The activities of the Federation are coordinated through the Standing Committees, hence there is diversity and efficiency in the projects.

Meet the Standing committees then:

Standing Committee On Medical Education (SCOME):

Healthcare is changing at an unprecedented rate and at multiple fronts. Medical science has increased our understanding of the body and created an explosion of new information. However, medical schools are not or slowly introducing changes into the curriculum.

As medical students are directly exposed to the curriculum, they are the first quality check of medical education and they should rightfully have influence on new curricula and curriculum development. Modern medical curricula has been shown to be a lot more likely to teach students in an appropriate way in order to produce doctors equipped with various skills and knowledge. The goal of SCOME is to promote modern medical education.

Standing Committee On Public Health (SCOPH)

Meet the SCOPHeroes who wish to save the nation from all public health issues. They are in charge of organizing the National Health Week each year. SCOPHeroes work on health promotion, health education and public policies in order to promote public health.

SCOPH is headed by the National Health Officer. On the IFMSA stage, they cooperate with SCOPHeroes from other countries to formulate policies and achieve their aims and objectives with regard to the activities of the IFMSA.

Vision (adapted from the SCOPH-IFMSA)

The Standing Committee on Public Health aims to become a reference as training and learning pillars for medical students, in order to create future public health qualified leaders who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to work on an international level.

 

Mission (adapted from SCOPH- IFMSA)

The Standing Committee on Public Health promotes the development of medical students regarding public health issues through project management, sharing knowledge network, community based learning, capacity building, advocacy and access to external learning opportunities.

Objectives

1. Disease prevention within our society.
2. Health promotion and education within our society.
3. Raising awareness about public health issues within medical students and the society.
4. Advocating for health policies as the voice of medical students nationwide.
5. Developing skills and knowledge of medical students as future health professionals.

Standing Committee On Reproductive health and AIDS (SCORA)

SCORA gathers passionate individuals committed to promoting sexual and reproductive health rights as well as creating positive change.

Vision (adapted from SCORA- IFMSA)

A world where every individual is empowered to exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights equally, free from discrimination and stigma.

Mission (adapted from SCORA- IFMSA)

To provide members with the tools necessary to advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights within their respective communities in a culturally respected fashion. This has been accomplished through exchanging ideas and policies and working with partners in order to create change at any level.

Objectives (adapted from SCORA- IFMSA)

1. To raise awareness on topics related to HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health.
2. To decrease stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
3. To raise awareness and increase knowledge about facts, scientific research, global agreements and documents concerning sexual and reproductive health.
4. Promote positive sexuality and healthy sexual life.
5. Advocating for policies concerning sexual and reproductive health and represent medical students on that front.
6. Collaborate and facilitate joint actions concerning medical education, public health and human rights.
7. Provide tools for capacity building for future healthcare professionals in terms sexual and reproductive health and rights.

 

SCORA Focus Areas (adapted from SCORA- IFMSA)

1. Comprehensive Sexuality Education: SCORA is highly committed to raising awareness about sexual and reproductive health through education.
2. Maternal Health and Access to Safe Abortion: Our aim is to raise awareness among members about maternal and newborn health issues including family planning.
3. Gender based violence
4. HIV and other STIs

Standing Committee On Research Exchange (SCORE) (adapted from SCORE- IFMSA)

In view of the importance of research in the advancement of the medical practice, it is important for medical students to get the opportunity to develop those skills to be able to take over when they are finally out of school and are thrust into the working field. Opportunities for research in the country are relatively limited, and here’s where SCORE comes in. With SCORE, students get research skills and experience alongside a new cultural experience!

Mission (adapted from SCORE- IFMSA)

Our mission is to offer future physicians an opportunity to experience research and diversity in all countries all over the world. This is achieved by providing a network of locally and internationally active students that facilitate access to research exchange projects. Through our programming and opportunities, we aim to develop culturally sensitive students and researchers intent on shaping the world of science in the upcoming future.

Standing Committee On Professional Exchange (SCOPE) (adapted from SCOPE- IFMSA)

The Professional Exchange program is a full education program offering clerkships to medical students abroad. Professional exchanges have been active in the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations since the very beginning, being the first standing Committee of the IFMSA to be formed in 1952. It has been the longest running project of the IFMSA. Annually, more than 13,000 students travel around the world to discover new health systems, cultures and to enhance their cultural and global health understanding.

SCOPE is headed by the National Exchange Officer, who, with his deputies, each year makes sure to sign exchange contracts with other countries at the IFMSA general meetings.

Mission

The aim of SCOPE is to promote cultural understanding and cooperation amongst medical students and all health professional, through the facilitation of international exchanges. SCOPE aims to give all students the opportunity to learn about global health, and attains this partly by having its exchanges accredited by medical faculties across the world.

Objectives

1. To increase the mobility and to widen the horizon of medical students worldwide.
2. To provide medical students with the possibility to experience healthcare in another culture with different health and education systems, and to learn how different cultures and beliefs are of influence.
3. To create possibilities for medical students to learn about global health issues, primary health concerns and basic epidemiology of the host country, and how it differs from their home country.
4. To contribute to the education of future health professionals with a global vision and to contribute to medical students’ personal development, self- reliance and openness in becoming future health professionals.
5. To provide students with the chance to improve their medical knowledge, their vision on medical issues and their practical knowledge depending on the regulations of the host country.
6. To facilitate the connection of medical students and other health professionals and to provide a platform for future cooperation amongst medical students with each other and with health professionals across the globe.
7. To maintain affordable professional exchange tuition through its governing body to ensure that medical students within the country can participate in exchanges with a minimal financial burden.
8. To make sure students are aware of the ethical aspects regarding their exchange to assure the burden on society, patients, the recourses and the healthcare system is as limited as possible.
9. To promote tolerance towards differences and similarities within health and towards patients regardless of sex, religion or beliefs.

How Exchanges Work

All medical students are entitled to participate in a four- week clerkship in a chosen clinical field of medicine. The language of instruction is either English or the language of the host country. Clerkships are purely educational and students will not receive salary. Students get the chance to observe healthcare in another culture and learn from foreign tutors.

Exchange contracts are signed between Ghana and any other National Member Organisation (NMO) of the IFMSA, and they are of two forms:

1. Bilateral contract: where Ghana and another NMO exchange two students between themselves.
2. Unilateral contract: Where a single student from either Ghana or the other NMO participates in the exchange.

In exchange of a participation fee, the in-coming student is offered a one- month clerking course at the hospital and department of his or her choice, lodging at a student facility or with a host family, and at least one meal per day.

  

Standing Committee On Human Rights and Peace (adapted from SCORP- IFMSA)

The Standing Committee On Human Rights and Peace unites students who strive to create an equal and peaceful world. All our activities are founded on Human Rights, but we also try to teach them to other people- children, medical students and the general public- as well as incorporate them in Medical Education and our profession. We address issues affecting vulnerable populations such as children, women, elderly people and others who often face discrimination, negligence or maltreatment.

Core Concepts

Human Rights: We primarily refer to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 when we talk about human rights without further specifications. However, sometimes, other international covenants and treaties are also mentioned.

Peace: SCORP understands peace as both the absence of conflict (negative peace) and the presence of equality and harmony (positive peace)