A commitment is sought to the affirmative action in the
Durban Declaration. The health status, morbidity and mortality patterns of people
in rural and remote areas vary from country to country. However it is generally
true that avoidable death rates are substantially higher in rural areas when
compared with the cities. Despite this, rural health services are substantially
under-resourced compared with urban health services. To remedy this it is essential
that rural health service providers contribute to the development of health
policy and programs through international, national and local forums.
WONCA has already reinforced its commitment to rural health
through the establishment of the Working Party, the support of the international
rural health congresses and the adoption of the Policy on Training for Rural
Practice. Additional support and new initiatives are needed from WONCA and its
member organisations to address the needs of rural doctors, the diversity of
their roles, and the ongoing drive to develop the rural health workforce. This
will demonstrate commitment to the affirmative action sought in the Durban Declaration.
Strategies
5.4.1 Future international conferences on rural health must
be structured to ensure the participation of as wide a spectrum of rural doctors
as possible.[covered below]
5.4.2 Future WONCA regional meetings and world congresses
should contain a strong rural component.
5.4.3 Particular attention must be paid to the involvement
of women in the planning, organisation and programs of conferences. A substantial
amount of time should be included in conference programs to discuss gender-related
issues, including but not restricted to consideration of personal, family and
professional relationships for male and female physicians, and this should include
presentation of issues at plenary sessions.
5.4.4 Issues in women’s health should be highlighted
in the clinical sessions at future rural conferences.
5.4.5 Child care and programs for children of delegates
should be provided at all rural health meetings and conferences.
5.4.6 Every possible effort should be made to ensure that
participants at conferences include all ethnic groups of the country. This should
include planning, organisation and program development.
5.4.7 Conferences on rural health should involve all relevant
rural health professionals
5.4.8 Conference venues should be rotated through different
geographical regions to ensure adequate representation and cross fertilisation
of ideas.
5.4.9 WONCA and member organisations’ policies
should specifically address the needs of rural doctors.
5.4.10 There should be international recognition of
the medical implications of forced migration, whether due to political conflicts
or natural disasters.
5.4.11 A global approach to diseases such as tuberculosis,
with the involvement of rural doctors in the formulation of this approach should
be encouraged.
5.4.12 In our advocacy role, rural doctors should
take a positive attitude to rural practice wherever possible in the media and
in education.