WONCA Rural Conference in Cape Town
In September, the WONCA World Rural conference “Ubuntu” was held in conjunction with The Network Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference was marked by the huge diversity of attendees from around the world. There was a holistic approach presented alongside data and outstanding innovation of programs and workshops. Innovation included one day during the conference spent “on the move” visiting services in and around Cape Town. Watch conference video here.
The word “Ubuntu” meaning “I am because you are” was an appropriate theme, with attendees connecting over much that we had in common as rural practitioners and realizing that “you are” is the most important thing.
Photo: Dora Bernal, President WONCA Iberoamericana region, with WONCA President and Bruce Chater, chair, WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice
The WONCA Iberoamericana region President, Prof Dora Bernal, a rural doctor from Cali in Colombia, had the honour of presenting the John MacLeod Oration. It is the first woman and the first person from the rural Americana to deliver this Oration in honour of one of the founders of our Working Party on Rural Practice. She shared some of her work and that of colleagues from across South America in a video of six countries that kept the engagement of the audience and inspired us all.
The conference was preceded by our WONCA Rural Council and Assembly meetings.
Post Conference in the Western Cape Region
After the conference I joined the post conference tour - these regularly occur after WONCA rural conferences and generally as did this one enable us to visit various teaching and clinical sites in rural settings at some distance from the conference venue. My group was ably led by Ian Couper, Stellenbosch University (past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice) and Dehran Swart, Health Teaching Platform Manager, University Cape Town.
A second group was led by Lindsay-Michelle Meyer, Stellenbosch University, and Steve Reid, University of Cape Town.
Medical facilities visited were Worcester regional Hospital, Knysna Hospital, Harry Comay Hospital, Mossel Bay Hospital. Dr Andries Brink and Dr Francois Potgieter, at Knysna Hospital, explained the high TB burden, 20% HIV rates in pregnant women, and the mental health burden since COVID resulting in substance abuse.
Photo: Group listening to explanations at Knysna Hospital during the tour.
It’s hard to pick between many memorable moments, but I think meeting medical students on year-long rural placements and hearing the eloquence with which they spoke about the fantastic learning experiences they were having confirmed to me the universal value (in a multitude of countries) of extended rural placements for medical students.
Photo: Students at Mossel Bay Hospital (left to right): Heinco Botha, Tanya Heyns, Megan-Rose Redmond, and Ane Ungerer with Dehran Swart (group leader).
At the Inkcubeko Youth and Science Centre, Jo Scott-Jones of New Zealand and Ricardo Caravantes of Guatemala tested out some of the fascinating exhibits designed to help kids get interested in science.
We also spoke to health workers at SAHARA, which provides support groups and free medications for harmful substance use (alcohol, nicotine, drugs) in eight community clinics in George and the surrounding areas. We visited one of their pop-up stations, part of SAHARA’s "My Journey" program for adolescents and young people, providing sexual-reproductive health screening, information, referrals, and HIV testing and counseling.
https://www.saharasouthafrica.com/
Photo: WONCA President in one group at a popup clinic in Thembalethu, Geroge – an initiative of the SAHARA organisation
WONCA Europe Meets in Dublin
After this fantastic time with colleagues in South Africa, I traveled to Dublin, Ireland, for the WONCA Europe conference. For me, it’s always meaningful visiting the country of many of my ancestors, and this visit was no exception. There were 2,600 participants from 77 countries, listening to 10 keynote speakers and attending many more workshops and presentations.
The WONCA Europe Executive Board and the Council met before the conference, and this will be reported on the WONCA Europe website.
Photo: WONCA Europe board during WONCA Europe Council meeting
A personal highlight in Dublin was being able to pay tribute to past president of WONCA, Prof Michael Boland, at the inauguration of an award made by the Irish College of GPs and named in his honor. I was joined onstage by other WONCA World past presidents who were present at the meeting, including Michael Kidd, Amanda Howe, and Anna Stavdal. My tribute to Michael Boland, who was WONCA President from 2001-2004, can be read here. Indeed, his career was stellar, and he is missed.
A/Prof Karen Flegg
WONCA President