Accra: Egypt has launched the first edition of the 'Health Diplomacy for Medical Students' programme, marking a pioneering initiative both in Egypt and across the African continent.
According to Ghana News Agency, the programme is organised under the auspices of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations - Egypt (IFMSA-Egypt) and its branch at MTI University. The initiative receives support from the Scientific Association of Medical Students at the Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI) and enjoys complimentary media sponsorship from the AfroMedia Initiative for Journalism and Media. The programme aims to raise awareness and promote the role of doctors within their communities, showing strong support for empowering young doctors and medical students in Egypt and Sudanese students.
In a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Tema, the organisers emphasized the event's role in providing an inclusive learning environment that combines academic knowledge with practical experience, particularly benefiting those who have fled the conflict in Sudan. The programme is designed to empower medical students in Egypt while offering equal opportunities to non-Egyptian African students and doctors residing in the country. It seeks to enhance understanding of health issues in both African and global contexts, international relations, and health policy.
The programme also equips participants with essential research skills for effective engagement in health policy decision-making at both local and international levels. During the launch, Mr Hassan Ghazaly, an anthropological researcher and founder of the Global Solidarity Network, highlighted the importance of anthropology for doctors in understanding communities that require health development projects. As a member of the African Journalists Union, Mr Ghazaly discussed public diplomacy, its various forms, and the opportunities provided by the Egyptian state to African doctors, alongside volunteering opportunities offered by the African Union in medical institutions across Africa.
He praised the programme's initiators for their cooperation and efforts in supporting the faculty's students, especially African students, and for their commitment to empowering and integrating them into academic and community activities within the university. The sessions covered numerous key topics, including youth diplomacy, public diplomacy, volunteer youth policies in Africa, international law and health, negotiation skills, personal branding for doctors, public health and sustainable development, and the role of youth in shaping health policies.
The organisers noted that the programme represents a significant shift in connecting academic medical education with social responsibility and health diplomacy. It aims to prepare a new generation of doctors capable of influencing and contributing to the future of health policy in Egypt and the region. This initiative is the first step in a series of efforts designed to build the capacity of medical students and expand their understanding of the broader role of doctors in society, which includes leading, negotiating, and decision-making in public health matters.
