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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.