Recently WONCA shared a plea for support of the clinic that Dr. Suha Hamshari leads, read more below.

Dear WONCA family,

We are reaching out on behalf of Dr. Suha Hamshari, recipient of the 2023 WONCA Global Five-Star Doctor Award, who leads the Family Medicine Clinic at An-Najah National University in the West Bank. This clinic is a lifeline for thousands of patients and a vital training ground for future family doctors. However, it faces the risk of closure due to the devastating impact of the ongoing crisis in the region.

Patients are unable to afford healthcare, as many are struggling just to feed their families. Physicians and nurses are going unpaid, medications are in short supply, and dangerous travel conditions are putting lives at risk. Despite these immense challenges, the clinic is working tirelessly to keep its doors open and provide care for those in need.

Now, more than ever, they need 𝒐𝒖𝒓 help. The clinic is at a critical juncture, and without urgent donations, it may be forced to close its doors. As family doctors, we understand the essential role these clinics play in the health and well-being of communities. This is a call from one family doctor to our global community – let’s support our colleagues in the West Bank in their hour of need.

To support An-Najah Family Medicine Clinic, donate now via the Foundation for Family Medicine in Palestine.

You can see original post here, and can donate here.

We would like to reiterate our echo of the WONCA statement on health professionals working in areas of conflict. We stand in strong solidarity with all young family doctors working in conflict zones as they serve their communities in a time of crisis, and we wish for peace to come swiftly.

In the face of escalating tensions and violence around the world, WONCA seeks the global cessation of all violence as a solution to conflict and condemns both terrorism and oppression of vulnerable peoples everywhere. WONCA supports all health professionals working in areas of conflict and continues to call for particular attention to the protection of all patients and frontline health workers and any healthcare facility where persons go to seek aid for illness and injury.

WONCA Statement on Health Professionals Working in Areas of Conflict

See original post here.

Yesterday, the Council Meeting took place in the afternoon. In this packed meeting a new president and a new policy officer were elected, the location of the 10th forum was decided, amendments to the statutes, besides some regular administrative tasks (approving minutes, annual report and budget).

Daria Gheorghe will be joining the executive as president-elect and Helena Alonso will be taking the baton from Ana Cristina as Policy Officer.

An enormous thank you for all the work is due to Nick Mamo for the past 7 years of work on the executive and to Ana Cristina for advocating on topics relevant for young doctors, namely family-friendly events.

Regarding the 10th forum, the decision of the council was to host the 2026 forum in Tallinn, Estonia. We are looking forward to meet there.

We will have an opening in the executive, as Marika Svatošová is stepping down from the treasurer position. We thank her for the persistent efforts managing the work.

All preconference abstract submission should be done by emailing the following address:
woncapreconference24

“The Organizing Committee of the WONCA  Preconference Dublin 2024 invites and encourages authors (including EYFDM, NEGs and NGPT members) to submit abstracts to be considered for inclusion in the programme in the format of workshops.

Authors must follow the guidelines for abstract submission set out below. Abstracts not conforming to these guidelines will not be considered.

LANGUAGE OF THE ABSTRACT AND OF THE PRESENTATION

• Language of the abstract: All abstracts must be submitted in English. If in doubt, please arrange for the review of your abstract by a native English speaker.
• The language of the conference will be “easy English”.

PRESENTERS GUIDELINE

• Each delegate can submit and present up to 4 (four) abstracts but there is no limit to how many times they are listed as a co-author.
• The submitting author of the abstract must be a presenting author (“the submitting author = the presenting author”).
• The submitting (= presenting) author does not have to be the first author.
• Submission of an abstract constitutes a formal commitment by the presenting author(s) to present the work in-person at WONCA Preconference 2024 in Dublin, Ireland.
• The submitter signs for all co-authors and accepts responsibility for the present rules for submission and presentation on behalf of all co-authors.
• Any costs of presenting (including conference registration, travel, and accommodation) are the responsibility of the presenter, except where a WONCA bursary has been awarded.
• Please ensure your speaker choices take into account the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Note: Only the accepted submissions of fully registered presenters can be included in the final conference program.

CONTENT OF ABSTRACTS

• Abstracts have to be written in English.
• Presentations are not marketing opportunities for particular products or services, and submissions of this nature will not be considered.
• Submissions should be no longer than 300 words.
• Submissions should be text only. No diagrams, illustrations, tables, or graphics.
• All submissions should follow the conference submission template:
• Preconference Workshop abstract template”

More info in the link below:
https://www.woncaeurope2024.org/preconferences-call-for-abstracts.

If you are writing your abstracts here is a recorded webinar that you may find useful:
https://vimeo.com/923774862/59b6d84925