WCCS @ World Health Assembly 2019

Geneva. The Gateway to the Alps. The Capital of Peace. Throughout history, this esteemed city has been the centre of historic events, and most recently, is the home of many international causes such as the UN, the Red Cross and, most relevant for health professionals globally; The World Health Assembly. The 72nd World Health Assembly was held in Geneva in May, and our delegates made their way to the esteemed country; eagerly prepared to represent the chiropractic youth at the epicentre of global health and health policy.

Our WCCSers found themselves integrated with three delegations; the International Pharmacy Students Federation (IPSF), the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) and the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC). This involvement across the different delegations signified a positive step in the right direction, with our members having the distinct opportunity to not only network with these groups but gave delegates an opportunity to represent the WCCS and Chiropractic to those who may have never heard of it.

Our former Public Relations Director Emilie Clarebout was selected to join the IFMSA delegation and as a result, touched down in Geneva early to spend a week-long intensive pre-WHA training session with the rest of the IFMSA delegation; learning skills in networking, facilitating true multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral care and personal development skills. Our Vice-President Dr Fraser McClymont joined a few days later and engaged in the IPSF pre-WHA training to become more educated in the challenges facing the pharmacy profession. Both delegates were not only surprised by the new information they had gained but the similarities that the issues that chiropractic, medicine, pharmacy and the healthcare sector as a whole were so translatable.

For our Immediate Past President Dr. Danielle Wiesner, European Regional Coordinator Sara Presazzi and CMCC Chapter President Jordanne Buote, the WFC delegation prepared delegates through an evening; outlining expectations and conduct for the event. Together; the WCCS delegates placed high expectations on themselves to build meaningful relationships and to promote chiropractors in the field of global health. Throughout the assembly, our delegates were geared towards different side events, holding a presence in conversations so the WCCS was known where we turned.

The WCCS engages these meetings in two different ways; spreading delegates to have a presence in many different locations or, for issues more pertinent to the chiropractic profession, by including more to give ourselves the opportunities to have a more compelling presence. The second of these occurred during the small working group and discussion on “The Role of the Next Generation in Addressing NCD’s: youth strategy meeting”. In this meeting; WCCSers were able; due to the size and platform of discussion, to positively represent the profession as an appropriate provider in addressing the NCD’s. On top of that, comments were also made to the significance that Chiropractors have in tackling the ever-growing NCD crisis by non-chiropractors; a very positive attitude for the future.

The WCCS also attended breakaway sessions such as the “PHC in achieving #Health for all: A Youth lead discussion with the WHO PHC Young Leaders network”, “Decade of Healthy Aging (2020- 2030): Ideas and propositions to reach people and build healthy societies” and “Symposium on innovative financing for NCD’s” to find ways in which we, as the youth of the chiropractic profession, could best prepare ourselves for the future and position ourselves as an effective, financially and outcomes measured alternative for healthcare.

However, the WCCS really outshined itself with our invitation to the Call to Action: Addressing the 18 million health workers shortfall. As a part of being invited to this high-level meeting, a consequence of participating on the GWHN Youth Hub, we were required to write a statement on what our organization was going to do to address the 18 million healthcare worker shortage. Now, of all the submissions entered, the WCCS was one of 36 accepted for publication by the World Health Organization.

We, as an organization, have noticed the changes of opinions towards chiropractors over the years of attending the WHA. The critical comments have been replaced with encouraging words, the misconceptions have transitioned into invitation. And with this change of attitude, the WHO have begun changing their organization; highlighting the need to promote health and well-being. This perspective gives us a leverage in the coming years; the future is bright for chiropractic.

Dr. Fraser McClymont

Director of External Affairs