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FAMSA
The Federation of African Medical Students Association, FAMSA, is
an independent, non political federation of medical students associations in Africa.
FAMSA
was founded in 1968 as a Nigerian and Ugandan initiative to foster the spirit of
friendship and cooperation among African medical students. FAMSA is a
project oriented medical student body with affiliation to the United Nations
system and is recognized as the official international forum of African medical
students.
Our Vision
The FAMSA vision is to become a strong network of medical students, aware of
global health issues and responsive to the current questions facing the medical
profession and global health.
Our Mission
The FAMSA seeks
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To be the forum for medical students throughout the African
continent to discuss topics related to health, education and medicine, to
formulate action plans from such discussions and to carry out appropriate
activities
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To act as a mechanism for medical students' professional
exchange and projects
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To be an advocacy body to sensitize and redirect African
Governments policies towards the path to sustainable health and development
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To act as a mechanism for organizations under its membership
to raise funds for projects recognized by FAMSA
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
FAMSA consists of
four organs:
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The General Assembly
This is the highest authority and policy making arm of FAMSA. The General
Assembly is held annually, usually at the medical school of the Vice-President.
The purpose of the General Assembly is two-fold. Firstly, a number of scientific
sessions are held on topical health issues. Students and resource persons
present papers regarding the theme. In addition, workshops are held to discuss
the issues that emerge in the papers. The aim of the workshops is also to draft
the resolution of the General Assembly. These resolutions are often then
discussed and adopted at a plenary session.
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The Permanent Headquarters.
This institution serves as the archival center, a pivot for membership
recruitment, interagency collaboration, building of partnerships and
fundraising. It has been hosted by the Ibadan medical school since 1977. The
Permanent Headquarters assumes the functions of the executive council when its
tenure lapses. The FAMSA Permanent Headquarters organizes the FAMSA General
Assembly in conjunction with the medical students association hosting the office
of the FAMSA Vice President.
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The FAMSA Executive Council
This consists of elected representatives and the Administrator of the Permanent
Headquarters. Executive office holders are elected at the General Assembly. The
body is charged with carrying out specific duties assigned at the General
Assembly. Elected positions are:
*President FAMSA
*Vice President FAMSA
*Chairmen Standing Committees:
a).
Health and Environment.
b).
Medical Education and Research.
c).
Professional Exchange.
d).
Committee on Publications
e).
Refugees and Population Activity
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Medical Students Associations
These are FAMSA’s organs of action. FAMSA’s success is dependent on what they do
in their home countries and respective localities to organize medical students
and get them involved in community development projects. FAMSA serves as an
umbrella body for their activities – facilitating the exchange of ideas,
enabling student exchanges and acting as a collective voice for the medical
students of Africa on issues affecting them and the continent.
FAMSA COMMITMENT
During the
final, concluding and plenary sessions of the 24th General Assembly, the FAMSA
delegates with due consideration to the thematic issues of the
conference
severally made the following resolutions:
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Firstly, to act as arrowheads for a new wave of advocacy for positive
reproductive health policies that will promote the quality of lives of the
African people.
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Acting through local Medical Students Associations (MSAs) and the FAMSA as
overall umbrella body, to renew their commitments to Village Concept Programs (VCPs)
and community oriented projects, with a view to providing essential, howbeit
minimal health services to many African people who otherwise will be unreached
by Africa’s inadequate and inefficient primary health care delivery system.
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To offer supportive and voluntary services to all agencies who are responsible
for the management of African refugee populations and simultaneously to promote
the concept of conflict resolution and dialogue as plausible alternative to wars
and violence.
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To advocate for periodic review of medical schools curriculum to incorporate
broader issues of reproductive health, so as to enable African medical students
become effective, complete, responsive and responsible physicians equipped to
meet new and higher demands of the future.
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Lastly, using the organs of FAMSA to serve as a rallying point to mobilize
African Medical Students, other students and African Youth to participate in the
re – emerging pan – African movement, so that they may be empowered to translate
the pan – African philosophy into sustainable regional development.
The FAMSA COMMITMENT involves three key issues:
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FAMSA commitment to Primary Health Care
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Commitment to reproductive health, i.e. maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS,
unsafe abortion
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Commitment to peace and sustainable development in Africa
These 3 commitments are marshaled under 5 broad components:
The FAMSA COMMITMENT is articulated as The
FAMSA Youth Agenda.
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Minutes of the 24th GA
Conference Communiqué
FAMSA Youth Agenda
Upcoming
Activities
Past Activities
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