From the Wonca President
How Does One Care for People in
:
2
Region’s of Military Conflict?
From the CEO’s Desk
:
Family Doctors Helping Family
3
Doctors in Disasters
From the Editor
:
Family Doctors – Responding to
4
Community Health Threats
FEATURE STORIES
5
•Professor Khaya Mfenyana Elected Wonca Africa Region President
•Women Physicians: Caring for Themselves and Their Families
•Register for the 7th Wonca World Rural Health Conference in Seattle
Wonca REGIONAL NEWS
8
•1st Wonca Iberoamerican-CIMF Regional Conference to Meet in Buenos
Aires
•El Primer Congreso Regional de Wonca-CIMF Iberoamericano Realizara
en Buenos Aires
•Come to Bangkok for the Asia Pacific Regional Conference
HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEM NEWS
9
•More than 20,000 Review AIDS Epidemic at XVI International
Conference
•How Hong Kong and Toronto’s Family Doctors Responded to the
SARS Epidemic
MEMBER AND ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
12
•Professor Nandani de Silva Appointed Vice Chancellor
•Isabelita Morales Samaniego – Wonca Global Family Doctor for June
•Call for Papers for Special Issue on Global Family Medicine Education
•‘Education for Health’ Call for Papers Deadline September 30th
• Wonca Veterans Reunite in Alaska
RESOURCES FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR
15
•New Report: Tobacco Deaths May Exceed One Billion in the 21st
Century
•Avian Influenza Web Resources for the Family Doctor
WONCA CONFERENCES 2006-2011 AT A GLANCE
17
GLOBAL MEETINGS FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR
18
VOLUME 32
NUMBER 4
AUGUST 2006
CONTENTS
Wonca website:
http://www.GlobalFamilyDoctor.com
Wonca President
Prof Bruce Sparks, South Africa
2 Cruden Bay Road
Greenside
Johannesburg 2193
South Africa
Tel: 27 11 646 2140
Fax: 27 11 717 2558
Email: brucespa@global.co.za
Wonca Chief Executive Officer
Dr Alfred W T Loh
Wonca Administrative Manager
Ms Yvonne Chung
World Organization of Family Doctors
College of Medicine Building
16 College Road # 01-02
Singapore 169854
Tel: 65 6224 2886
Fax: 65 6324 2029
Email: admin@wonca.com.sg
Wonca President-Elect
Prof Chris van Weel, Netherlands
Wonca Immediate Past President
Dr Michael Boland, Ireland
Honorary Treasurer
Richard Roberts, MD, USA
Wonca Regional Presidents
Prof Khaya Mfenyana, Africa
Warren A Heffron, MD, Americas
A/Prof Goh Lee Gan, Asia Pacific
Prof Igor Svab, Europe
Dr Shatendra K Gupta, Middle East
South Asia
Dr Adolfo Rubinstein,
Iberoamericana-CIMF
Wonca Executive Members at Large
Dr Javier Dominguez del Olmo, Mexico
Prof Michael Kidd, Australia
Richard Roberts, MD, USA
Chair, Bylaws and Regulations
Dan Ostergaard, MD, USA
Chair, Publications & Communications
Dr Geoffrey D Martin, Australia
Editor, Wonca News and Editorial Office
Marc L Rivo, MD
4566 Prairie Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33140, USA
Tel: 305 671 7327
Fax: 305 674 8839
Email: marcrivo@aol.com
WONCA GLOBAL SPONSORS
FROM THE WONCA
PRESIDENT:
HOW DOES ONE CARE
FOR PEOPLE IN REGIONS
OF MILITARY CONFLICT?
“Every gun that is made, every
warship launched, every rocket fired
signifies, in the final sense, a theft
from those who hunger and are not
fed, those who are cold and not
clothed.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Local and regional conflict
around the world has once again
highlighted the devastating
humanitarian and health modifying
effects that military conflicts have
on ordinary people. Modern wars
tend to target whole communities
and their support systems. In recent
military conflicts around 90% of the
casualties are civilians. Apart from
the loss of life, the military action
deeply traumatises and disrupts
healthy psychological and emotional
development, leaving deep wounds
and scars that could last for
generations.
The world has recently focused
on the Israeli - Hezbollah conflict.
The immediate consequences of the
devastation are profound with
estimates of more than a million
people displaced in both Southern
Lebanon and Northern Israel.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to
limit the conflict’s impact on
peoples’ overall health throughout
the Middle East region.
While the world focuses on the
drama in the Middle East, another
deadly conflict of a far greater
duration and magnitude continues
to elude diplomatic solution. The
people in Sudan’s Darfur region
have endured more than three years
WONCA
News
FROM THE WONCA PRESIDENT
2
of displacement, violence and
death. At least 180,000 people may
have died from illness and
malnutrition in Darfur over the past
18 months, according to the United
Nations’ top emergency relief
official, Jan Egeland. More than a
million refugees have been
permanently displaced from the
violence as their villages have been
burned and completely destroyed.
On a smaller but equally
devastating scale, over 65,000
people in Timor Leste in South East
Asia, with a total population of just
less than a million, have recently
been internally displaced in the
capital, Dili, due to civil unrest. The
difficulty of delivering basic needs
such as clean water, temporary
shelter, food, and health care in
over 40 temporary camps is of great
concern, and could get worse if the
security situation deteriorates
further.
Military conflicts such as these
and others across the globe have
many unfortunate consequences in
common. Those displaced internally
and in neighbouring countries need
support to access safe drinking
water, health care, warmth, vaccines
and life-saving medications.
Destruction of infrastructure further
affects the health system’s capacity
to deliver care. There is an increase
in communicable diseases because
of the concentration of displaced
persons and the lack of access to
clean water and sanitation. There is
also an increased risk of morbidity
and mortality in those already living
with chronic diseases such as
hypertension, diabetes, heart failure,
malignancies, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric
illness and epilepsy because of the
lack of life-preserving medications,
specialised care and support
services. This applies too, to
pregnant women about to deliver
and other in need of similar vital
care. The elderly are also particularly
at risk.
Diminishing fuel supplies, food
insecurity, precarious hygiene and
temporary over-crowded shelters
further exacerbate the situation.
And yet it is often impossible or
extremely difficult for relief
organisations and agencies to
access areas of conflict, thus making
comprehensive assessment
impossible. So reliable information
of numbers affected and the
magnitude and scope of the impact
and needs are often unavailable to
aid organisations.
I am always in awe of the health
and relief workers who are
interviewed on TV from the battle
zones around the world. Their
courage and dedication in the face
of personal danger and hardship is
to be admired. While specialist
services are necessary for acute
trauma and the management of
major medical emergencies, a large
proportion of the care in these
situations falls on the family
doctors, primary care physicians and
other professionals in the primary
care sector. Apart from offering all
the usual primary care services they
must also ensure effective
immunisation services, post-
traumatic stress counselling,
nutritional care, management of
infective conditions such as typhoid
fever, typhus, and cholera, and also
run surveillance and monitoring
programmes.
Apart from collateral deaths and
injuries of civilians, family
disruption, and destruction of
homes and property, the impact of
wars and military conflict on
children must be devastating,
particularly those who witness
deaths and mutilations of family
and community members. These
images must have lasting and
detrimental effects. Croesus, King of
Lydia in the 6
th
century BC stated,
“In peace the sons bury their
fathers, but in war the fathers bury
their sons.”
WONCA
News
FROM THE WONCA PRESIDENT / FROM THE CEO’S DESK
3
FROM THE CEO’S DESK:
FROM THE CEO’S DESK: FAMILY DOCTORS HELPING
FAMILY DOCTORS IN DISASTERS
In the past two to three years, the world has experienced several natural
disasters of significant magnitude. These would include the West Sumatra-
Aceh Tsunami, the North Pakistan Earthquake, Hurricane Katrina in the USA
and the recent Yogjakarta Earthquake in the Indonesian Island of Java. These
events were well covered by the media globally and we were all well
informed of the toll in human lives and property damages. Added to these
were the hardship and death inflicted on the civilian population in some
countries by man-made destruction like wars and civil unrest as the case in
the Darfur Region of Sudan, Timor Leste, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Afghanistan and
more recently in Lebanon and Israel.
While most of us know of the cost to human lives and property of these
events, few realize that among those who died and suffered are also the
family doctors living and working in the midst of these areas of calamity.
Some have died in the process of carrying out their professional duties
attending to patients while others died with their families at home. Little in
terms of publicity is given to these individual tragedies suffered by family
doctors.
In the case of the West Sumatra tsunami for example, about 28 family
doctors in Indonesia’s Aceh Region died instantly when the giant waves
struck land. Over 320 family practice clinics were completely destroyed
leaving the family doctors with no means to help the survivors or to make a
living after the event. Immediate and significant help and moral support
came from a large number of Indonesian family doctors from the distant
island of Java. These doctors managed with their own funds to buy daily
necessities and travel over eight
hundred kilometers to help their
fellow colleagues in distress.
The casualties and sufferings in
the North Pakistan Earthquake
would probably be equally
staggering among the local family
doctors, their families and their
practices.
Immediately following the
tsunami, appeals for help were
made by the Wonca Secretariat to
all member organizations globally
via e-mails. We did receive prompt
and positive responses from
individuals and member
organizations informing the
Secretariat of the many ways help
was being extended. The Dutch
College together with the University
of Nijmegen collected a total of
US$24,000 for the victims of the
disaster. These were given to the Sri
Lanka College to help rebuild the
homes of fishermen whose seaside
homes were completely destroyed.
Individual family doctors from
some countries like Switzerland,
Canada, United Kingdom and France
responded by traveling to Northern
Pakistan following the earthquake to
help with medical relief work. Some
of them received their contacts
through the Wonca World
Secretariat.
Whilst these efforts were all very
credible and praiseworthy, the help
extended was not directed
specifically to the family doctors
and their families affected by the
natural and war-related disasters.
As a world organization
representing over 250,000 family
doctors in over 90 countries
globally, Wonca should at this time
perhaps look at how it may play a
role to alleviate the hardship of
fellow family doctors affected by
such natural and man-made
disasters. The need to help our
friends and colleagues in such
Our colleagues and Wonca members in countries of the Middle East; in
the Darfur region of Sudan; in Timor Leste; caring for the communities
devastated by the recent Tsunami in Central and West Java, or the starving
masses in the Horn of Africa, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir and other areas
of humanitarian need, deserve our praise and support, not only during the
acute phases of need but also during those of early and sustained recovery
and reconstruction. They often work with very limited resources and under
stressful and dangerous conditions. The question we must ask is, “Are our
family doctors adequately trained to deal with natural, environmental or
man-made disasters?” I fear that in general they are not. But I believe that
most well trained generalists can soon adapt and learn in the face of
urgency and need. However disaster management should be a necessary
part of every doctor’s medical training.
Professor Bruce Sparks
President
World Organization of Family Doctors
WONCA
News
FROM THE CEO’S DESK / FROM THE EDITOR
4
difficult situations should be a
priority for the Organization. There
could be some mechanism set in
place that would allow this world
body to respond quickly and
effectively to the personal suffering
of its members. The avenues to
extend such help may be the
various colleges and academies of
family doctors present in the
affected country or a neighboring
country.
In the long term financial
planning of Wonca, it may not be
premature to set aside funds for
such aid. Besides setting aside a
certain percentage of Wonca’s net
income each year for this purpose,
contributions may be invited from
the larger and richer member
organizations or individuals within
Wonca. Appropriate appeals for
contributions from well-meaning
pharmaceutical and medical-related
multinational companies may also
be made to ensure an aid fund that
is significant and effective.
Wonca Executive and Council
may want to deliberate on this idea
when they next meet and perhaps
set in motion plans for such a relief
fund. Perhaps some of Wonca’s
larger member organizations could
kick-start the establishment of such
an aid fund with some initial
contributions to help persuade the
others to do the same. Some form
of recognition would of course have
to be put in place to record the
generosity of the contributors.
The way these disasters have
occurred in the recent past, it may
not be too soon to have the aid
funds available at the earliest
possible opportunity.
Dr Alfred Loh
Chief Executive Officer
World Organization of Family
Doctors
FROM THE EDITOR:
FAMILY DOCTORS – RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY
HEALTH THREATS
This issue of Wonca News highlights some of our old and new global
health threats and how family doctors play a central role on the front lines
of community health care systems in prevention, early detection and
treatment.
An article on the status of the HIV-AIDS epidemic indicates that an
estimated 40 million people are living with HIV-AIDs and almost 3 million
have died since its emergence 25 years ago. Much progress in AIDS
research, prevention and treatment has given hope and life to millions of
people around the world. The same cannot yet be said about the global
impact of tobacco related illness and death. A new report indicates that
1.25 billion people, a quarter of the world’s population, currently smoke,
and approximately half of them will die because of it. If present trends
continue, tobacco related illness may account for over one billion deaths in
the 21
st
century.
An article on the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong and Toronto
demonstrates that family doctors can and do play a central role in each
country in the prevention, early detection and effective treatment of
community health threats. In their President and CEO Column, Professor
Bruce Sparks and Dr Alfred Loh compel family doctors to be healers in the
face of human conflict and natural disasters. An article in a continuing
series from the Wonca Working Party on Woman and Family Medicine
highlights the additional challenges that women physicians must overcome
to be effective caregivers and healers.
Wonca provides numerous opportunities for family doctors to remain
informed and prepared as community health physicians and leaders. The
Resources Section provides family doctors useful information on the latest
on the Avian Flu, cancer, cardiovascular disease and tobacco related illness.
In the upcoming year, tens of thousands of family doctors around the globe
will share experiences and ideas in Wonca Regional meetings in Florence,
Buenos Aires and Bangkok, in member organization scientific and political
meetings and in the 7
th
Wonca World Rural Health Conference in Seattle and
18
th
Wonca World Conference in Singapore. Wonca’s website,
GlobalFamilyDoctor.com, provides family doctors a wealth of relevant
resources and links to all of the above and much more.
Please continue to send me relevant and useful information you would
like to share with your fellow family doctors through Wonca News.
Marc L. Rivo, M.D, M.P.H.
Editor, Wonca News
marcrivo@aol.com
4566 Prairie Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33140 USA
1-305-674-8839 (fax)
WONCA
News
FEATURE STORIES
FEATURE STORIES
PROFESSOR KHAYA MFENYANA ELECTED
WONCA AFRICA REGION PRESIDENT
Professor Khaya Mfenyana has been elected as
President of the Wonca Africa Region. He will serve the
remainder of the three year term of Dr Abra Fransch,
who served with great distinction as Africa Region
President since assuming the role at the 2001 Wonca
Council meeting in South Africa. Dr Fransch moved from
Zimbabwe to Australia and was no longer able to
continue to serve in the role. Professor Khaya
(pronounced KY-A) Mfenyana will serve the remainder of
the three year term as Regional President until the
2007-2010 triennium elections at the Africa Regional
Council meeting to be held just prior to the Wonca
World Council in Singapore in July 2007.
Professor Khaya Mfenyana
President,
Wonca Africa Region President (2006-)
Doctor Abra Fransch
President,
Wonca Africa Region President (2001-2006)
Professor Mfenyana, a member of the South Africa
Academy of Family Practice, is a humble and jovial man
with grassroots origins in the Transkei who has risen to
numerous leadership positions in academia, practice
and his profession. Khaya is Founder and Chair of the
Department of Family Medicine at the University of
Transkei, Director of several primary care clinics in the
area, and President of FAMEC, the Consortium of
Departments of Family Medicine in South Africa. He also
has a leadership role in the East African Project, a major
Wonca collaborative project to improve family medicine
education, practice and health care delivery in East
Africa. He was a Kellogg Foundation Fellow and was on
the Executive Committee of The Network – Towards
Unity for Health.
With his roots in the Transkei, Professor Mfenyana
brings to Wonca his emphasis on serving the
5
underserved, his perspective of caring, and his
experience with community oriented, academic based
family medicine education, research and service.
Professor Khaya Mfenyana may be contacted at
mfenyana@getafix.utr.ac.za
Women Physicians Caring for
Themselves and Their Families
An examination of the health and well-being of
women doctors reveals many contradictions. When
compared to the general population, women doctors
have better health, perhaps because of our
socioeconomic status. In addition we have healthier
lifestyles than men physicians in the areas of smoking,
drinking, exercise, sleeping habits, and body weight. At
the same time, women physicians (at least those in
Canada and Sweden) report more chronic health
problems, acknowledge more impairment of health, and
use more physical and health services than do their
men colleagues. How can we explain these disparate
findings?
Perhaps the tensions between our work, our
personal lives and our role in society have something to
do with it. Among U.S. women physicians, more than
three-quarters report moderate to severe work stress.
While men physicians also experience work stress,
women’s stressors often relate to traditional role
relationships and family responsibilities, compared to
men who report more stresses relating to relationships
with patients and clinical pressures. Women’s unique
work-related stresses include role conflict with marriage
and parenting, prejudice and discrimination, token
status, sexual harassment, social isolation, lack of
women role models, and inadequate family and
institutional support. These issues might underlie
women physicians’ stress in comparison to men, but
then how can we explain the next contradiction: Women
physicians report a high level of life and work
satisfaction!
The persistent finding of women physicians’
satisfaction—despite high-level stressors—concurs with
results from studies of other women professionals that
describe a “paradox of the contented worker.” Although
women professionals generally have lower pay, status,
and authority than men, they consistently describe
themselves as more satisfied. Perhaps this discrepancy
is due to different career expectations, different values
regarding job and career, or greater interest in intrinsic
versus extrinsic rewards (e.g. intellectual stimulation
WONCA
News
FEATURE STORIES
6
and relationships over pay and
prestige). Or perhaps women
physicians value the combined
rewards of family and career over
the singular rewards of career,
despite the challenges posed.
Other sources of stress may
derive from women’s sense of guilt
and, sometimes excessive, sense of
responsibility. While these traits
may lead to personal distress, they
may also underlie women
physicians’ high motivation to
succeed in all that we undertake. As
physicians we maintain high
expectations of ourselves and push
ourselves to perform and excel in all
areas. When we do not meet all our
perceived responsibilities, we tend
to feel frustrated and inadequate,
perhaps explaining why we are more
likely to experience burnout and
depression than our men
colleagues. The evidence on why
women physicians have higher
suicide rates than the general
women population is inconsistent;
however it is clear that career stress
and other life stressors contribute
significantly to suicide in women
physicians. Balancing professional
and personal obligations means
dividing our time and energy
between our work and private lives,
resulting in divided loyalties and a
sense of guilt. If we work less, we
let our colleagues down and
advance more slowly; if we cut back
on family time, our relationships
suffer. Women physicians feel under
pressure to be good mothers, good
housekeepers, and good partners in
addition to performing our
professional duties. Some of us feel
a great deal of guilt, sadness and
regret about what feels like
abandonment of our children and
families at times to perform our
professional duties. Frequently we
claim little time for ourselves,
despite our strong encouragement
to our women patients to make time
for themselves! Such role conflict
can cause decreased self-esteem, as
well as fatigue and depression. If
this is true, how come we like our
work so much?
Certainly, the workplace is not
always a welcoming environment for
the advancement of women.
Training environments have
traditionally expected us to
suppress our emotions in favor of a
stiff upper lip. In the work
environment we often experience
competitiveness, power politics, lack
of autonomy, lack of control over
work hours, lack of role models,
discrimination (either due to gender
or due to family responsibilities)
and persistent “minority” status. Not
surprisingly, such dynamics
contribute to women physicians’
lower self-confidence. Moreover,
parenting and family responsibilities
have a different impact on our
career choice and advancement,
compared to men physicians. So
why do it all?
Maybe the challenges are
balanced by the rewards. Many
women physicians feel that being a
parent makes us better doctors to
our patients. Juggling work and
family can lead to a full rewarding
life, as reflected by the lower rates
of depression and increased life
satisfaction married women
physicians with children report
compared to single women
physicians without children. (Or
perhaps not even a woman’s good
career can make up for not pursuing
the socially approved roles of
marriage and motherhood.)
Although women physicians are
more likely than men physicians to
be divorced or single, women
physicians are very likely to marry
other physicians and to work part-
time while their partners work full-
time. These dual doctor marriages
seem to endure as well as any other
marriages in today’s world. Or
perhaps our shared interests and
our involvement in work keep these
relationships vibrant and interesting!
Many women physicians have
found creative ways to get
psychological and emotional
support in their personal lives, and
in their work settings. We learn to
negotiate more effectively the
division of labour in domestic duties
with our spouses, and we develop
new strategies to share call with our
colleagues. We find ingenious ways
to network among one another. In
medical school and residency we
learn how to work within the system
to balance our many conflicting
priorities, and once in practice we
put these coping mechanisms into
practice for the long-term. We can
attend workshops on assertiveness
training and leadership skills, and
we can develop mentoring programs
for those who come after us. We
gain enormous satisfaction from
working for broader solutions for
women physicians’ concerns, for
instance lobbying for work equity
policies, parental leave policies, and
flexible hours. Our work on behalf
of our patients, our colleagues and
our learners nourishes us and
enables us to further the health and
wellbeing of members of our
community.
Currently most of the studies on
women physicians come from
Europe and North America. With the
increasing representation of
developing nations in Wonca, and
the increasing numbers of women
physicians represented in Wonca
member organizations, we will soon
be able to understand whether
women physicians around the world
share the same challenges in caring
for themselves and their families as
we have described above. We
suspect that women in the newly
represented regions will face even
greater contradictions, as so many
other women in their communities
lack even basic health care, safety
and respect. Their tasks will seem
much greater, but then again, the
rewards of their success will be
huge. At the next Wonca Triennial
in Singapore in 2007 we will dedicate a symposium to
looking at how women family physicians from each
region maintain their balance, using video clips from a
day in the life of women family doctors from around the
world. We look forward to networking with women
physicians from all over the world as a way of building
supportive systems that foster our ability to take better
care of ourselves and one another.
Lucy Candib MD
Barbara Lent MD
Michelle Howard MSc
Cheryl Levitt MBBCh
Wonca Working Party on Women and Family Medicine
(Editor’s Note: This is the second of a series of
monographs published by the Wonca Working Party on
Women and Family Medicine. Please see the June 2006
issue of Wonca News for an overview of the series and
an article from the first monograph. Readers may go to
www.womenandfamilymedicine.com for the full
monograph, literature review, summary and annotated
bibliography on women family physicians caring for
themselves and their families)
Register for the 7
th
Wonca World Rural Health
Conference in Seattle – Anchorage
September 8-13
It is a great pleasure for me, on behalf of the Wonca
Working Party on Rural Practice, the University of
Washington School of Medicine’s Department of Family
Medicine and WWAMI program, the American Academy
of Family Physicians, and our State Academies, to invite
you to participate in the exciting experience of the 7th
WONCA World Rural Health Conference. This meeting will
be held in Seattle, Washington, USA from September 8-
13, 2006.
Since Seattle and the University of Washington
School of Medicine are the home of the WWAMI medical
education program (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska,
Montana, Idaho), we have established the conference
theme of Transforming Rural Practice Through Education.
Education plays many roles for rural physicians. From
preparing them to practice, to offering opportunities to
teach in their practices, education permeates our lives
and is very important for rural physicians. The thirty-five
year old WWAMI program allows the University of
Washington School of Medicine to serve as the medical
school for five states that comprise 27% of the land
mass of the US, yet contain only 3% of the
population—this is truly a rural region, and
decentralized community based medical education is at
the heart of the WWAMI program. Much of our
educational process is dependant on the participation of
community based volunteer faculty physicians located
throughout our area – education and practice are
inextricably tied to each other.
The Seattle portion of the meeting will include two
linked major conferences, one dedicated to the
scientific, health policy and medical education aspects
of global rural health, and the other dedicated to
continuing clinical education for rural physicians. Our
international program and scientific committee is
looking forward to developing a comprehensive program
of posters and presentations that will be both
stimulating and interesting.
More information on our fascinating city can be
found at the website of the Seattle Convention and
Visitors Bureau. In addition to a very strong scientific
and clinical educational program, we will provide a
cultural and social experience that will be very
enjoyable. We will focus the cultural program on the
native peoples of the Northwest and Alaska. Our social
functions will create an opportunity for you to meet
other rural physicians from around the world, have
some fun, and get to know our region better.
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest
region of the United States. Founded in 1869, the City of
Seattle is located in the State of Washington on Puget
Sound, 113 miles (182 km) from the U.S.—Canadian
border. It is a beautiful multi-cultural metropolis located
between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains,
interspersed with large lakes. The city is rich in history
and has long served as a major port and as the gateway
to the Northwest and Alaska. Surrounded by mountains
and water, the greater Seattle area features picture-
perfect views and abundant recreational opportunities
year-round. Room blocks will be reserved for conference
attendees. Additionally, economical room and board
packages will be available in dormitory facilities on the
University of Washington campus near the conference
venues. Cuisine in the Seattle area is famous for fresh
seafood, local farm produce, and other Northwest
specialties. The areas cultural diversity has produced a
wide variety of ethnic restaurants.
Following the Seattle conferences, we are very
pleased to offer a post-conference session to consider
actual rural health systems at Talkeetna Lodge near
Denali National Park in Alaska. The Talkeetna Alaskan
Lodge offers the premier lodge experience with
spectacular views of Mount McKinley (Denali as it is
known locally), Denali National Park and the Alaska
WONCA
News
FEATURE STORIES
7
WONCA REGIONAL NEWS
1
ST
WONCA
IBEROAMERICAN-CIMF
REGIONAL CONFERENCE
TO MEET IN BUENOS
AIRES – OCTOBER 11-14
It is a great honour for me to
announce the 1st Iberoamerican
Wonca-CIMF Regional Congress that
will be held in Buenos Aires from
October 11th to October 14th, 2006.
The whole city is getting ready to
welcome the family physician
community for four days.
We have prepared an extensive
scientific program with plenary
sessions, round table discussions,
workshops, and satellite symposia.
WONCA
News
FEATURE STORIES / REGIONAL NEWS
8
Range. The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge
is Alaska Native owned and
operated, offering a resort style
setting with unique and awe-
inspiring Denali and Alaska Range
views that are simply unmatched.
Located just outside the heart of
Talkeetna, it is easy to treat yourself
to the many local activities,
including favorites like flightseeing –
where you can even land on a
glacier in Denali National Park.
Registration, educational and
scientific program information,
accommodations and sightseeing for
both the main and post-conference
may be found at
www.ruralwonca2006.org.
We hope that you will plan to
join us and be part of our exciting
program.
Tom E. Norris, MD
Chair, Organizing Committee
tnorris@u.washington.edu
Also, participants will have a chance
to get new and updated
information, participate in expert
debates and breakfast sessions,
scientific presentations, skill
assessment stations and the option
to take the specialist certification
exam. In addition to the opportunity
of enjoying the meeting with peers
and friends from around the world,
several social and tourist activities
have been scheduled. More than
forty eminent personalities from
well-known academic institutions
will be among the guests. They will
include most family medicine’s areas
of interest.
Buenos Aires, the city of Borges,
Cortazar, Maradona and Gardel and
capital of the Argentine Republic, is
a city of culture, fashion,
gastronomy, art and music. It is also
known as the city of tango, good
beef and soccer. Before or after the
Congress, you will be able to visit
some of the top tourist spots in
Argentina, such as the Iguazu Falls,
Bariloche and the Patagonia
glaciers.
We are getting ready for your
visit. We want you to enjoy a warm
stop in our city and to get the most
out of this high-level scientific
conference that will contribute to
the development of better
professionals and a healthier
population.
To learn more about our exciting
conference and to register, please
visit our website at:
www.woncacimfcongreso2006.com/
We are looking forward to seeing
you all in October 2006.
Greetings,
Dr. Sergio Solmesky MD
Chairman
famfyg@aamf.org.ar
El Primer Congreso
Regional de Wonca-CIMF
Iberoamericano Realizara
en Buenos Aires de 11 al
14 de Octubre
Como coordinador del Comité
Científico es para mi un gran honor
invitarlos anunciar el I Congreso
Regional de Wonca-CIMF
Iberoamericano que realizaremos en
Buenos Aires del 11 al 14 de Octubre
de 2006 e introducirlos en lo que
será sin lugar a dudas un evento
académico formidable. Estamos
orgullosos de estar preparando un
programa científico tan diverso e
interesante, las posibilidades de
formación son muy variadas y se
encuentran distribuidas a través de
ejes temáticos dominados por los
principios de nuestra especialidad.
En este sentido encontrarán
desde simposios, mesas redondas,
talleres, cursos, presentación de
trabajos orales y posters, hasta una
serie de novedosas actividades
como las sesiones de video, las
actualizaciones en medicina
centrada en el paciente, y los
talleres interactivos.
Nuestros invitados extranjeros
prometen entregarnos unas
plenarias colmadas de
conocimientos y reflexiones que
puedan ser de utilidad para la
práctica de la Medicina Familiar en
toda Iberoamérica. Se hará especial
énfasis en temas que reflejen los
distintos roles que hoy ocupa el
Medico de Familia y que pueden
favorecer la construcción de un
sistema de salud centrado en la
Atención Primaria.
Esperamos sinceramente que
este congreso sea una gran
oportunidad para compartir
experiencias y ampliar nuestros
horizontes, encontrar viejos amigos
o hacer nuevos, y escuchar
WONCA
News
REGIONAL NEWS / HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEM NEWS
9
novedosas investigaciones e ideas que puedan servir
para mejorar la salud de nuestros pacientes, así son los
Congresos de Wonca.
Estamos sorprendidos por la cantidad de propuestas
de actividades recibidas hasta el momento,
provenientes de toda Iberoamerica. Si todavía no han
enviado las suyas, también los invito a ser parte de
este Congreso mediante el envio de sus trabajos
científicos. Navegando en este sitio encontraran la
información necesaria para hacerlo.
Finalmente me gustaría aprovechar la oportunidad
para agradecerles a todos los miembros del Comité
Científico por su colaboración y por el trabajo que
realizan día a día.
Dr. Ezequiel López
Coordinador del Comité Científico
famfyg@aamf.org.ar
Come to Bangkok for the Asia Pacific
Regional Conference –
November 5-9
The 15th Wonca Asia Pacific Regional Conference will
be held for the first time in Bangkok, Thailand during 5-
9 November, 2006. The conference will be hosted by the
General Practitioners/ Family Physicians Association,
Thailand and the Royal College of Family Physicians of
Thailand, under the auspices of the World Organization
of Family Doctors (Wonca - World Organization of
National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations
of General Practitioners/Family Physicians).
The theme of this meeting is “Happy and Healthy
Family”. We, the family doctors, along with physicians,
dentists, nurses, pharmacists, public health personnel
and all health-care workers, have to work closely
together for taking proper care of the illness, prevent
and control diseases, and promote health for all. These
are challenging goal for us to achieve in an era with a
rapid growth of new technology, industrialization, and
population mobility.
The meeting will provide us opportunities to bring
together family doctor teams in urban and rural areas,
sharing their experiences and learning from experts as
well as fostering partnerships in the region.
Thailand has been the site of numerous international
meetings, and Bangkok is the gateway of the region.
The country’s rich heritages, beautiful scenic seaside
and mountain views as well as our unique Thai
hospitality will make your visit truly memorable.
For further information and to register to attend,
please visit our conference website at
www.wonca2006.org
We look forward to welcoming you to Bangkok in
2006.
Sawasdee.
Kachit Choopanya, MD., MPH. & TM.
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee
Prasong Tuchinda, MD.
Honorary Chaiperson
HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEM NEWS
MORE THAN 20,000 REVIEW AIDS
EPIDEMIC AT XVI INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE
World leaders joined forces with their scientific and
professional counterparts at the XVI International AIDS
Conference held in Toronto, Canada from August 13-28.
Former Presidents Mary Robinson (Ireland) and Bill
Clinton (United States), Bill and Melinda Gates, and
other political, business and community leaders joined
Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, Stephen Lewis,
UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, and more than
20,000 participants on the front line of HIV/AIDs
prevention, treatment and research.
Conference participants digested and discussed the
recently released UNAIDS 2006 Report on the global
AIDS epidemic. The 2006 Report on the global AIDS
epidemic, prepared by UNAIDS and its cosponsoring
agencies, is the most comprehensive report on the
response to AIDS ever compiled. Utilizing data from 126
countries and more than 30 civil society organizations,
the UNAIDS report assessed country progress toward
the six global targets set in the UN Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted by 189 UN Member
States in 2001. The 2005 targets are based on the goal
of halting and reversing the global epidemic by 2015.
Progress toward those goals was measured against an
agreed set of indicators of action developed by UNAIDS
in consultation with member states and civil society.
WONCA
News
HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEM NEWS
10
The 2006 UN Report indicates
that the AIDS epidemic appears to
be slowing down globally. An
estimated 38.6 million are living
with HIV worldwide. In 2005, an
estimated 4.1 million were newly
infected and 2.8 million died of
AIDS. While the epidemic’s toll
remains massive, experts find
reasons for optimism, as well as
guidance for how to improve the
AIDS response.
The report cites significant
improvements in several elements of
the global AIDS response. In an
encouraging development, six of 11
African countries reported declines
of 25% or more in HIV prevalence
among 15-24 year-olds in capital
cities. Rates of sex among young
people declined in nine of 14 sub-
Saharan countries. Condom use with
a non-regular partner increased in
eight out of 11 countries here,
although overall use of condoms
remains below 50%. Use of HIV
testing and counseling, an
important tool for facilitating both
treatment and prevention,
quadrupled to 16.5 million people
tested in 2005. In 58 countries
reporting, 74% of primary schools
and 81% of secondary schools now
provide AIDS education.
While this progress is notable, the
HIV prevention response falls short
in many areas. The 2001 Declaration
of Commitment calls for 90% of
young people to be knowledgeable
about AIDS by 2005, yet surveys
indicate that fewer than 50% of
young people achieved
comprehensive knowledge levels. An
area of exceptional concern is the
ongoing shortfall in care to prevent
mother-to-child HIV infection, in
which just 9% of pregnant women
are currently covered.
While some countries are adopting
more progressive approaches to
reducing HIV among injection drug
users, overall fewer than 20% of
people who inject drugs received
HIV prevention services. Coverage
is less than 10% in Eastern Europe
and Central Asia. Only 10 of 24
countries that reported data for sex
workers achieved at least 50%
coverage of prevention services for
this population. Only 9% of men
who have sex with men received
any type of HIV prevention service
in 2005.
Civil society reports indicate that
stigma and discrimination remain
pervasive. Half of all reporting
countries said that they have laws
and policies that interfere with the
accessibility and effectiveness of HIV
prevention and care. Care and
support for the 15 million children
orphaned by AIDS, and for millions
of other vulnerable children, lag far
behind the need.
Access to antiretroviral treatment
has expanded significantly, from
240,000 people in 2001 to 1.3
million people in low- and middle-
income countries in 2005; 21
countries met or exceeded “3 by 5”
treatment targets. ARV prices
dropped significantly and
procurement systems have
improved, as has generic drug
availability. Still, HIV treatment
coverage varies considerably within
regions. In sub-Saharan Africa,
treatment coverage ranges from 3%
in the Central African Republic, to
85% in Botswana.
The report shows that young
people, women and children are
increasingly affected by the
epidemic, and efforts to protect
these and other vulnerable groups
are not keeping pace with the
epidemic’s impact. On HIV
prevention, the report documents
behaviour changes including delays
in first sexual experience, increasing
use of condoms by young people,
and resulting decreases in HIV
prevalence in young people in some
sub-Saharan countries. Women still
remain disproportionately
vulnerable. Effective strategies are
needed to increase access to
methods of prevention that women
can control.
Leadership and political action
on AIDS have also increased
significantly since 2001. Ninety
percent of reporting countries now
have a national AIDS strategy; 85%
have a single national body to
coordinate AIDS efforts; and 50%
have a national monitoring and
evaluation framework and plan. Yet,
systems to implement these plans
remain inconsistent, as does civil
society involvement and, specifically,
involvement of people living with
HIV. The response is diverse with
some countries doing well on
treatment but poorly on HIV
prevention efforts and vice-versa.
The report indicates that a number
of significant challenges remain.
Among these are the need for
improved planning, sustained
leadership and reliable long-term
funding for the AIDS response.
The full report may be
downloaded in English, French,
Russian and Spanish at:
www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/
2006GlobalReport/default.asp
Hong Kong and Toronto’s Family
Doctors Responded to the SARS
Epidemic
The Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) had taken the
world by surprise and caught many
medical professionals off guard.
During the SARS epidemic in 2003,
family doctors were very much left
to their own devices for screening,
diagnosing, and managing anxious
patients and families of the
suspected or confirmed disease. The
spontaneous communication and
11
WONCA
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HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEM NEWS
information exchange triggered by
SARS are likely to set a new
standard for infectious disease
response and control. As we look
back on the response of family
doctors in Hong Kong, Toronto,
Canada and other countries to
SARS, we may learn valuable
lessons when challenged with new
infections such as the Avian Flu.
When 183 family doctors in Hong
Kong were surveyed in 2003, they
all agreed that SARS had changed
their clinical practices. Three
quarters of respondents recalled
requesting more investigations while
a quarter believed they had over-
prescribed antibiotics. Interestingly
GPs who were exposed to SARS or
had worked in high infection
districts were three times less likely
to quarantine themselves (10.8% vs.
33.3%). Exposure to SARS, the
infection rates in their working
district and anxiety levels were
found to have significant impacts on
the level of protection or prescribing
behavior.
When the responses and
management of SARS by Hong Kong
and Toronto family doctors were
compared, clear differences in
clinical practices were observed
between the two places. Despite
similarities in the absence of
training in infectious disease control
(80-84.6%) and lack of confidence
in dealing with SARS (68.1-73.5%),
more family doctors in Toronto had
used the SARS screening tools
provided by international agencies
such as WHO, CDC, either in a self-
help manner or over the telephone.
In Hong Kong, the application of the
screening tools was limited by the
language barrier and by a lack of
clear instruction in cases of a
positive test. Only 23% of Hong
Kong doctors were satisfied with the
way their government had handled
SARS, compared with 72.5% of their
counterparts in Toronto. This was
related to a lack of support from the
local professional bodies and the
Hong Kong Department of Health, as
well as the perception that the
screening tools were seen as
‘changing too often’.
The doctors’ attitudes and
behavior were closely interwoven
with those of the general public and
the mass media had a significant
role to play. In a qualitative study of
a stratified sample of 44 parents of
kindergarten pupils who shared
their experience about the epidemic
one year after the outbreak, fear
was identified as the key concern
and in response, people acted
differently: Rational behavioral
changes such as adopting a healthy
lifestyle or improving personal
hygiene to enhance self-control
attenuated fear, whereas many
irrational behavioral changes such
as blaming other groups and boiling
vinegar could have contributed to
the poor control of the epidemic.
Inappropriate changes in health-
seeking behavior, such as visiting
doctors far away from their home in
a non-epidemic district, and self-
imposed isolation which interacted
with stigmatization and
discrimination, were found to be the
most prominent avoidance behavior
in SARS.
Differences in health care
delivery between Hong Kong and
Canada could account for some of
the observed differences in the
doctors’ clinical practice and
satisfaction. One of the strategies to
manage the outbreak in Hong Kong
was to centralize caseloads in
selected institutions. Toronto went
in the opposite direction, allowing
SARS cases to enter a large number
of Toronto hospitals during the first
wave of the outbreak, while
decreeing all non-urgent hospital
activities to be suspended. This
resulted in a massive backlog of
deferred elective surgery and
ambulatory services in Toronto.
Laboratory services were also under
strain. In Toronto, SARS testing was
transferred to local hospitals as the
public health reference laboratories
were overwhelmed. Hong Kong, in
contrast, had a large private
laboratory capacity with linked data
resources. However, the lack of
good laboratory protocol resulted in
additional requests for laboratory
tests, which were expensive or
potentially harmful for some
patients.
An analysis of the family doctors
response to SARS in Hong Kong and
Toronto suggests that relevant and
practical training in infection control
should be made available to family
physicians in the form of continuous
medical education programs. An
active and collaborative laboratory
surveillance system would integrate
frontline laboratories into the public
health system to assist detection
and control of infectious diseases
such as detection of H5N1 in the
outbreak. Family doctors should
also try to understand the patients’
concerns in their social and cultural
context, and a patient-centered
approach must be adopted by all
health professionals. Family doctors
can play a key role in future
emerging infectious disease
outbreaks by engaging their
patients, families and relatives
throughout the treatment of the
disease on effective prevention,
early detection and treatment.
Dr William CW Wong,
Assistant Professor
Department of Community and
Family Medicine
The Chinese University of Hong
Kong
b106302@mailserv.cuhk.edu.hk
WONCA
News
MEMBER AND ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
12
MEMBER AND ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
PROFESSOR NANDANI DE SILVA
APPOINTED VICE CHANCELLOR
Professor Nandani de Silva, Professor of Family
Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of
Kelaniya in Sri Lanka was appointed in May this year as
Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Following recommendations made by the University
Grants Commission, she was appointed to this
prestigious position by Mahinda Rajapakse, the
President of Sri Lanka. She is the only woman doctor to
become a Vice Chancellor in Sri Lanka.
Professor Nandani de Silva
Vice Chancellor of the
Open University of Sri Lanka
Professor Nandani de Silva will retain her position as
Chair and Professor of the Department of Family
Medicine as she has been released from the Faculty of
Medicine to take up the Vice Chancellor post for a three
year term. Being a medical educator with a special
interest in distance education she has pioneered the
development of distance education programs for doctors
in the periphery through the Postgraduate Institute of
Medicine and the Sri Lanka Medical Association since
2001. Taking up this post has provided her the
opportunity of enhancing the delivery of CPD
programmes to rural doctors using the latest in
information and communication technology through the
regional centers of the Open University spread across Sri
Lanka.
Professor Nandani de Silva is a direct member of
Wonca and Vice President of the College of General
Practitioners of Sri Lanka which is a member
organization of Wonca. She was the Chairperson of the
Scientific Committee of the Wonca MESAR conference
held in Colombo in 2005 and has presented papers at
many WONCA conferences.
Isabelita Morales Samaniego – Wonca Global
Family Doctor for June
Dr Isabelita Morales Samaniego was born in Binan
Laguna, Philippines on November 19, 1951. She is a
graduate of family medicine residency training from the
Philippine General Hospital, holds a masters of
Occupational Health form the UP College of Public
Health, is a Diplomate in Family Medicine and a Fellow
of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr Isabelita Morales Samaniego
Wonca Global Family Doctor for June 2006
Since 1978, Dr Samaniego has been in community based
family practice. Her patients include several generations
of families in the community and a string from
industries. From 1993-1999, she was a Professor in
Family and Community Medicine and Chair at the
Pamantasan ng Lungsod Maynila- College of Medicine.
Since 2000, Dr Samaniego has been Chairman of the
Department of Family Medicine at the Ospital ng
Maynila.
Dr Samaniego currently serves as the Philippine
Academy of Family Physicians Laguna Chapter
Coordinator of the Family Based DOTS Program and CME
Advisor, and nationally as the Chair of the Specialty
Board and member of various committees. She is also
the Assistant Editor of the Filipino Physicians Journal
Dr Samaniego is a caring daughter to her parents, loving
wife to her husband and doting mother to her three
children one of whom is now a physician. Despite her
busy schedule, she managed to tutor her children at
home. In her community, Dr Samaniego is known and
appreciated as a health care provider, researcher,
lifelong learner, educator-teacher, leader-manager-social
mobilizer and counselor.
She is a deserving winner of the Wonca Global Family
Doctor of the Month
(Editor’s note: The “Global Family Doctor of the
Month” Award is an award to encourage philanthropy
among primary care practitioners and to honour doctors
giving their time and expertise to their global
colleagues and their patients. The award is given to
doctors who are recognised by their colleagues as
having contributed significantly to the community in
which they work by way of their practice, community
involvement, charity work or other humanitarian acts.)
13
WONCA
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MEMBER AND ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
Each Award winner will receive:
1.A letter of congratulations from the Wonca CEO
2.An Award certificate signed by the President of
Wonca and the CEO of Wonca suitable for framing.
3.A complete office diagnostic set from Welch Allyn
worth approximately US$400.
Submission Requirements:
1.Title and Full Name of nominee.
2.Photo of nominee. The winner and his/her photo
would be featured on Wonca’s website
www.GlobalFamilyDoctor.com
3.Postal address of nominee.
4.Reasons for nomination for the Award.
5.Brief resume or CV of the nominee
6.Any other relevant information that would assist
Wonca in the selection process.
Please submit nominations and accompanying
documents via email for this monthly Award to:
Dr Alfred Loh
CEO
World Organization of Family
Doctors (Wonca)
#01-02 College of Medicine Building
16 College Road
SINGAPORE 169854
Ph +65 6224 2886
Fax +65 6324 2029
Email admin@wonca.com.sg
Call for Papers for Special Issue on Global Family
Medicine Education
The journal, Family Medicine, published by the
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, is planning to
publish a special issue that describes exciting
developments in family medicine education globally and
that documents the contributions of family medicine to
health care, especially in less economically developed
countries. Jonathan (Jack) Rodnick, MD, the special
issue editor, welcomes articles submitted on this topic
from family doctors and others from around the world.
Articles that will be considered for this special issue
on global family medicine education include those that:
•Evaluate or document innovative programs to
educate family physicians or improve the delivery
of primary care. Educational papers should
address the competencies, skills and/or
outcomes of graduates or programs;
•Describe family medicine medical school
approaches, post-graduate education programs,
certification processes or continuing professional
development projects that improve the
knowledge or skills needed to practice family
medicine;
•Highlight linkages between U.S. departments,
training programs or organizations and
developing programs in other countries;
•Provide insights about meeting the needs of
family medicine students, trainees or faculty and/
or the populations they serve; and
•Discuss how to improve US family medicine
programs to prepare trainees for roles in global
health.
Four types of article submissions will be considered:
1.Original articles – no longer than 2500 words and an
abstract of less than 250 words evaluating or
documenting the impact of innovative educational
programs. These articles should have a clear
methodology and be data based.
2.Brief reports – no longer than 1500 words and an
abstract of less than 150 words to describe
innovative training programs.
3.Commentaries – no longer than 2500 words with an
abstract of less than 250 words. These pieces will
provide authors’ views or considerations in
developing family medicine educational, research or
continuing professional development programs
outside of the United States.
4.Personal narratives – no longer than 1000 words
highlighting a story about personal change, patient
care or teaching experiences in settings with limited
resources.
Please send manuscripts electronically if possible to
the issue editor, Jack Rodnick, no later than February 28,
2007. All submissions should use the Family Medicine
manuscript guidelines, available at http://www.stfm.org/
fmhub/instruct.html. All submissions will be first peer
reviewed by an editorial advisory group composed of
Andrew Bazemore, Niharika Khanna, Cindy Haq, Dan
Ostergaard, Marc Rivo, and Jack Rodnick. Those
interested in submitting articles may contact Jack
Rodnick at jrodnick@psg.ucsf.edu.
WONCA
News
MEMBER AND ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
14
‘Education for Health’ Call for
Papers Deadline September
30th
The editors of Education for
Health, the journal of The Network:
Towards Unity for Health, extended
the deadline to September 30
th
for a
call for papers for a special issue
entitled, The Integration of Medicine
and Public Health in Practice
Through a Unity of Purpose and
Action.
In 1999, WHO held an
international conference to address
the current fragmentation of health
systems and to develop a
framework for better melding the
domains of medicine and public
health in health care delivery. The
resulting framework created,
referred to as: “Towards Unity for
Health” (TUFH) addresses the need
for a better coordination of health
service delivery through
partnerships among the community,
health service providers, policy
makers, health professionals and
academic institutions.
The editors of Education for
Health are soliciting manuscripts
that model key principles, such as
consensus building among
stakeholders, community
engagement, leadership training,
shared management and resource
development and deployment.
Roles of the five stakeholders-
health service providers, health
professionals, the community, policy
makers and the academic
community, should be described.
Programs may be at the community,
district, state or national level.
The editors are soliciting two
types of papers. Full papers of
3000 words or less should include
the initial program objectives, a
description of the partners and their
roles, the implications of the
program for the health professions
and evidence of impact. Brief communications of less than 1200 words
may be used to describe programs which are in the process of being
implemented but have not yet been evaluated. Articles in English, Spanish
and French are welcome. Summaries in these languages will be available for
each article .
Manuscripts and specific questions should be submitted via email to the
Co-Editors for Education for Health at: efh@network.unimaas.nl. Routine
author guidelines will be utilized, which are available at:
http://www.the-networktufh.org.
Margaret Gadon, MD, MPH
Michael Glasser, Ph.D.
Co-Editors for Education for Health
Email: efh@network.unimaas.nl
Wonca Veterans Reunite in Alaska
Several Wonca veteran leaders were spotted on the deck of a ferry
cruising off the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska in June. You may recognize them
as Robert Higgins, Wonca World President (1998-2001), Warren Heffron,
President of the Americas Region, and Reg Perkin, Past President of the
Americas Region.
(L to R) Wonca Leaders: Reg Perkin, Robert Higgins and Warren Heffron
off the Coast of Alaska
15
WONCA
News
RESOURCES FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR
RESOURCES FOR THE
FAMILY DOCTOR
NEW REPORT: TOBACCO
DEATHS MAY EXCEED ONE
BILLION IN THE 21
ST
CENTURY
Public health officials report that
tobacco use was responsible for
100 million deaths worldwide
during the 20th century and that if
current trends continue, the death
toll could easily reach 1 billion this
century.
According to the second edition of
the Tobacco Atlas, released during
the July 2006 International Union
Against Cancer Conference, 1.25
billion people currently smoke
worldwide. Those smokers stand a
50% chance of dying a tobacco
related death.
Key global statistics within the
report reveal:
•Close to 1 billion men and 250
million women currently smoke,
worldwide.
•Approximately 650 million
people who are alive today will
eventually die because of
tobacco use.
•Tobacco kills 5 million people
every year, which amounts to
nearly 14,000 tobacco-related
deaths per day.
The Tobacco Atlas states that
approximately 300 million lives
could be saved over the next 50
years if global smoking rates could
be cut in half.
The first edition of the Cancer Atlas,
also released during the IUAC
Conference, reveals global cancer
deaths are increasing and shifting
from developed to developing
nations. While the risk of
contracting cancer is higher among
developed countries, more of the
cancers in developing nations are
fatal.
The Tobacco Atlas and the Cancer
Atlas were produced by the
American Cancer Society (ACS) in
cooperation with the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the World Health
Organization’s International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC), and
the International Union Against
Cancer (UICC).
The Tobacco Atlas, 2
nd
edition
Dr Judith Mackay, Dr Michael Eriksen
and Dr Omar Shafey
Published by the American Cancer
Society, 2006
Languages: English, simplified
Chinese, French and Spanish
The Cancer Atlas
Dr Judith Mackay, Dr Ahmedin Jemal,
Dr Nancy C Lee, Dr D Maxwell Parkin
Published by the American Cancer
Society, 2006
Languages: English, simplified
Chinese, French and Spanish
The Tobacco and Cancer Atlas
may be ordered online or free PDF
files may be downloaded at
www.cancer.org/docroot/AA/content/
AA_2_5_9x_Tobacco_Atlas.asp
An interactive online version,
Global Tobacco Research Network,
Johns Hopkins site
http://www.tobaccoresearch.net/
atlas.htm
For those requesting discounted
or free copies, such as for
distribution in developing countries,
contact: international@cancer.org.
In addition, WHO, in
collaboration with the US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has produced The Atlas of
Heart Disease and Stroke. An
estimated 17 million people die of
cardiovascular diseases, particularly
heart attacks and strokes, every
year. A substantial number of these
deaths can be attributed to tobacco
smoking, which increases by 2-3
times the risk of dying from
coronary heart disease and
cerebrovascular disease.
The Atlas of Heart Disease and
Stroke
Dr Judith Mackay and Dr George A.
Mensah
World Health Organization, 2004
The Atlas is on the WHO website
at: http://www.who.int/
cardiovascular_diseases/resources/
atlas/en/
Dr. Rick Botelho
Rick_Botelho@URMC.Rochester.edu
Avian Influenza Web Resources
for the Family Doctor
1.World Health Organization (WHO)
– Avian Flu
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/
avian_influenza/en
A comprehensive website on
avian influenza with situation
updates, fact sheets, frequently
asked questions, and regularly
updated disease outbreak news.
Highlight of the situation in an
affected area are included.
Documents and interview articles
available online include WHO
outbreak communications
guidelines, best practices for
communicating with the public
during an outbreak, and
communicating risk of pandemic to
the public. The Department of
Communicable Disease Surveillance
and Response (CSR) is the WHO
agency concerned with infectious
diseases. Recent guidelines,
recommendations and descriptions
of different topics related to avian
influenza are also available.
SAVE
THE
DATE
7
P
th
P
WONCA Rural Health Conference
2006
Transforming Rural Practice
Through Education
September 8-15, 2006
Seattle, WA, USA
www.ruralwonca2006.org
www.ruralwonca2006.com
www.ruralwonca2006.net
WONCA Rural Conference
September 8-10, 2006
University of Washington campus
Clinical Conference
September 11-13, 2006
34
P
th
P
Annual Advances in Family Practice and Primary Care
University of Washington campus
Post Conference
September 13-15, 2006
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge — Anchorage, Alaska
2.ProMED-mail (Program for Monitoring Emerging
Diseases)
http://www.promedmail.org/
This is the global electronic reporting system for
outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases and toxins.
The site provides up-to-date information on emerging
infectious diseases around the world. There are
outbreak news, discussion group announcements,
recent recalls and alerts, links to maps at location of
outbreaks, a Frequently Asked Questions forum and
other useful resources on the internet. The archive of
the mailing list is searchable. The content is available
in several languages. The programme is maintained by
the International Society for Infectious Diseases.
3.EUROPA: Avian Influenza
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/diseases/
controlmeasures/avian/index_en.htm
EUROPA is the European Union’s web portal. Its
website on avian flu is loaded with resources ranging
from basic information of the virus to media releases,
outbreak news, meeting notes of working groups and
committees, publications and other relevant links in the
control of avian flu in member states.
4.Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR
http://www.info.gov.hk/info/flu/eng/
A dedicated website on avian flu by the Hong Kong
Government. Regularly updated situation summary.
Alert Response Level information, official guidelines,
information on Hong Kong preparedness for influenza
and different versions of fact sheets in different
languages are available. Other information at the
website includes global statistics, videos for patient
education and frequently asked questions. It also
hyperlinks to the Ministry of Health of the Chinese
Central Government at http://www.moh.gov.cn/
5.United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
As the principal U.S. agency for health protection of
Americans, this web resource on avian influenza
includes overviews as well as fact sheets on specific
topics. Relevant informative materials are organized for
different target user groups: health professionals,
workers in the poultry industry, travelers and so on.
Outbreak information and key facts on the avian flu
viruses are also available.
Dr Alfred KY Tang
alfredtang@hkma.org
Editor’s note: Taken from an article published in the
February 2006 edition of The Hong Kong Practitioner.
Those who wish to share with their fellow family
doctors other helpful websites on the avian flu virus
and other pandemics may email them to Dr Marc Rivo,
Wonca News Editor at marcrivo@aol.com
WONCA
News
RESOURCES FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR
16
WONCA
News
CONFERENCES 2006 – 2011
17
WONCA CONFERENCES 2006 – 2011 AT A GLANCE
**Wonca Direct Members enjoy lower conference registration fees
See Wonca Website www.GlobalFamilyDoctor.com for upates & membership information
2006
Region
Venue
Theme
27 – 30 Aug
European
Florence
ITALY
Towards Medical Renaissance:
Regional Conference
Bridging the Gap Between Biology
and Humanities
8 – 16 Sept
World Rural
Seattle
Transforming Rural Practice
Health Conference,
Washington
Through Education
USA
Clinical Conference,
& Post Conference
Anchorage,
Alaska, USA
11 – 14 Oct
Iberoamericana -
Buenos Aires
Building a Primary Care-Based Health
CIMF Regional
ARGENTINA
System: the Role of the Family Doctor
Conference
5 – 9 Nov
Asia Pacific
Bangkok
THAILAND
Happy and Healthy Family
Regional Conference
2007
24 – 27 July
18th WONCA
SINGAPORE
Genomics and Family Medicine
WORLD CONFERENCE
17 – 21 Oct
European
Paris
Re-Thinking Primary Care in the European
Regional
FRANCE
Context: A New Challenge for General
Conference
Practice
2008
1 – 5 Oct
Asia Pacific
Melbourne
A Celebration of Diversity
Regional
AUSTRALIA
Conference
2009
5 – 8 June
Asia Pacific
Hong Kong
Building Bridges
Regional
Conference
2010
19 – 23 May
19
th
WONCA
Cancun
Millennium Development Goals:
World Conference
MEXICO
the Contribution of Family Medicine
2011
February 2011
Cebu
Paradigms of Family Medicine:
Asia Pacific
Regional
PHILIPPINES
Bridging Old Traditions with
Conference
New Concepts
Information correct as of January 2006.
May be subject to change.
18
WONCA
News
GLOBAL MEETINGS FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR
GLOBAL MEETINGS FOR THE
FAMILY DOCTOR
WONCA WORLD AND
REGIONAL CONFERENCE
CALENDAR
Wonca Europe Regional Conference,
Florence 2006
Host:CSERMEG
Theme:Towards Medical
Renaissance
Date:27-30 August, 2006
Venue:Florence, Italy
Contact:OICsrl
Viale Matteotti 7
50121 Florence, Italy
Tel:+39 0555 0351
Fax:+39 0555 001912
Email:wonca2006@oic.it
Web:http://
www.woncaeurope2006.org
Wonca 7th Rural Health Conference,
Seattle-Anchorage 2006
Host:Wonca Rural Health
Working Party
Theme:Transforming Rural Practice
Through Education
Date:8-15 September, 2006
Venue:8 -10 September – Wonca
Rural Conference
University of Washington
campus
11-13 September, 34th
Annual Advances in Family
Practice
University of Washington
campus
13-15 September, Post
Conference
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge
Anchorage, Alaska
Contact:Tom E Norris, MD
Chair, Host Organizing
Committee
Department of Family
Medicine
University of Washington
School of Medicine
Box 356390
Seattle, WA 98195-6390,
USA
Fax:206-543-3101
Email:tnorris@u.washington.edu
Web:http://
www.ruralwonca2006.org/
Wonca Iberoamericana-CIMF Region,
Buenos Aires, 2006
Host:Federacion Argentina De
Medicina Familiar y General
Theme:Pursing Equity and
Efficiency in Healthcare:
The Role of the Family
Doctor
Date:11-14 October, 2006
Venue:Sheraton Hotel, Buenos
Aires
Contact:Federacion Argentina De
Medicina Familiar y General
Tel:54 11 4958 5079
Email:famfyg@aamf.org.ar
Web:www.famfyg.org.ar
15th Wonca Asia Pacific Regional
Conference, Bangkok 2006
Host:General Practitioners/Family
Physicians Association of
Thailand
College of Family
Physicians of Thailand
Theme:Happy and Healthy Family
Date:5-9 November, 2006
Venue:The Royal Golden Jubilee
Building
Contact:Dr Kachit Choopanya,
Chairman, Host Organizing
Committee
11th Floor, Royal Golden
Jubilee Building
2 Soi Soonvijai, New
Petchaburi Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10320
Tel:66(0) 2716 6651
Fax:66(0) 2716 6653
Web:www.wonca2006.org
18th Wonca World Conference,
Singapore 2007
Host:College of Family
Physicians, Singapore
Theme:Genomics and Family
Medicine
Date:24-27 July, 2007
Venue:Singapore International
Convention and Exhibition
Centre
Contact:Dr Tan See Leng,
Chairman,
Host Organizing Committee
College of Family
Physicians, Singapore
College of Medicine
Building
16 College Road #01-02
Singapore 169854
Tel:65 6223 0606
Fax:65 6222 0204
Email:contact@cfps.org.sg
Web:www.wonca2007.com
ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Wonca Europe Regional Conference,
Paris, 2007
Host:French National College of
Teachers in General
Practice
Theme:Rethinking Primary Care in
the European Context
Date:17-21 October, 2007
Venue:Palais des Congres
Paris, France
Contact:French National College of
Teachers in General
Practice
6 rue des Deux Communes
94300 Vincennes, France
Tel:33-153 669 180
Emailcnge@cnge.fr
Web:www.cnge.fr
19
WONCA
News
GLOBAL MEETINGS FOR THE FAMILY DOCTOR
19th Wonca World Conference, Cancun 2010
Host:Mexican College of Family Medicine
Theme:Millennium Develop Goals:
The Contribution of Family Medicine
Date:19-23 May, 2010
Venue:Cancun Conventions and Exhibition Center,
Cancun Mexico
Contact:Mexican College of Family Medicine
Anahuac #60
Colonia Roma Sur
06760 Mexico, D.F.
Tel:52-55 5574
Fax:52-55 5387
Email:javier.dominguez@unfpa.org.mx
MEMBER ORGANIZATION AND RELATED MEETINGS
8
°
Congresso de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (8th
Brazilian Meeting of Family and Community Medicine),
Sao Paulo 2006
Theme:Comprehensive Health Care in Brazil: The
Contribution of Family and Community
Medicine - Making Medical Practice More
Relevant to People’s Needs
Host:Brazilian Society of Family and Community
Medicine
Date:15-18 June 2006
Venue:São Paulo, Brazil
Host:Brazilian Society of Family and Community
Medicine
Contact:Rua Marquês de Itu, 408 Cj 34/35
Vila Buarque
São Paulo - SP
Brazil - Cep: 01223-000
Phone:55 11 83636868
Fax:55 11 33613089
Email:sbmfc@sbmfc.org.br
Web:www.sbmfc.org.br/congresso2006
13th World Conference on Smoking or Health,
Washington, DC 2006
Theme:Building Capacity for a Tobacco-Free World
Date:12-15 July, 2006
Venue:Renaissance DC Hotel
Washington, D.C., USA
Contact:John Seffrin, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society
Email:secretariat2006@cancer.org
Web:http://www.2006conferences.org/
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Annual Scientific Assembly, Washington, DC 2006
Date:27 Sept - 1 October, 2006
Venue:Washington DC Convention Center
Contact:AAFP
11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Leawood, Kansas 66211-2672, USA
Tel:1 913 906 6000
Fax:1 913 906 6075
Email: international@aafp.org
Web:http://www.aafp.org
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
48th Annual Scientific Conference, Brisbane 2006
Date:5-8 Oct, 2006
Theme:Be the Future
Venue:Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Contact:Michaela Fox
Email:michaela.fox@racgp.org.au
Web:http://www.racgp.org.au/asc2006/
International Society for Quality in Health Care
23rd International Conference, London 2006
Date:22-25 October, 2006
Venue:London, United Kingdom
Contact:ISQua Secretariat
212 Clarendon Street
East Melbourne 3002 AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 3 9417 6971
Fax: +61 3 9417 6851
Email:isqua@isqua.org
Web: http://www.isqua.org
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
Family Medicine Forum, Manitoba 2006
Date: November 2 - 4, 2006
Venue:Quebec City Convention Centre
Quebec City, Quebec
Contact:Joanne Langevin; Meetings Manager
Cheryl Selig, Registration Coordinator
2630 Skymark Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L4W 5A4
Tel:(905) 629-0900 / 1-800-387-6197
Fax:(905) 629-0893
Email:info@cfpc.ca
Web:www.cfpc.ca
W
'Happy and Healthy Family'
Highlight Topics
Invited Speakers
ONCA
Asia Pacific Regional Conference
November 5-9, 2006 BANGKOK, THAILAND
'Happy and Healthy Family'
W
ADHD and Autistic
Adolescent Brain
Childhood Asthma vs COPD in Adult
Chronic Nutrition Related Diseases
Ethic and Moral in Practices
New Influenza Pandemic
Palliative Care
Stem Cell Transplantation
Violence Against Women
and more ...
Highlight Topics
Invited Speakers
Alfred WT Loh
Bruce LW Sparks
Chris van Weel
Donald Li
Goh Lee Gan
Micheal Kidd
Call for Abstract(s)
Call for Abstract(s)
Sumission online is also welcome at http://www.wonca2006.org
Abstract for oral and poster DEADLINE: JUNE 15, 2006
Social Events
Social Events
Join the Opening and Closing ceremonies. Experience the world class
spectacular performance and having private party along the river and
enjoy the national flower floating ceremony (Loy Krathong)
ORGANIZED BY
The Royal College of Family Physicians of Thailand
The General Practitioners/ Family Physicians Association,
Thailand Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
CORRESPONDENCE
Secretariat Office: c/o WILDBLUE Co., Ltd.
19/2 Ekamai 10, Sukumwit 63, Klong ton, Wattana
Bangkok, Thailand 10110 Tel/Fax: 662 714 2656
Website: www.wonca2006.org, Email: admin@wonca2006.org
Category Early Registration Late Registration Onsite Registration
Wonca Members USD 300 USD 350 USD 400
Regular Participants USD 350 USD 400 USD 450
Students and Trainees* USD 100 USD 120 USD 150
Accompany Persons USD 100
* The Registration in this category is needed to verify their status. The verification document including the participants' supervisor' signature is requested.
Before June 30, 2006 June 30 - October 15, 2006 After October 15, 2006
Registration
Registration
On-line Registration is also provided on our official website www.wonca2006.org
Meechai Viravaidya
Pensri Pichaisanith
Prawase Wasi
Somsak Lohlekha
Thep Himathongkam
and more ...
