IFMSA Week of Global Action on Social Determinants of Health

October 17-23, 2011

Background: Why Hold WOA-SDH?

In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO), through its Commission on Social Determinants of Health, released a report entitled Closing the Gap in a Generation. It concluded that addressing disparities in health within and between countries is a matter of social justice (1). The Commission laid out three overarching recommendations for action: 1) the improvement of daily living conditions; 2) tackling the inequitable distribution of money, power, and resources; and 3) measuring and understanding the problem and assessing the impact of action. Of particular importance to medical students globally was the third recommendation which also made a call to expand the knowledge base, develop a workforce that is trained in the social determinants of health, and raise public awareness about the social determinants of health... In 2009, the 62nd World Health Assembly passed a resolution entitled "Reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health. The document called for Member States to implement the recommendations of the Commission, and requested the Director-General "to convene a global event, with the assistance of Member States, before the 65th World Health Assembly in order to discuss renewed plans for addressing the alarming trends of health inequities through addressing social determinants of health" (2). Therefore, from 19th to 21st of October 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, the WHO, through the leadership of the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, will be holding the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health (WCSDH). The conference aims to strengthen political commitment to develop and implement national policies and to provide a venue for sharing of experiences, challenges and technical knowledge on addressing social determinants of health to combat health inequities. Aware of the growing recognition of social determinants in bringing about health inequity around the globe, the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), the largest medical student organization in the world representing 1.3 million medical students from 98 countries, passed a Policy Statement on Health Inequities and Social Determinants of Health last March 2011 in its 60th March Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia (3). The statement pledged to launch a federation-wide movement or campaign that will champion health equity and will mobilize members to combat the social determinants leading to ill health and to participate in activities- awareness-building, research, service, etc. that aim to close the health gap and address the social determinants of health.

In line with these global events, we, the IFMSA Small Working Group on Health Inequities, propose to the IFMSA that we commemorate the world conference and launch a campaign for action on social determinants of health by designating the week of October 17-23, 2011 as IFMSA Week of Global Action on Social Determinants of Health.

Root Out, Reach Out!: IFMSA Week of Global Action on Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are often shaped by policy choices, and fuelled by inadequate attention to dispel root causes of such health inequities. Only by rooting out the structural causes of ill health will we be poised to make health equity a reality. To accomplish this, it is also imperative that we reach out to all peoples of the world, especially the poor, the underserved, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. This is in contrast to the biomedical paradigm that has pervaded the practice of medicine for centuries treating predominantly the symptoms, while patients reach out for their doctors in the health care system and not the other way around. The IFMSA Week of Global Action on Social Determinants of Health (WOA-SDH) is an IFMSAwide global event that hopes to promote a social determinants paradigm to medical students and young people at large across the globe. Adopting the theme Root Out, Reach Out, this campaign also aims to ignite young peoples participation in generating global action to tackle the social determinants of health locally, nationally, and globally. Aim The aim of the WOA-SDH is to mobilize young health professionals to start acting on the social determinants of health and to contribute to the campaign for greater health equity worldwide. During this week, while the world leaders are discussing global health policy and debating about action on SDH in Rio, young people all over the world will be taking real actions, whether it be big or small, from educational campaigns to community development projects. This global action will culminate in a strong IFMSA presence at the WCSDH itself. Objectives To create greater awareness and understanding among medical students, and young people at large, of the social determinants of health and their impact on global health equity To ignite dialogue and action among young people, particularly medical students, towards addressing the social determinants of health and reducing health inequity around the world at local, national, and global levels To call upon governments, intergovernmental organizations, private sector, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders to initiate global action on the social determinants of health

The WOA-SDH Approach

1. Advocacy Petition Letters to World Leaders NMOs will prepare letters to be addressed to important world leaders. It will contain demands for SDH action (to be drafted by the SWG) as well as country-specific concerns (to be prepared by the SWG with the NMOs). i. for the WHO Director-General (to be presented at WCSDH) ii. for country delegation at WCSDH (all letters to be distributed at WCSDH by the IFMSA delegation) iii. for the Ministry of Health (to be sent by NMOs directly to their national offices; post-WCSDH letters will also be sent as follow-up) iv. Other letters may be written in behalf of IFMSA for international organizations like other UN agencies and civil society (i.e. Letter of Solidarity for the Peoples Health Movement) IFMSA delegation to WCSDH IFMSA was given one slot in the World Conference. Our representative will amplify the message of WOA-SDH to the world leaders attending the conference. He/she is also expected to read a youth statement during the conference. WOA-SDH Publication for the WCSDH To be distributed in the conference venue Online petition campaign This online signature campaign also carries the message of the youth statement for the World Conference, calling for global action on social determinants of health inequities. 2. Education SDH Primer SDH Powerpoint Presentation Guide to Conducting Social Determinants Investigation 3. NMO-level Activities 15 Small and Big Ways to Change the World A list of recommended activities that NMOs can do during the WOA-SDH; activities may include street campaigns, writing opinion articles for local newspapers, community projects for marginalized groups, hosting interactive forums on specific issues such as SDH in governance or health sectors participation in tackling the social determinants of health, or lunch-time talks with inspirational speakers.

4. Media and Advertising

Root Out, Reach Out official website including calendar of NMO activities, blog, videos, photo gallery, and SDH resources Facebook page Youtube channel Press releases and advertisements IFMSA official video on SDH

Conclusion
It is time we ask ourselves how we can make a lasting contribution, with unbridled passion for furthering social justice. The Commission reaffirms that we indeed can do our share in closing the health gap in our generation, with proactive and collaborative efforts and unwavering commitment to the future. In its 60th year, the IFMSA pledged to be in the forefront of the global movement in closing the health gap and achieving health for all. Join us at the WOASDH to turn this commitment into reality.

References
(1) Commission on Social Determinants of Health. CSDH nal report: Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2008. Available from http://www.who.int/social_determinants/thecommission/en/ (2) 62 World Health Assembly. Reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health. Resolution 62.14, Geneva; World Health Organization, 2009. Available from http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/A62/A62_R14-en.pdf (3) International Federation of Medical Students' Associations. Policy Statement on Health Inequity and the Social Determinants of Health. Jakarta, Indonesia: The 60th March General Assembly of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations; 2011.
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