By Putri Azzahra Nur Azrina – CIMSA FK Yarsi
ACTION is an abbreviation for Asian Collaborative Training on Infectious Disease Outbreak, Natural Disaster and Refugee Management. It is a transnational project in the IFMSA Asia-Pacific region under SCORP with an aim to train and educate medical students on disaster risk reduction and humanitarian section especially refugees, and increase medical students’ capacitiesto be prepared in times of need.
ACTION 2019 covered all three topics which is different compared to previous ACTIONs where usually only one topic became highlighted.This year’s ACTION was held in Malaysia, hosted by SMMAMS (Society of Malaysian Medical Association Medical Students) from 21 – 27 July 2019. The event itself mostly took place in Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
First day of ACTION took place inside TJ Danaraj Auditorium inside Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya where the opening ceremony marked the commencement of the entire ACTION program. During the second day of ACTION, participants did UNHCR “Passages” refugee simulation. The day continued with Health Equity Initiatives where three panelists of refugee leaders living in Malaysia, shared their experience related to their living situations and overcoming adaptations on living in a foreign place. Still in the second day where highlight of the day was about refugees, participants were then formed into groups where they have to plan and create sustainable healthcare projects for refugees, in which selected groups are required to present their project plans in front of the rest of the participants, judged by experts on refugees and refugee leaders. The second day closed with a social event to explore the heart of Kuala Lumpur where participants went to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and took group picture in front of Malaysia’s popular landmark, the Petronas Twin Tower.
Third day of ACTION highlighted the infectious disease outbreak topic where participants were introduced to carbon emission offsetting project and were given lecture about Tuberculosis by Dr. Nadia Atiya, Head of Diagnostic Mycobacteriology Unit, University of Malaya Medical Centre. On this day, participants were also having lab session about Kinyoun staining where they directly applied the knowledge they gained from previous lecture about Tuberculosis and perform the staining themselves. The third day closed with a social event of food and national beverage exhibition in Centrepoint, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya.
Fourth day of ACTION focused on disaster management aspect brought by International Training on Disaster Medicine (ITDM) Team which consisted of country coordinators and International Organizing Committees (IOC) of ACTION 2019. There were four trainings given which were; international response in disaster cluster system, triage system, pre hospital management, and METHANE report on disaster. The day continues with a practical session where participants were able to do a disaster simulation.
Fifth day of ACTION consisted of field trips. First visit was to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), where participants were given lectures from the Malaysian Border Control related to health and travel medicine. The day continued with a field trip to UPM where participants were introduced to the One Health Concept and Addressing the Rising Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) by Prof. Lathifah Hassan, DVM, PhD, representing Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN). The day was closed with a short trip to the Equine Centre UPM where participants were given the chance to see horses under the care and facilities from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UPM.
Sixth day of ACTION discussed scientific breakthroughs in Malaysian infectious outbreaks on Nipah Virus, Enterovirus 71, and P. knowlesibrought by Prof. Tan CT (UM), Prof. Lucy Lum CS (UM), and Prof. Balbir Singh (UNIMAS) respectively. The day continued with a session from International Organizing Committee (IOC) Team of ACTION to encourage participants and members from the region to enroll for the IOC of ACTION positions on the upcoming ACTION 2020. The day wrapped up with a closing ceremony in which a presentation from BMSS-Bangladesh were given, as Bangladesh will be the next host of ACTION 2020. The seventh day of ACTION on July 27th2019 was the departure day for participants and marked the end of ACTION 2019 program.
During ACTION 2019, the NMO of Indonesia (CIMSA-ISMKI) managed to send 21 delegates accompanied by 2 country coordinators, which are myself and Farah Mardhiyah, serving as part of the International Organizing Committee (IOC) Team. A special remark for this year’s ACTION IOC Chairperson is from Indonesia, Ashandi Triyoga Prawira.
Overall, ACTION 2019 had brought great knowledge and new insights on the topics highlighted. Considering this year’s participants are mostly new members and first-timers on international events, I am very assertive that this would help members, especially Indonesian participants to be more encouraged towards active participations and attendances in international events such as ACTION. It is amazing to see how ACTION 2019 had brought positive responses and feedbacks towards the participants. See you next year in Bangladesh!
