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Preliminary
Report of the
IPPNW
AFRICAN REGIONAL STUDENT CONFERENCE
16th
– 19th December, 2005, Jos,
Nigeria.
 The
African Regional Student Conference of the International Physicians for
the Prevention
of Nuclear War (IPPNW) was held on the 16th – 19th of December 2005 at
the city
lodge hotel Jos Plateau state with representations from Nigeria, Ghana
and
Cameroon, Representative of the president of Federation of African
medical
students Association (FAMSA) and the Vice President of the Nigerian
Medical
Student Association (NIMSA).
Below, you will find the program of the conference as well as
references to the speeches and presentations. Please also read the
closing communique drafted at the conference and take a look at the
photos in the photo gallery.
Program:
Day
1 – Friday, 16th of December:
 The
official opening ceremony of the conference was held. A welcoming
speech was
held by the National Student Representative of Nigeria,
Mansur A. Ramalan and a welcoming message from the International
Students Representatives
of IPPNW, Khagendra Dahal of Nepal and Alex Rosen of Germany
was read to participants.
A
guest lecture was given on water, sanitation and public health by Dr.
Rosemary
Enie (Secretary General of WICO- Women International Coalition
Organizations.)
The
presentation by Dr. Ime John on “The impact of small arms and light
weapons on
health in Africa” was presented to
the participants
which later followed up with questions and answers session.
Plenary
session 1 then resumed with an introduction to IPPNW and instructions
on starting
an IPPNW affiliate by Mansur A Ramalan, IPPNW National Student
Representative Nigeria.
Advocacy
and Team
Building
was presented by Dr. Tuko Moses
(former president Nigerian Medical Students Association (NIMSA).
The
One Bullet Story project was presented by Mansur A. Ramalan on behalf
of Dr.
Bob Mtonga of IPPNW Zambia. The conference proceeded to a Q&A
session.
The
conference resumed later that day with a workshop session on Small
Arms, Light
Weapons and Injury Prevention anchored by Mamsur. A. Ramalan.
Day
2 – Friday, 17th of December:
 The
conference resumed with presentation from Dr. Nwadike Uche, former
Regional Coordinator
for Africa, International Federations
of
Medical students Associations (IFMSA) on the “Role of medical students
in
conflict resolution and violence prevention.”
“War
and the African child” was the next presentation by the representative
of the
president of the Federations of African Medical Students Association
(FAMSA).
The
presentation of the “Brain drain in Africa”
was then followed up by Mr. Mansur Ramalan and the conference proceeded
to
questions and answers session after which was the tea break.
The
conference resumed later in the day for a workshop period on
“Preventing Wars
and violent Conflicts in Africa”
anchored by
Dr. Uche Nwadike.
The
presentation on the Millenium Development Goals was not made due to the
fact
that the presenter was unable to come and also was not able to send his
presentation to the conference for distribution among participants.
Participants
were then informed about the IPPNW World Congress scheduled to take
place in Helsinki – Finland
on 5-10th September 2006 and the need to have a greater African
participation. They
concluded that there is a need to start adequate preparations very
early to
attend and to spread the information around their schools and countries.
Day
3 - Saturday, 18th of December
 The
post conference tour was made between Saturday 17th December to Sunday
18th
December 2005 to the Yankari National Park, Bauchi State Nigeria
about 280km from Jos in order to allow participants socialize and relax
after
brain storming plenary sessions and workshop periods.
Day 4 - Sunday, 19th of December, 2005:
Participants
then converged at the conference hall of the Yankari National
Park
for the African Regional Meeting. Matters discussed include the greater
participation of African students in IPPNW and how to involve African
doctors
in the Advocacy and awareness about IPPNW and its activities.
The
elections of the new African Regional Student Representative were held.
Students
from Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon
agreed that Mr. Mansur
Ramalan should be the regional representative since he has more
knowledge and
experience about the organization.
Finally,
presentations were made by the representative of the president of the
Federations of African Medical students Associations (FAMSA) on how
IPPNW and
FAMSA can work together in the area of war and health in Africa
emanating from
the participation of FAMSA at the African regional meeting of IPPNW in
March
2003, and the presentation of Mr. Mansur Ramalan on “The African
Refugee Crisis”
at the FAMSA regional conference on “War and the African child” at
Ibadan,
October, 2004.
Thereafter,
a communiqué
was drafted and
signed by participants from Nigeria,
Ghana
and Cameroon.
Conclusion
The
organizing committee chairman and NSR IPPNW – Nigeria
then informed the
participants about the problems encountered during the preparations for
the
conference and the need to correct them for the future: Visa problems,
funding
and late registration by Participants.
Finally
the participants were then informed about the efforts of Mr. Alex Rosen
– ISR
towards ensuring the success of the conference and the contribution by
IPPNW
Norway, IPPNW Germany and the student groups of Magdeburg and Duesseldorf. To them,
the
participants extend their warm appreciations for their concerned
efforts.
Mansur A. Ramalan
African Regional
Student Representative
IPPNW
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