Colombo to United Nations- Geneva, in my words - 66th World Health Assembly

It was a wonderful experience in Geneva during Pre- World Health Assembly for youth and 66th High-level World Health Assembly. This is my first-ever Health related UN conference.

I used this opportunity to collaborate with young people from all over the world who were present during pre-WHA and WHA, their different backgrounds, diverse yet energetic and unified goal “A healthier planet for a better future” inspired me. I believe this friendship may achieve a workable, practical, concrete solution for most health problems which is related to youth.

This International arena gave me an opportunity to share my views on Health on post-2015 development agenda with other youth delegates and other representatives from member states and major groups. Almost all the youth representatives were medical student, if I am not mistaken only I was from Business College. I did not had a sharp knowledge on technical terms used in health negotiations, but I was confident on my soft skills, negotiations skills, depth knowledge on post 2015 process, and youth participation in UN process. I was happy to see that although we were from different educational backgrounds, we had only one uniform objective.

Decisions made by global leaders will have global consequences. We need universal norms. No states can exist alone. As a team we arouse together for a real change. This had a huge impact on decision makers. Youth were here in Geneva at United Nations...at the 66th WHA and we made a difference, we got engage with the process, we raised our voice, we demanded for a better deal. We are dynamic, diverse yet we are working together as a unified voice for change, A Real Change!

I shared my experience and projects what we do in Sri Lanka and how it is related to the global context, meanwhile I used this opportunity to gain more knowledge on health issues and health-negotiations by attending plenaries, committees, side events, youth strategic meetings, sessions, listening to inspirations speeches during Pre-WHA and WHA.

I was involved in drafting youth position paper on “Health on Post 2015 Development Agenda” for 66th WHA, and involved in drafting interventions, which was delivered by us at the respective committees.

It was very interesting to follow the negotiations, and understand the context, although I was familiar with UN Climate Change and Sustainable Development negotiations, it took me sometime to understand the UN health talks, new terms, new approaches motivated to follow the negotiations, but I would say it was not tiring and hectic as Climate negotiations.

I was able to meet some of the big shots during WHA, specially my Minister of Health (Sri Lanka), Minister of Health from Lativia, key eminent of players/negotiators of Portugal, EU, Africa, Philippines, etc. I was able to meet some of the senior staffs of WHO and UN agencies, especially DG Ms. Margaret Chan.

As youth we have a huge responsibility to work closely with government in decision making process. This conference gave me the key aspects of policy making and international negotiations.

I was existed to be a part of  International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) delegation to 66th World Health Assembly, It was a great pleasure to be in the high level opening ceremony of the 66th World Health Assembly commenced in Geneva on 20th of May 2012 at 10am
 
Day 4, of the 66th World Health Assembly, May 23rd, 2013 is a historical day for IFMSA presence at WHO meetings.. The IFMSA delegation has hosted in the afternoon the first youth organized and youth-led side event at the World Health Assembly. Health of the World’s girls – The missing link in the global development agenda?

I

miss my IFMSA friends and Geneva now!

World Environment Day 2013

Day 04 - WHO World Health Assembly

IFMSA Delegation

Attended a side event on DREAM:achieving results in HIV -positive patients in sub-saharan Africa, organized by the the delegation on Italy. DG of department of HIV/AIDS of a WHO, said that ART treatment is boosting, ART price reduction, declining of HIV infected people are some of the significant points. Down wards trend on new infection on HIV infection on children (0-14) is sharply visible.
Community approach, provider-initiated testing, self testing some of the new approaches on advancing testing and delivery models. Combine and consolidate an integrated approach of Clinical, programmatic, operational framework will be key focus on upcoming World AIDS conference. DReAM is a project, Model to care and strategy to reinforce retention, launched in 10 African countries.

Exhibition Area

Side Event "DREAM"

Exhibition Stalls 

IFMSA Side Event

IFMSA Side Event

IFMSA Side Event

Day 4th of the 66th World Health Assembly, May 23rd, 2013 is a historical day for IFMSA presence at WHO meetings.. The IFMSA delegation has hosted in the afternoon the first youth organized and youth-led side event at the World Health Assembly.
Health of the World’s girls – The missing link in the global development agenda?
Hollie Kluczewski, IFMSA and Medsin UK, was the chairman of the meeting. She addressed from the beginning the importance of the issue:
“Often within global health we take adolescent girls for granted, but we need to acknowledge that beyond being children and before they are mothers, they are girls, with their own specific health and social needs. They deserve our undivided attention.

Currently we have a global health community assuming they are addressing girls needs with maternal health programs and we have a development community thinking they are acting for girls development without fully considering their health.  We need to bring these two paradigms together, and truly embrace health as a tool for enabling girls to reach their development potential.

The dynamic panellists were: Helga Fogtad of the Norwegian Agency for Development, Luc de Bernis of UNFPA, Warugura Wanjau of the MILEAD fellows program, Jane Ferguson of WHO and Roopa Dhatt – IFMSA President.
Roopa made a strong statement on how IFMSA achieves meaningful participation for girls.  “Comprehensive sexuality education is essential for educating and empowering both girls and boys about their sexual and reproductive health. It’s views sexuality holistically and goes far beyond a biomedical approach. The IFMSA recognises the IPPF seven key elements of a comprehensive sexuality education program, which are:
1- Sexual and reproductive health incl. STIs & HIV
2- Relationships
3- Pleasure
4- Gender
5- Violence
6- Diversity
7- Sexual rights and citizenship

This broad and encompassing approach recognizes that gender roles are at the core of a girl’s relationships, sexual experiences and ultimately her health. This approach has the additional benefit of educating boys about gender norms, which is essential because gender equality will never exist until girls and boys work together to address damaging gender norms.

IFMSA works towards a world in which every young person receives a truly comprehensive sexuality education, we do this on three levels: locally, nationally and internationally (…)”.

Day 03 - WHO World Health Assembly

Youth Strategic Meeting

Health in the post-2015 agenda: Outcomes of the Global Thematic Consultation, was the main morning discussion, as well as Sexual and reproductive health and rights in the ICPD beyond 2014 and post-2015 were some of the main topic discussed during 3rd Day. In the morning I was able to meet Hon. Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Ministry of Health and had a productive discussuion with him.

I got interviewed by the WHO production team on "What I think about WHO?", I gave my opinion and requested WHO secretariat and DG to include more young people to WHA and WHO negotiations and consultations.

Committee A

It was a very important day for us, we got an opportunity to influence the negotiators via a powerful intervention in Committee A where Roopa Dhatt clearly pointed out problems and suggested concrete solutions, is indeed empowering youth and being engaged with decision making processes.

Before the day would come to an end, went to a session on new programme support and policy changes, WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel: Stoking up the fire for Code implementation, building systems to address functional decline and dependence in ageing populations, and volunteerism and health coverage.