- Forums
This will take the form of structured talks by doctors, health professionals and citizens about local and global health issues. Each forum will have an overriding theme and the general format will include 2 speakers, with the aim to address global and local issues. There will be time allocated to ask questions and have general discussion at the end of the scheduled talks.
- MSGA aims to hold five forums a year
- Speakers will range from
- Surgeons and Physicians who work/have worked in third world settings
- International Agency representatives: Doctors without Borders, Amnesty International, International Red Cross
- Local agencies. This has the added benefit to set up long term links and volunteering opportunities for students. i.e. Auckland City Mission (Director; Diane Roberston)
- Health Professionals with interest in New Zealand health care disparities i.e. Dr Chris Bullen, Child Abuse Foundation, Health Housing program directors
- Unlimited scope
- Meaningful Movies
Using the medium of film to increase student awareness about global issues. There have been many recent films that give us a unique and often realistic glimpse into the lives of those less fortunate.
The session begins with a brief introduction to the movie, some background and then explanation of its most pressing themes. A handout is given at the beginning of the movie which has realistic facts and figures about the key themes. There is then a general discussion on ‘take-home messages’ at the end.
MSGA plans to hold five movie forums per year:
- Our most recent film was ‘Blood Diamond’ which gave us a unique insight into the exploitation, corruption and greed that occurs in African diamond minds. We discussed ‘conflict diamonds’ and how the driver of all of this is demand is us, citizens of the west: “we have what they want…and they want it cheap”
- Other potential films
- Black Gold: coffee industry in Africa
- Hotel Rwanda: genocide and political influence
- The Constant Gardener: drug company exploitation
- The killing fields
- Photo Exhibition
“Life in the developing world…as captured by final year medical students”
Approximately 50 photos taken by final year medical students on their electives will be displayed and sold by silent auction. The most popular pieces will be auctioned live on the closing night.
Each photo will be accompanied by a blurb explaining the photo location and situation along with facts about that particular country. Photos will be arranged according to area of the world taken; South Pacific, Africa, Asia and South America. This is a great way to show and educate the medical students, doctors and the general public about the way and level of deprivation citizens in other parts of the world have. This raised just over $4000, it received extensive coverage throughout the University and art circles around our city. There was also a feature on the national news network. All proceeds are going towards the Fiji Village Project, FVP.
Dates: 1st – 5th October
- Target X
A well established IPPNW-students project. The first target X took place in Wellington in 2006. With new chapters open in Auckland and soon Dunedin, hopefully we will nationally co-ordinate another event.
