Newsletter: October 2020

Life as President of WONCA usually involves juggling regional visits with ongoing work commitments; trying to fit in as many conferences and meetings as possible, to share experience and give encouragement to all our members in every region of the world. I am delighted that so much interaction continues, albeit virtually. I have been really pleased to be invited to speak at numerous conferences, sessions and meetings since the COVID pandemic started – and I will continue to accept such invitations as and when I can.

La vida como presidente de WONCA generalmente implica hacer malabarismos para realizar visitas regionales, y con compromisos laborales continuos; tratando de encajar en tantas conferencias y reuniones como sea posible, para compartir experiencias y dar ánimo a todos nuestros miembros en todas las regiones del mundo.

La vie de président de WONCA implique généralement de jongler entre les visites régionales et les engagements de travail en cours, d'essayer de joindre autant de conférences et de réunions que possible, de partager l'expérience et d'encourager tous les membres des diverses régions du monde

WONCA主席的日常生活经常要为实践工作的承诺而穿州过省到不同的地方，尽力出席更多的会议，与各地成员分享经验及互相鼓励。出行参加各项学术会议及区域会议是主席的一个重要职务。出行的安排需要精密的策划，以确保覆盖所有地区，

Greetings again to all WONCA members, wherever in the world you might be. We continue to live in very uncertain times, but hope that you and your loved ones are managing to survive the global pandemic as best you can - this month information on the next series of WONCA webinars and on the secretariat transition

In 1988, as a newly assigned coordinator of the Human Resources for Health program at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, I met the then WONCA President and liaison officer with WHO, Dr M K Rajakumar, from Malaysia. In his frank style, his first words were: “We often meet and talk at WHO but never do things together”! I boomeranged to him: “OK, let’s start doing things”!

Dr John Wynn-Jones is well known in WONCA circles and immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. During the COVID-19 crisis he has been writing a daily 'Rural Miscellany' email with poems and resource ideas to help and divert us in this difficult time. This month we feature his item on "flowers".

WHO is organising a series of three webinars on mental health and psychosocial support for health workers

Dr Allan Pelch, of Denmark, has led the Scandinavian Delegations of Family Physicians to dozens of conferences over the past 22 years. After this remarkable effort over many years, Allan is now retiring and reflect on the joys of these delegations.

Professor Chris Dowrick, chair of Working Party on Mental Health, reports: I do hope you are all staying as well as possible in these exceptionally difficult times, with the pandemic spreading ever more rapidly around the world, accompanied by economic insecurities, political turmoil and other natural and man-made disasters.

Education for Primary Care : Offers free access to important Covid articles and this month also free access to an article on GP training which highlights the importance of near peer teaching.

The newest version ICPC-3 designed by the ICPC-3 Consortium in collaboration with the WONCA classification committee is in the testing phase. We would like to invite you to test it.

September 7 marks the inaugural United Nations International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, a day to call upon governments, corporations, civil society and individuals to take action to reduce air pollution to protect human health.

On Monday Sept 7, 2020, a training resource on “Primary health care practice in the context of COVID-19” was launched.

The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), in collaboration with the WONCA East Mediterranean Region (EMR) and the WONCA Working Party on Education conducted a survey of the medical schools in the EMR region.

The World Federation of Public Health Associations and its International Immunization Policy Taskforce, share with you the WFPHA Statement on COVID-19 Immunization and Equitable Access to Vaccines

Dr Allan Pelch, of Denmark, has led the Scandinavian Delegations of Family Physicians to dozens of conferences over the past 22 years. After this remarkable effort over many years, Allan is now retiring and reflect on the joys of these delegations.

If you are a practising Family Doctor, could you please answer this short survey and list three courses not already offered by EACH that you would like to be co-developed

We are looking for a Chief Administrative Officer to work in the new Secretariat of WONCA, based in Brussels. We seek a highly motivated individual, with a strong ‘can-do’ attitude and positive mentality.

We are looking for a Communications and Public Relations Officer to work for the new Secretariat of WONCA based in Brussels.