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The 3rd IFMSA Asia-Oceania Regional Meeting; A Great Accomplishment

More than 200 delegates from 7 different countries gathered in Pattaya, Thailand from 18th- 22nd March, 2005. With the excellent work of the organizing NMO, IFMSA-Thailand, and the support of the 7 delegates from the team of officials, the 3rd IFMSA Asia-Oceania Regional Meeting proved to be a success.

The theme of the conference was the "Millennium Development Goals: Malaria and HIV/AIDS". A workshop was run based on these topics, along with the guest speakers Dr.Somsak Lholekha and Dr.Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, who gave us lectures during the opening ceremony. The countries' project fair was time for all participating NMOs to present the HIV/AIDS situation in their countries.

The "tsunami" was also a timely topic in which many delegates actively took part in workshops and discussions. After the disaster at the end of December, the IOC (International Organizing Committee of ARM) decided to change its agenda for a Plenary Session, to dedicate the time for sharing information among affected and unaffected countries and discussing the role of medical students in tsunami relief efforts. As a result, voices from across the region called for further action; IFMSA Asia-Oceania is likely to cooperate with the IFMSA Emergency and Disaster Network to organize steady relief effort projects to help the victimized countries in the near future. Several standing committees have also conducted their sessions based on the tsunami.

Thanks to IFMSA-Thailand, the night celebrations were truly satisfying indeed. "Tiffany's Show" was an event that brought laughter to all delegates throughout the rest of the conference and the private beach at Dusit Resort Hotel was packed with excited delegates every night. Many enjoyed dancing on the stage and spending time on the beach.

Closing Party with OC members

All things considered, the five days in Pattaya offered us a very fruitful meeting. Two years ago, 20 delegates got together in Manila, Philippines, holding the 1st IFMSA Asia-Oceania Regional Meeting. The number of participants greatly leaped upward in the 2nd Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last year. And this year, it just got better. It is simply amazing to see their inner strength bloom in such a short period. Many thanks, once again, to IFMSA-Thailand for all their effort and support and a special thanks to our friend Knot, for her fantastic role as the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) Chair.

Fauziah Asnely Putri
Regional Co-ordinator for Asia
rcasia-at-ifmsa.org

Miho Ishii,
VPE IFMSA-Japan(Japan)
Sec. Gen, 3rd IFMSA Asia-Oceania Regional Meeting IOC