Medsin Conference to Focus on Aid and Humanitarian Intervention

March 20, 2009 by timkilleen

From March 28th to 29th 2009, Medsin Manchester will host over 550 delegates from around the UK for two days of topical and controversial debates, workshops, campaigns and exhibitions.

The focus of this year’s conference is 'Healthy Interventions', using contemporary case studies to illustrate controversial issues:

Should the Sudanese government have had the right to refuse international aid to Darfur?

Should military action accompany humanitarian interventions?

How can organisations responsible for supplying aid be held accountable for the money they receive?

Never have these issues been more important than in the current global climate. Panels of experts including Rony Brauman (director of Medecins Sans Frontier in Paris and former president of MSF France), Major General Alan Hawley (head of the army medical services) and Professor Michael Woolcock, (Director of the Brooks World Poverty Centre), will engage with the delegates in animated discussions held at University Place, Manchester’s new state of the art, environmentally friendly conference venue.

Medsin is also excited to be hosting an exhibition of powerful portraits and photo stories taken by Africa-based photographer Frederic Courbet for Merlin, the international medical aid agency. The exhibition - The Forgotten Crisis- provides an incredible insight into the lives of health workers and people from the Central African Republic, a forgotten
country in the heart of Africa, and is part of Merlin's Hands Up for Health Workers campaign.

Have you photographed health disparities, health barriers or emergencies? In conjunction with InterRailNet.com, we are running a photo competition; we’re looking for keen photographers to send in photos of their experiences of global health issues. The first prize is two first class, 22 day InterRailNet.com Global Passes, and the best photos will be exhibited at the conference! Send entries with a caption of up to 50 words to: ghcphotocomp@live.co.uk with your name and university.

The conference aims to build awareness of international health issues both abroad and within the UK with a view to provide better patient care and understanding among doctors of the future. The conference website at www.ghc09.org has all the information you’ll need, as well as being an engaging arena to learn about and discuss issues in global health.

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