The International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, ahead of the 70th World Health Assembly, has launched a Declaration of Commitment to Eliminate Discrimination in Healthcare Settings.
During the meeting, which took place from 17 to 21 May, medical students, young people living with HIV and young key populations discussed the ongoing challenges that young people face in the context of discrimination in health-care setting and identified potential areas of collaboration.
The declaration, which endorses the UNAIDS Agenda for Zero Discrimination in Health-Care Setting, calls on governments, civil society and other partners to work together for non-discrimination and reaffirms IFMSA’s work in strengthening partnerships with young people living with HIV and young key populations.
The declaration will evolve into a memorandum of understanding between IFMSA and youth organizations and networks working on HIV to define specific activities to contribute to the elimination of discrimination in health-care settings.
“The doctors of tomorrow have a key role to play in transforming health-care settings into spaces of inclusion and zero discrimination. We need the leadership of medical students to responding to the root causes that keep people from accessing services.”
Michel Sidibe UNAIDS Executive Director
“Medical students and the future health workforce need to be ready, not only to provide non-stigmatizing and free of discrimination care, but also to partner with those most affected by the HIV epidemic, act together and create an empowering movement that can serve as a platform to achieve the Fast-Track Targets.”
Carles Pericas Liaison Officer for Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
“One of the main challenges for young people when they are accessing services is the attitude of health-care providers. That is what makes the collaboration between young people living with and affected by HIV and medical students so important to us. We can proactively work together to support adolescents and young people to request and receive services that directly meet their needs and that are free of judgement and discrimination.”
Cedric Nininahazwe, READY+ Regional Project Manager, Y+
Cedric Nininahazwe READY+ Regional Project Manager, Y+
