This conference will be the major international event for remote and rural GPs and primary health care teams in 2003. The main theme is “Rural Health in a changing world”, and the website: www.ruralwonca2003.net is now operational. Santiago is the Celtic part of Spain, has been a centre for pilgrimage for centuries, and is rich in history. It also has the best seafood in the world.
Themes
There will be opportunities to contribute papers or workshops on a wide variety of sub-themes. These include: rural migration (in and out), peoples and populations at risk, looking after ourselves and the sustainability of rural services, rural industries and occupational health, information and communication technologies, research in rural practice, promoting quality, and workforce issues. We hope to have a lot of delegates from the developing world; rural peoples in those countries face the double burden of poorer health and often, poorer health services than urban populations. We need both to support and learn from their doctors.
I was one of a small number of Scottish GPs attended the 5th WONCA World Rural Conference in Melbourne in May. I was very struck by the way in which the Australians have faced huge problems in attracting doctors and other rural health professionals to remote and rural areas, and have characteristically ,tackled them directly and robustly by setting up rural clinical schools, rural student clubs, and rural support networks. They haven’t solved the problems, but they are certainly addressing them in a way we have failed to so far. There will be papers and workshops on these issues too.
Organisers
The conference is being organised by SemFYC, the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine, who have an excellent track record of well organised conferences, and the scientific committee in chaired by John Wynn Jones from Wales. EURIPA (European Rural and Isolated Practitioners’ Association) of which John Wynn Jones is president is playing a major part in the scientific process.
(http://www.rural-health.ac.uk/ruralhealthworld/rhw.php)
Culture!
There is also a cultural committee. This is not, despite the name, a Stalinist throwback. We have decided as an integral part of the programme, to invite delegates or their families who have skills or talent in creating music, poetry, dance, theatre, photography, painting, moving images, to send in ideas or works. We will have an extended Mediterranean lunch break to allow for performance, relaxation and viewing. In a moment of weakness, I agreed to chair this part of the programme, and I’d be more than delighted for anyone who wants to contribute to this part of the programme to contact me. There are a few of you whom I’ll be contacting soon!
Registration will open later this year, abstracts to be in by February 2003. This will be a relaxed but stimulating meeting. There will also be a two day meeting in Braga, just over the Portugal following the Santiago conference. This will probably focus on port, medicine, culture and the humanities. Details to follow; watch the website.
At a time when there is, with good reason, plenty of negativity about remote and rural practice, this will be an opportunity to talk, play music, argue, relax, celebrate diversity and enjoy.
Don’t miss it. Bring your family. Invite your practice nurse.
John Gillies Ph: 01750 21674
john.gillies@selkirkhc.borders.nhs.uk
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