Newsletter: March 2020

I am saddened but not surprised that I continue to write about the impact of COVID-19, or what continues to be colloquially called Coronavirus. As the disease spreads and efforts to contain it become increasingly robust, it is important to recognize and honour the family doctors and primary care teams who are the front-line clinical staff.

当我仍要继续撰写有关COVID-19 (或普遍被称为新型冠状病毒) 的影响时，我虽不惊讶却感忧心难过。病毒继续蔓延，而企图遏制疫情的措施亦日渐加强，家庭医生和基层医疗团队是最前线的临床工作人员，能够给予他们工作上的肯定与赞扬是极为重要

C’est avec tristesse mais sans surprise que je continue à écrire au sujet de l'impact du COVID-19, ou de ce que l'on continue à appeler familièrement le Coronavirus. Alors que la maladie se propage et que les efforts pour la contenir deviennent de plus en plus vigoureux, il est important de reconnaître et d'honorer les médecins de famille et les équipes de soins primaires en tant que personnel clinique de première ligne.

Estoy entristecido, que no sorprendido, por tener que seguir escribiendo sobre el impacto del COVID-19, conocido como Coronavirus. Mientras la enfermedad se expande y los esfuerzos para contenerla son cada vez mayores, es importante reconocer y honrar a los médicos de familia y a los equipos de Atención Primaria que se encuentran en las líneas del frente del personal sanitario.

世界家庭医生组织主席 李国栋医生 「先进后出」- 家庭医生参与应对新型冠状病毒的角色

With the increasing concern of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Dr Donald Li, WONCA president, has written a message regarding the important role of family doctors and primary healthcare in Disaster / Emergency preparedness and response. “First in, Last out” - The Role of Family Doctors in the Fight Against Novel Coronavirus

I recently had the honour of being invited to represent WONCA at an occupational health conference in Mumbai, India. I had been asked to deliver a plenary on how we might integrate Basic Occupational Health Services (BOHS) into primary care, and also took part in a panel discussion on the same issue.

Seven international research organisations (including WONCA) have come together to form a Primary Health Care Measurement and Implementation Research Consortium (RC). The consortium is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and will have its secretariat at the India office of The George Institute.

Awards of $5000 (USD) for the best oral presentation, and $2000 (USD) for the best poster presentation, are being generously provided by Dr Sadok Besrour from the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine at the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Dr Pratyush Kumar, WONCA Executive Member at large, has produced innovative calendars for several years now. This year he's created a WONCA Calendar.

It is with regret that the Board of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has today announced the postponement of WONCA NZ 2020 based on the uncertainty around COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Do not miss the 25th WONCA Europe Conference that will be held in Berlin, Germany on June 24 - 27, 2020.

Awards of $5000 (USD) for the best oral presentation, and $2000 (USD) for the best poster presentation, are being generously provided by Dr Sadok Besrour from the Besrour Centre for Global Family Medicine at the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

We are pleased to announce a call for applications for the Prof Meng-Chih Lee's Asia Pacific Region Presidential Bursary to financially support two family physicians registered to attend the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2020, in Auckland, New Zealand

Over the past months I have visited many colleagues and their practices in many WONCA regions. The vast diversity within our global professional community is striking - culturally, economically and climatewise. The more I learn, the clearer it gets: what we share goes far beyond any potential differences.

过去数月，我走访了WONCA不同区域的同业，参观了他们的业务。我们于全球各地的专业人员社区，无论在文化、经济和气侯上，都拥有令人惊叹的多样性。

En los últimos meses, he visitado muchos colegas, en sus centros de salud y hospitales en muchas regiones de WONCA. La gran diversidad – cultural, económica y climática – dentro de nuestra comunidad profesional global es muy llamativa.

Prof Val Wass, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes: We have quite a lot on offer in Education for Primary Care.

We would like to welcome members of WONCA and WONCA Direct Members to our conference in Bangladesh from 15th to 18th April This year is the 25th Anniversary of official establishment of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice. Professor Roger Strasser who wrote the WONCA policy on Training for Rural Practice, is a keynote at the conference.

Prof Christopher Dowrick, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health writes: Fortunately, there is much for our Working Party to celebrate; including (as you will see at the end of this bulletin) the joy of making music together.

Logan Schmaltz, NRHA Student Outreach Coordinator from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences writes on student involvement at the WONCA World Rural health conference in Albuquerque in 2019

Maria Bakola of Greece writes about telemedicine in rural and remote areas in Greece from ancient times to today... Greece, due to the geographical heterogeneity, combines mountain landscapes and lakes, as well as incredible beaches and many islands.

The WONCA Asia Pacific Region has now restarted the Asia Pacific Family Medicine journal (APFMJ).

We are pleased to announce a call for applications for the Prof Meng-Chih Lee's Asia Pacific Region Presidential Bursary to financially support two family physicians registered to attend the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2020, in Auckland, New Zealand

Prof Val Wass, Chair WONCA Working Party on Education writes: We have quite a lot on offer in Education for Primary Care.