Medical Students Congress open with Prof.Dr. Nahide Gökçora Speech

Prof. Dr. Nahide Gökçora  Welcoming Speech: 

Welcoming Speech and Introductory Remarks. Eastern Mediterranean International Medical Students' Congress 2017.

Dear Minister, Chairmen and Members of the Board of Trustees, Rector, Vice Rectors, Deans,  distinguished scientists and guests, medical students, ladies and gentlemen:

It is a pleasure and an honour for me to  welcome all of you to the Second Eastern Mediterranean International Medical Students' Congress 2017 that we are hosting for the second time.   Last year, we proudly hosted the first Eastern Mediterrean International Students Congress succesfully.  I would, in particular, like to welcome those from overseas to North Cyprus. I hope that your visit here, both during the sessions and elsewhere, will be enjoyable.

Research, broadly defined, is a valuable asset to undergraduate medical education. Even at a basic level, engaging medical students in research helps them to understand that knowledge is not an inert principle they passively receive, but is constantly created, debated, and reformulated. We, as EMU Dr. Fazıl Küçük Faculty of Medicine, have always encouraged our medical students to carry out research projects within the framework of the course named "Introduction to Clinical Skills" and to present their findings at regional, national or international student conventions.

We are living in a world that is living through unprecedented cascade of calamities, catastrophes, and humanitarian crises. We are seeing waves of protests and social unrest, where again civilians are being affected, often under conditions that have made humanitarian aid, including medical care for the wounded, extremely difficult. Assaults on health personnel and facilities in some of these conflict situations are distressing. Protection of health workers and health facilities in conflict situations and enabling them to provide care for the sick and injured is critical.  More and more women and children are victims of armed conflict and sexual aggression.  Europe has experienced the greatest mass movement of people since the Second World War. More than 1 million refugees and migrants have arrived in the European Union, the large majority of them fleeing from war and terror in Syria and other troubled countries. Access to care by those who need it therefore is at the center point of contemporary times and the main theme of this conference.  Our distinguished keynote speakers and panel discussants will specifically address and elaborate their views on health and medicine in a world of conflict.

We believe that it is important for medical students to participate in student conventions for a number of reasons. Firstly, they find the opportunity to contribute to and learn about the most recent advances in the field of medicine. Secondly, they develop leadership skills and the ability to advocate for their science. Thirdly, medical students learn how to talk about their data in a clear and meaningful way. Lastly, they meet and learn valuable information from other medical students working with similar techniques, populations, or statistics.

We hope that this conference will contribute to the participants not only academically  but also  socially.  Here they will participate in state of art workshops,  stimulating panel discussions and presentations where they will have the opportunity grow to personally.

I thank the Organising Committee for making today a reality. They worked hard to put together a stimulating programme and bring together medical students from various universities. I wish you all a very pleasant stay here in Famagusta, and a productive and successful Congress.