Resilience, Integration & Hope – Building Resilience for the 21st Century is the theme of this year’s international Global Health Education Symposium on Friday 22nd October.

Symposium is opened by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD.

Global Pandemic puts focus on the global COVID-19 vaccine race.

(Embargo 0800 hrs 22 October).

The Irish College of General Practitioners, in conjunction with the Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies, hosts  this year’s Global Health Education virtual Symposium, with a range of Irish and international speakers. 

The symposium will be held online from 9am to 2pm on 22nd October with 3 plenary sessions and a series of breakout rooms. The sessions are:

  • Building Resilience in Global Health Systems.
  • The Global COVID vaccine race.
  • Towards a Common Global Health Curriculum for all Specialty Trainees.

Speakers include:

  • Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director of World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme.
  • Prof. Kingston Mills, TCD.
  • Prof. Michael Marmot, UCL
  • Prof. Jeffrey Braithwaite (ISQUA)
  • Prof. Clare Nourse (Maluk Timor Project)
  • Dr Phyllis Kisa (Makerere University).

Dr John Morris, ICGP Clinical Fellow for Global Health, said “ It’s vital we discuss the global COVID-19 vaccine race as part of the discussion of the impact of the pandemic on low and middle income countries. We know the WHO is concerned that vaccines are not reaching these countries as fast as they need to. We call on the Irish Government to support the WHO stance, and we see this as a failure of global solidarity.”

Dr Stephen Brennan, ICGP Global Health Special Interest Group, said: “In 2018, the Forum of Irish Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies established a Global Health Strategic Working Group. This brings all the medical specialities together with a shared vision and ambition to improve healthcare in less developed countries as well as in Ireland. Our primary focus is on the education and training of health professionals in low and middle income countries. We also seek to educate health professionals in Ireland with global health competencies so as to better serve patients in our own health service.” 

“We are delighted to have such an impressive gathering of Irish and international speakers and we welcome all medical specialties to this half-day symposium.”

Leo Varadkar TD, Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, said  “Over the longer term, the Government has funded global health development, particularly through Irish Aid within the Department of Foreign Affairs. Next year, Ireland’s development budget will exceed €1bn for the first time, with much of it invested in health, including a donation of 2 million vaccines to less developed countries.”

He said: “Having previously trained as a doctor and GP, and served as Minister for Health, I understand the value of ensuring that populations have ready and easy access to good and affordable primary medical care. Whatever combination of practitioners delivers care, we accept the evidence which proves that better population health outcomes are evident at lower cost when healthcare is organised in this manner.”

ENDS   

Media representatives can attend via this Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mPahDh0RRn-Td0MWKd7ppw

Recordings will not be available to the media after the event.

ISSUED BY: Aileen O’Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of General Practitioners.

Tel. 01 2542984 / 087 2239830

Email: ICGP.news@gmail.com www.icgp.ie     #GHEI2021