Newsletter #14 2014 - Asian Medical Students` Association

An issue written by AMSA Philippines – Friendship,
learning and fun via Asian Medical Student Exchange
Programme
August 2014 was a big highlight in AMSEP Philippines. Delegates from Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan had the
time of their lives as they explored the Pearl of the Orient with our host schools, University of Santo Tomas
(UST), Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF), and University of the
Philippines (UP), respectively.
The first leg of the AMSEP-filled August was AMSEP Philippines for Malaysia held on August 11-16. AMSA-UST
welcomed ten (10) Malaysian exchange students from Universiti Putra Malaysia. The delegates were greeted
by the most famous bee in the Philippines at the Jollibee kiddie party! The week was filled with academic
activities such as special lectures and ultrasound demonstration and hands-on activity. The delegates had a
tour of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and St. Luke’s Global Hospital, a tertiary public hospital and a
high class private tertiary hospital, respectively. They were also exposed in the UST partner community in
Navotas, where they were able to see firsthand another perspective of the health situation in the Philippines.
There were many cultural activities and trips prepared such as the UST Amazing Race and Filipino Martial Arts
Class and trips to Intramuros, Yuchengco Museum, National Museum, Quiapo, and Bahay Nakpil. During this
week, around 70+ participants from AMSA-UST helped out to make this experience a truly awesome and
memorable one for the delegates.
As our Malaysian delegates left, four Japanese delegates from Kagoshima University were warmly welcomed by
AMSA FEU-NRMF. Last August 17-23, 2014 was the first time for AMSA FEU-NRMF to host an AMSEP, making
the event extra special. The seven day program kicked off with a welcome party for the delegates at Shakey’s
Pearl drive where they were able to meet members of AMSA FEU-NRMF as well as reunite with the AMSEP Japan
delegates last summer. Throughout the week, a fun-filled and unique experience was prepared for them. The
delegates visited St. Luke’s Global City, UP-PGH and FEU-NRMF Medical Center. They joined classes, visited
WHO-WPRO and engaged in community exposure by joining the community health care center and house to
house visit. They also toured around Intramuros, Myth of the Human Body, Mind Museum and to a whole lot of
other places! At the end of the week, a cultural night was held at Tali Beach, Batangas.
To finish off the AMSEP-filled August, eight Taiwanese delegates from Tzu-Chi University visited the Philippines
for the AMSEP Philippines for Taiwan, hosted by the UP Medical Students for Social Responsibility –
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (UP MSSR-IPPNW) from August 22-30. Delegates
got a glimpse of the Philippine Health Care system as they toured around UP-PGH and its departments of
Orthopedics, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. They were able to discuss
and observe several patient cases and to scrub in on a mastectomy and a Caesarian section procedure! They
also visited other health care institutes, such as the Faculty Medical Arts Building, the St. Luke’s Medical
Center Global and the Department of Health, as well as a visit to the Myth of the Human Body exhibit. An indepth discussion on the health care systems of the Philippines and Taiwan were done during the Luncheon
Meeting at the Hyatt Hotel.
Delegates got a taste of Filipino culture through the daily meals of Filipino (and Filipino versions of
Chinese/Japanese food), as well as through the visits of various iconic places such as Corregidor, Intramuros,
Luneta, Binondo, Quiapo, National Museum and Manila Bay. The delegates were able to visit Avilon Zoo, Mind
Museum and Manila Ocean Park, and were able to experience great activities such as night-club partying in
Aracama, The Fort, Laser Tag in Market! Market!, ice-skating in Mall of Asia, and karaoke in Music 21 KTV Bar.
The delegates were able to interact with the children of Association de Damas de Filipinas orphanage as well.
The program started and ended with great opening and closing parties. The opening party was held at Jollibee,
where they played fun games and danced with Jollibee! The closing party was elegant and feature song
numbers from the Filipinos and dance numbers from the Taiwanese!
The past three weeks were truly an amazing experience for both the delegates and the hosts. They were filled
with unforgettable adventures and learning experiences that will surely be cherished. Friendships were made
and strengthened that will surely last a lifetime.
Greetings from AMSA Australia Dear all,
Great things are happening at the Australian chapter of AMSA International!
Here are some of the things that have been happening:

The official Executive Committee: The last few months have seen a revitalisation of the Australian
chapter, now officially known as the AIA. Whereas before, Australian medical students were
represented by a single person (the Regional Chairperson) to AMSA International, we now have a
committee of enthusiastic medical students who are dedicated not only to increasing the presence of
AMSA International in Australia, but also delivering the organisation’s key mission values of
Knowledge, Action and Friendship.
From L to R: Chief Social Officer – Joey Lam; Vice-Regional Chairperson (External) – Nathan Kuk;
Regional Chairperson – Michael Keem; Vice-Regional Chairperson (Internal) – Nikki Velasco; Chief
Engagement Officer – Nancy Li.
Not present: Education and Advocacy Officer – Sam Ognenis

Dissemination of public health campaign materials: Although it is fantastic being able to present our
submissions at AMSA International conferences, we at the AIA believe that in the interest of public
health promotion, sharing these materials with the general public back home is of the utmost
importance. Soon we will be able to disseminate the public poster created for AMSC 2014 Thailand
(which addressed sexually transmitted infections in the context of travel medicine) in international
airport terminals, convenience facilities in nightclubs and universities all across Australia. We will also
be displaying our video submission as an advertisement on YouTube.

Community outreach program: The research our scientific team conducted for AMSC 2014 Thailand
identified that travel infections are more prevalent in people who are returning to Australia after
visiting friends and family overseas. We are seeking to put this knowledge into action by implementing
a community outreach program, which will involve:
o In conjunction with one of our local city councils, arranging for stalls to be set up at local fetes
and festivals where we can educate the attendees of these events regarding travel medicine
o Short educational seminars and tutorials travel aimed at migrant communities

Launching a new podcast series: Podcasts are essentially a way in which audio files can be delivered
to a large number of people online. Our podcast series will involve members of the AIA and health
professionals talking about a wide range of topics, including key global health issues and research
experiences, amongst others.

Increasing our online presence: We have set up several ways in which the activities of the AIA can be
shared online. Check them out!
o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMSAIntAus
o Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/s3z3DcM0Bo/
o Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMSA_Int_Aus
Our official website and YouTube channel are in development and will both be up and running very
soon!

First social event: We had our first social event recently (note the floral theme) in which all Australian
general delegates attending the AMSC 2015 were invited to attend. There were smiles (and flowers)
all round and everyone had a blast!
First meet-and-greet with AMSC 2015 general delegates and the AIA Executive Committee
As you can see, it’s been a busy few months for us here at the AIA. We look forward to bringing you more
exciting news and updates on a regular basis! Watch this space.
Cheers from the AIA Executive Committee!
Congratulations to AMSA Singapore!
We are simply elated to hear the news that AMSA Singapore received the Best New Chapter Award! Though AMSA
Singapore was one of the early founding members of AMSA International, hosting the 5 th Asian Medical Students’
Conference (AMSC) by the National University of Singapore Medical Society back in 1984, our participation was lost along
the way. It is of great fortune that Singapore has joined back the AMSA family once again 5 years’ back as an observer
member, and currently as a full-time member of AMSA International.
Ever since our revival, we have taken many steps forward to increase our participation in AMSA International’s activities,
ranging from organising the 25th East Asian Medical Students’ Conference 2012 and sending our own delegates to
conferences held in other countries, to liaising with various AMSA chapters to hold many Asian Medical Student Exchange
Programmes (AMSEPs). As AMSA Singapore is currently expanding in its initiatives, we are more than happy to welcome
other chapters who are interested in organising AMSEPs with us. We promise an unforgettable exchange to all those who
come to Singapore, with all the academic/clinical, social and cultural experiences that are unique to Singapore.
On top of this, AMSA Singapore also reaches out actively to our local medical students via pre- and post-conference
activities. We have been organising a wide range of local events, including slogan photobooth competition as well as an
online quiz on Depression, photo contest on World Cancer Day and diabetes screening community service on World
Diabetes Day. It is heartening to see a growing number of students participating in AMSA Singapore’s activities, and to
know that these participants are gaining more knowledge about health issues pertinent to the Asia-Pacific region. We
certainly hope to continue in our endeavor to raise awareness about relevant medical issues to our local students back in
Singapore.
AMSA brings one of the best memories of medical school to all of us and it saddens us, the outgoing AMSA Singapore
executive committee, to bid farewell to the committee. However, once an AMSA member, always an AMSA member. This
is not a “goodbye” but a mere “see you again” and we certainly hope to continue our active participation in AMSA in the
future. Moreover, we have strong faith in the new incoming executive committee to bring AMSA Singapore to greater
heights, so please look out for more exciting events and activities organised by AMSA Singapore! Of course, do not forget
to keep an eye out for more updates regarding 36th AMSC Singapore 2015 as well. It will definitely be a blast and we hope
to see you there.
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: CERVICAL CANCER, BREAST
CANCER
Devyani Mukherjee
Shafaat Ahmad
An Issue Written by AMSA India – Breast Awareness
Day
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”
-Winston Churchill
Breast and Cervical cancer are not just diseases that
strike at women. They strike at the very heart of
who they are as women: how others perceive them,
how they perceive themselves, how they live, work
and raise their families, or whether they do these
things at all. For a woman to lose a breast is more
than just a physical affliction. It rocks at the very
seat of her womanhood and can be totally
devastating.
Breast and Cervical cancer can occur to any woman
of reproducible age. With the modern era lifestyle
and environmental conditions with chemicals and
toxins in and around our body systems, women are
at greater risk of developing cancer.
Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of
cancer death
for women in
the
World.
However, in the
past 40 years,
the number of
cases of cervical
cancer and the
number
of
deaths
from
cervical cancer
have decreased significantly. Although India being a
developing nation, the morbidity related to Cervical
Cancer in women is much higher than other forms
of cancer.
If the statistics are compared to Breast Cancer, it is
estimated that one in eight women will develop
breast cancer during their lifetime. It is the cancer
causing largest number of deaths in women only
after lung cancer. If breast cancer is detected early,
the five-year survival rate is markedly improved. But
as is said, 'prevention is better than cure’, simple
precautionary measures and regular checkups can
help to bring down the statistics of breast cancer
incidence and mortality.
AMSA India always strives to be at the forefront of
increasing awareness about the social and health
related issues concerning the masses nationally and
internationally. It is a federation that aspires to
offers the future physicians a comprehensive
introduction to global
health issues. In this
pursuit, on 8th March,
2014 on the occasion
of
International
Women's Day, AMSA
India
collaborated
with Nulife Hospital,
Delhi to organize an
awareness campaign
on 'Cervical Cancer'
and 'Breast Cancer'.
The event was conducted at The International
Women's Hostel, North Campus, Delhi University,
Delhi. About 150 students participated. It included
a seminar on 'Cervical Cancer and its Prevention'
and 'Breast Cancer and its Prevention' by eminent
gynecologists- by Dr. Shakuntla Kumar & Dr. Tarini
Taneja. It covered aspects like incidence and
prevalence of HPV infection in India, where the
audience was educated about getting a pap smear
done regularly for early detection and the
importance of eating healthy and good hygiene
habits in prevention of cervical cancer. The second
lecture focused on Breast cancer and Breast SelfExamination (BSE) for its detection.
The seminar was followed by an interactive session
in which the doubts and queries of the audience
regarding the topic were clarified.
Volunteers for AMSA India participated and helped
organize the event and distributed pamphlets to
spread awareness among the masses. Everyone was
made to wear a teal-colored and pink-colored
ribbon signifying Cervical cancer and Breast Cancer
prevention.
Breast and Cervical cancer awareness have been
gaining momentum recently and through the
efforts of several international organizations and
events like this seminar breast cancer incidence
have shown recent decline. Though it is very
encouraging but the statistical improvement
against overall occurrence is just a drop in the
ocean. Self-examination of the breast, regular
check-ups, mammography, and positive changes in
lifestyle are some of the measures women take to
fight breast cancer. Cervical cancer, on the other
hand, has shown significant decline . This decline
largely is the result of many women getting regular
Pap tests, which can find cervical pre-cancer before
it turns into cancer. Also, the vaccine against it is
easily available and widely used now.
In a nutshell, main aim of the event was to
emphasize on ways to prevent cancer of Breast and
Cervix, so that women at large can be liberated from
the shackles of these health disorders and have a
healthier, happier and better life. It also helped
achieve our goal of KNOWLEDGE- lectures on the
topic, ACTION- increasing awareness of the masses
and FRIENDSHIP- the students from medical
colleges of Delhi came together and interacted and
made friends with other non- medical colleges of
Delhi University.
‘I strive so that little girls will grow up in a world
where pink ribbons are for ponytails and party
dresses…’
An Issue Written by AMSA Japan: A collaboration
Event - AMSA×ALSA
AMSA-Japan held the first event in collaboration with ALSA-Japan at Kobe University on June
28, 2014. ALSA (The Asian Law Students’ Association) is one of the largest international law students’
organizations, which has academic exchange programs with Asian or European students like AMSA. We
have signed an agreement with them.
This time, we gave presentations about some topics associated with the theme “induced
abortion” from each point of view; law and medicine to over 40 students in faculty of not only medicine
and law but also nursing, pharmacy, politics and economics. Also the participants were divided into
some groups, discussed each topic, and shared their ideas with all the students there. In the end, each
group made a poster about what they learned. After the event, we uploaded them on Facebook to
convey our messages toward the general public.
In fact, each topic was really controversial and thinking from other fields was so difficult. However,
teaching each other politely and trying to understand others’ ideas made our discussion very
meaningful.
Topics of our presentations and discussions are as follow.
◇Induced abortion (by AMSA-Japan)
This was about concrete methods of induced abortion and aftereffects related to them. These
seemed so sensational for students except medical students.
◇Illegal abortion (by ALSA-Japan)
This was about differences between illegal abortion and murder, and 5 types of abortion. An
actual example of high court related to abortion was picked up and discussed which type it is in this
case.
◇Concept of eugenics (by ALSA-Japan)
First, historical background of eugenics was explained. After that, the differences between “old
eugenics” which is based on national benefit, and “new eugenics” which is based on individual
liberty were introduced.
◇Maternal Protection Law (by AMSA-Japan)
After the outline of the maternal protection law and the difference in application between
Japan and UK were explained, we discussed whether the maternal law should be in consideration
for a mother or a whole family.
◇Medical viewpoint of the prenatal diagnosis (by AMSA-Japan)
Here, we presented the methods for prenatal diagnosis, congenital diseases we can find out
by doing it, and “genetic counseling”.
◇Legal viewpoint of the prenatal diagnosis (by ALSA-Japan)
After lectures of “Wrongful birth suit” and “Wrongful life suit”, we discussed what it means for
medical workers to accept their mistakes in medical treatment associated with disabilities.