By Hansel D. Bandaso – CIMSA FK UNS
If a stranger comes up to me and I asks me one moment that is truly an once-in-the-lifetime experience, it will be August Meeting 2019.
Taking place in Taipei city, right at the heart of Taiwan, medical students around the world gathered in IFMSA 68thGeneral Assembly. This year, the meeting adopted the theme of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Health Care, highlighting the integration of technology in medical practice and education.
It was heartwarming to be welcomed with Taiwanese cultural arts and performance on the first day. Delegates were also greeted with inspiring words from Jasmine Tan, August Meeting 2019 Chairperson, Po-Chin Li, IFMSA Regional Director for Asia Pacific 2018/2019, and finally Batool Alwahdani, IFMSA President 2018/2019. We were very lucky to be gifted with welcoming pouch that contained lovely souvenirs- wooden eating utensils and chopsticks, and a name card that could be used for accessing transportation devices, so we could wander around the island of Taiwan at ease.
Starting on second day and so on, we participated in parallel sessions that consisted of SCO Session, President’s Session, and NMO Management. Also in the following days, there were sessions with bunch of events that discussed specific topic in which we could participate. The sessions included NMO Hour, Regional Session, IFMSA Fringe, Social Program, Training, Joint Session, National Food and Drink Party, Theme Event, Activities Fair and many more!
Personally, SCORP Session was never enough, even though we had like four days of the session itself. First day of the session, we were given the chance to get to know Scorpions from different NMOs that came from the different corners of the continents. If were to be asked which topic that I was interested, it would take me forever to consider. We discussed about the basis of human rights, the universality of UDHR, children’s health and rights, migrants and refugees, external opportunities in SCORP, human rights in relation to democracy, law, and politics. It was interesting for every delegates to share about their political stances, democracy system, and what human rights issues that was currently happening in their own countries. Last but not the least, we had SCORP Fair, where the selected SCORP NMO’s projects were given the opportunity to share about theirs and inspire and encourage SCORPions to implement such ideas into their projects in their NMOs.
Thanks to SCORP ITs and the session team, the SCORP Session AM 2019 was fun, interactive, and beautifully packaged!
In accordance to the aforementioned theme event, several topics were discussed with external expertise that came from diverse backgrounds, from medical professors to even the mayor of Taipei himself. One gave insights on how technology shaped medical system and education, implementation of virtual patient in practicing medicine for example, and the other ones showed how home-based medical care could boost health aid by the health care professionals. Judging by the huge amount of questions asked, the participants seemed to be curious and fascinated by the idea of how the theme is connected to various aspects in medicine, take bioethics or financial funds for example.
One session that I found incredibly interesting was the Global Priorities Side Events. To be able to take part on this particular session is to feel grateful at that very moment. These side events was adapted from different global priorities, which had been adopted recently by the IFMSA. The events were WHO / UN simulations on specific topic, such as Climate Change and also Sexual and Reproductive Health, simulation on real events relating to Universal Health Coverage, discussion panel regarding to different kinds of topics. In WHO Simulation on Climate Change and Health, which event I attended, we were split into groups, each of which had specific role in representing specific countries, institutions, and private sectors. They even had a group of reporters for news coverage.
All the gratitude goes to FMS-Taiwan OC, IFMSA IT, and every single medical students who have arranged this meeting and who have made it happened! Taiwan Touched Our Hearts!
