Medics worldwide: news and opportunities from the IFMSA

The health for all

The health of the world's poor has come under the spotlight again, as a recent meeting of the United Nations considered the fate of the millennium development goals. The goals are eight targets that the world should meet by 2015. Three of the goals refer directly to health, with others inextricably linked to the factors that underlie basic health, such as relief from poverty and the education of women.

The goals came out of the millennium declaration, a statement of intent signed by the leaders of 189 countries in September 2000. As the world looked into a new millennium, many people felt that there should be acceleration in progress on poverty, education, and health. With the goals in mind, Live8 and the Make Poverty History campaign targeted citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States and the other six most industrialised nations, all together known as the G8.

Many argue that these big economies can best relieve developing world poverty by making international trade rules fairer, by giving better aid, and by dropping developing countries' debts.

As world leaders gathering at the UN heard, progress on the millennium development goals has been slow, and many countries have failed to meet their commitments. Civil society groups and non-governmental organisations argue that citizens of both I rich and poor countries must convince their governments that they want to see change.

Today, about two billion people across the world lack access to safe water. While a third of the worlds population are without even this basic prerequisite for a decent standard of health, it continues to be imperative for anyone who cares about health to take a stand. For more on the development goals and what medical students are doing visit www.ifmsa.org.

New team to serve world medical students

Jana Kammeyer has been elected president of the International ‘ Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). Jana is a medical student from Slovakia and has been involved with the IFMSA for several years. She leads a diverse team this year, with officials elected from 19 countries around the world. The students work voluntarily for the organisation, although Jana and several others will be taking time out of their studies to concentrate fully on their work for members of IFMSA in more than 90 countries.

Travel and educational opportunities

Leeds, UK-Medsin-UK National Conference, 28-30 October 2005. A weekend of excellent speakers and interesting workshops for all those interested in what medical school doesn't teach you. Topics include working abroad-medical tourism or a helping hand?-homelessness in the UK, the ethics of, pharmaceutical companies, and G8 and the future of health - Making Poverty History. Cost £20. Visit www.medsin.org/nationalconference to register.

Nigeria - IPPNW Students African Regional Meeting. 16 - 18 December; Jos, Nigeria; www.ippnw-students.org/Jos; email jos2005{at}web.de.

Nigeria - African Medical Students Scientific Conference on Global Health Education; 16 - 23 December; Jos, Nigeria. Open to all African medical students. For more information, please contact Mansur Ramalan; email mansurfati{at}yahoo.com;thinkglobal{at}ifmsa.org.