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From
the Editor: Chronicling Wonca's Journey:
This combined August-October issue of Wonca News records the journey of our global community and Wonca family during the 2002 to 2004 triennium following the 16th Wonca World Conference in Durban South Africa in 2001. In his President's column, Michael Boland reflects on Wonca's important journey he has led since assuming the Presidency in Durban, South Africa. In his CEO's column, Alfred Loh reflects on the historic opening of Wonca's Secretariat in Singapore in 2002 and the opening of GlobalFamilyDoctor.com, the new Wonca web. Both cited our phenomenal membership growth as one of Wonca's most significant achievements this triennium. As Warren Heffron, Wonca's Executive member and Membership Chair reports in detail, Wonca has grown to 97 member organizations from 79 countries, a record increase of 26 member organizations, including Wonca's new Iberoamericana-CIMF Region under the leadership of Interim President, Javier Dominguez. As Michael and Alfred note, Wonca today has become truly a global organization. Wonca is the sum total of its component organizational parts - - - its Regions, member organizations and its interest groups. This issue of Wonca News reports on the June, 2004 Wonca Europe Conference in Amsterdam and publishes highlights from the previous Regional Conferences of this triennium. Wonca's Committees, Working Parties, Task Forces and Special Interest Groups report on their triennium activities in this issue. Some of Wonca member organizations reported on their triennium highlights. Finally, this issue highlights the major health and health system challenges that Wonca has addressed during this triennium. It is important to acknowledge that many, many other vitally important and historic events took place in addition to that which is recorded in this triennium issue. Each of Wonca's 97 Member Organizations has filled their publications with important contributions to world health and to Wonca in the past triennium. During this past triennium, individual contributions of Wonca's almost 2,000 direct members and the more than 160,000 family doctors Wonca represents helped meet people's health needs around the world. Please send me your stories so that Wonca News may record our most accurate and comprehensive global picture of Wonca's journey in the upcoming triennium. While a new story remains to be told of our future travels, this special issue of Wonca News documents that we have much to recall and celebrate during our collective journey this past triennium. Marc L.
Rivo, MD, MPH |