The High Level International Symposia on Migration and Global Health Diplomacy on May 17, 2016 in Gaziantep, Turkey, is the first of its kind, and underscores a much needed interdisciplinary focus in 21st century medicine, diplomacy and humanitarian aid.
Gaziantep, Turkey (PRWEB) May 13, 2016
Gaziantep University, Office of the Rector, Gaziantep, Turkey - The solidarity and multi-sectoral collaboration in health, humanitarian and emergency responses will take the center stage at the “High Level International Symposium on Migration and Global Health Diplomacy” at Gaziantep University Mâvera International Congress and Arts Center on May 17th, 2016 (for registration and the program, see: http://www.maghd.org). This international Symposium will bring together 300 participants from different sectors, including the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, academia, national and international non-governmental organizations and more.
As part of scaling up of WHO activities in Turkey in response to the Syrian crisis and Turkey’s health sector refugee response plan, in close collaboration with Gaziantep University and with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, WHO Field Presence in Gaziantep launched a series of training for Syrian doctors and nurses in Turkey. The trainings aim at familiarization with the Turkish health system by focusing on basic family medicine practices and primary health services. Started in November 2014 and provided through the European Commission Humanitarian and Civil Protection (ECHO) and the UN Central Emergency (CERF) funds, 201 Syrian doctors and 103 nurses completed 12 rounds of these trainings, who were introduced to the Turkish health system to promote the integration of Syrian health professionals to enable them to provide health care to their fellow patients. While increasing the social inclusion of trained health professionals in the service delivery, it will innovatively facilitate overcoming the language barrier between health professionals and patients.
The upcoming international symposium will address this innovative health training approach along with other cooperation mechanisms with a view to expanding multi-sectoral solidarity in the field of health and global health diplomacy. There will be two sessions; with the morning keynote session on “Bringing Health to Migration and Diplomacy” by Prof. Ilona Kickbusch, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, and an afternoon International Expert Panel Session on “Opportunities and Challenges at the Intersection of Migration & Global Health Diplomacy”. The expert panel is comprised of Professors M. Yavuz Coşkun, Ilona Kickbusch, Ahmet Sınav, Alper Mete, Kıvanç Güngör and Pavel Ursu (Moderator: Prof. Vural Özdemir).
The Gaziantep University President Prof. Dr. M. Yavuz Coşkun commented that the “High Level International Symposia on Migration and Global Health Diplomacy is the first of its kind, and underscores a much needed interdisciplinary focus in 21st century diplomacy, medicine, humanitarian aid and peace studies. The international symposium heralds the increasing intersection of migration and global health diplomacy. The Gaziantep University has a long tradition of building bridges between theory and practice, effectively preparing our students for success in real life. Recognized as the “Shining Star”, the Gaziantep University has set an international precedence, for example, by introducing the first internship program in engineering sciences, an education innovation in the spirit of theory to practice integration. We enthusiastically look forward to this cutting edge international symposium”.
Dr Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative to Turkey, explained that the Symposium would highlight the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in health. “Working together with host communities and providing the utmost support are among priority actions of WHO in public health emergencies, as we are facing due to Syrian crisis. To scale up our emergency response to this crisis, WHO established a field presence in Gaziantep. Since 2014, we have been in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Turkey and Gaziantep University to increase the capacity of health care by integration of Syrian health professionals into the service delivery to serve their communities. We are working towards to achieve “Health for All” and WHO is committed to provide adequate care, ensure universal health coverage and to leave no one behind”.
Health is a common denominator for the whole of society. Investments for innovative solutions to medical education and health services resilience are both essential and timely in the current era in 21st century. The upcoming High Level International Symposia in Gaziantep, Turkey will help build timely resilience and capacity for health services, diplomacy and peace internationally.