom, changing so the way we address HIV because of the understanding of the “pharmaceutical-solutions” as just band-aids to the whole situation. After understanding the socio-economic disadvantage or “structural violence” of women as the root of the epidemic, the next question would be: How do we cure it?
It sounds repetitive to say “education is the cure” but it actually is. I consider education as the key component to the solution of most socio-economic problems and in the particular case of public health, it adjusts perfectly to the agenda. My suggestion in the matter of HIV and other infectious diseases is based on the advance comprehensive of sexuality education. This means the way we teach sexuality matters, the way we treat the “basic instinct” of experiencing sex matters, the way we communicate emotions, fears, concerns, and teach our younger generations to know themselves and their bodies matters. We are in need of a restructuration of how we empower the youth to own their sexuality and to choose wisely. The timeline of the sexuality education has been backwards, and we try to teach our children to manage sex responsibly before we teach them to love themselves and love others. Our classes are filled with anatomy, contraception, disease-prevention but lack discussions about respect, consent, and gender discrimination. Self-esteem and communication skills are just as important as knowing know to put a condom on and it also should be taught first.
The timeline of the sexuality education has been backwards, and we try to teach our children to manage sex responsibly before we teach them to love themselves and love others.
Of course, all these suggestions would only be possible if we first manage our children, most importantly our girls, to go to school. Without knowing how to read and write, is an impossible task to have them understand complex ideas such as gender identity, relationships, and sex. All the efforts that have been put into providing and assuring basic schooling for children are very much needed to fight HIV/AIDS, but the consistency in which organizations supervise and prioritize school as the pillar of social development is something we can work on. Narrowing our efforts in achieving primary education for boys AND girls would maybe make our approach a little more realistic. We later can start implementing other interventions like the one I presented earlier. It is necessary to use band-aids while we address the reality of many public health-matters, but we shall never lose our course in the necessity of solving the underlying issues. HIV/AIDS is a symptom of a lot of social injustices and the pharmaceutical industry is there to treat it as such, but the real cure will come in the hands of education and gender equality.
References: Dr Gene Richardson of the Stanford University School of Medicine from: https://www.coursera.org/lecture/womens-health-human-rights/dr-gene-richardson-on-gender-hiv-aids-8QWgW
ACCESS TO SAFE ABORTION CAMPAIGN
ARTWORK COMPETITION Poem by Wechuli Doris Nyangasi
IF If someone had told her She wouldn't be putting on a ginormous dress Trying to hide the booming belly With something growing inside If someone had told her She would be on different paths with pain She wouldn't be discriminated Her heart wouldn't be torn apart By the guilt of betrayal She wouldn't be unsettled Someone should have told her That all she had to do was ask Because we no longer living in the past But information so vast If only she had asked If someone had told her They wouldn't be staring at her lifeless body The pool of blood, the rusty piece of wire They wouldn't blame this on themselves They wouldn't be wishing the impossible;ressurection They wouldn't have lynched, The one who was part of the termination But they never told her!
Drawing from Hampi Gogoi
Story by Tatenda Matiza Michaela’s eyes hurriedly scanned the dirty, crowded complex. She knew that the sooner she found her destination, the better. The longing she saw in the bloodshot eyes of the men hanging around the area made her skin crawl. Her friend, Tracy, had told her to look for a room with a bright red door and she would be readily attended to. Michaela began to get frantic when she could not find the door because she knew if she loitered around, the cunning vipers in the form of drunk men would want to attack. Her pounding heart started to slow down when she finally spotted the door right at the end of the building. She could not believe that for a split second she had been more afraid of the environment than of what she was about to do. As she approached the door, her heart rate began to pick up again, she was unsure of what the outcome was going to be. She ridiculed herself. Even if she had second doubts of getting this unsafe abortion done, there was no other option for her. She had never planned to get pregnant at the age of 20, with nothing to offer the baby. Her innocence had been stolen from her by someone she had put all her trust in. Someone she had leaned on when she had lost her mother and someone who had supported her financially since her mother was the only family she had. Someone she really thought was her personal angel. This same person had raped her and spat her out like vomit when she had told him that she was pregnant. Leaving her all alone and desperate in this dark, cold world. She had moved in with her kind friend Tracy and worked the odd part-time jobs as she tried to raise funds to go back to school and finish her course in fashion and fabrics. So, she was in no place whatsoever to be able to provide for this baby, abortion was the only option for her. The crime that was committed against her had gone unreported because she was so afraid of her ex-boyfriend. He was a rich and powerful man and she knew he could get rid of her at any time if she tried to report him. Her fear had deprived her from getting the medical attention she needed right after the incident. Michaela was fully aware of the risks she was taking by having an illegal abortion but she did not want to birth a child into poverty and every day she carried this innocent baby in her body, she was reminded of that awful event that she just wanted to forget about. She blocked all the negative thoughts that were sprouting in her wandering mind as she entered the dark room and was led to the long table. The words that were spoken by the scruffy woman who was chewing gum loudly literally entered one of Michaela’s ears and left through the other. Her heart felt like it stopped beating when she saw the lady taking very sharp objects from the dirty chair near the table, if only abortion was legalised in her beloved country Michaela knew she would have much higher chances of leaving the room alive and well. Tears started to fall down Michaela’s cheeks as she laid down on the table because she was thinking of what her life could’ve and should have been.