From Daryl Hackland, ICMDA General Secretary:
‘Change our Lives, Change our Lands’ 2nd ICMDA Southern Africa Conference
Lake Malawi, 30 April – 3 May, 2004
‘African Christians need to reject the negative mindset that Africa will always be poor and struggling.’ This was the challenge that Stephen Lungu of Africa Enterprise brought to 236 doctors and students from 9 different countries at the 2nd ever Southern African ICMDA Regional conference at Lake Malawi.
‘We need to serve those with HIV/AIDS with love and acceptance, not only looking for behaviour change, but for changed hearts.’ Keynote speaker Dr Grave Singogo from Zambia spoke about Christians responding to the AIDS epidemic as Jesus would do, rather than simply following in the footsteps of secular NGOs. Dr Bothwell Mbuwayesango from Zimbabwe spoke of the mandate we have from our King to serve the poor, challenging doctors to make the decision to stay in Africa rather than seeking ‘greener pastures’. The students called for mentors and role models who can guide and support them through their years at college and as junior doctors.
Conferences are a lot of work and a lot of fun, but they are a catalyst for growth of organisations and of individuals. CMDF Malawi was born at the World Congress in Durban, 1998. Our regional student network in southern Africa was born in Taiwan, 2002. We cannot know what fruit God will bring in our lives and in the lands where we work, but we know that it will be ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us’.
(Adapted from a report by Vicky Lavy of CMDF Malawi)
‘Understanding the Times’ 2nd ICMDA Asia Pacific Regional Conference
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India 21 – 24 October 2004
This conference is being jointly organised by CMAI (Christian Medical Association of India) and EMFI (Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India) Full details and booking information are available on the Conference Website at www. icmdaindia2004.org The event will be preceded by the ICMDA Regional Students’ Conference at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi, India from 18 – 20 October 2004.
Daryl Hackland Email: webstormsa.co.za
From Peter Pattisson, ICMDA European Regional Secretary:
The Baltic States
For Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia the grim Soviet past is little more than a dozen years ago; their membership of the European Union only a few months old. The realities of life refl ect this rapid transition - a vibrant younger generation vainly looking for fulfi lment in Western European secular values - an older generation left behind with meagre pensions and a hankering after the certainties of the Soviet era. In all three states the Christian doctors and students are making a signifi cant impact.
In Lithuania the CMF held its annual day conference in June with about 50 participants re-examining the Hippocratic Oath. In Latvia a lively group of medical students welcomed us for an evening of fellowship. In Estonia the CMA has been more active for about 8 years with about 50 members and good student links. Some from each country will be at ICMDA’s European conference in September.
Who Cares? Christians in Modern Medicine, 6th ICMDA European Conference
Krelingen nr Hanover, Germany 5-12 September 2004
At the time of writing (early July) around 550 had registered for the conference, more than half of them students and young graduates. They come from all over Europe with some from Central Asia and a few from the Middle East and North Africa.
We have been able to offer fi nancial help to nearly 200 people. (Thank you to those who have contributed to the bursary fund)
In addition to the conference, ICMDA’s executive committee will meet at Krelingen, PRIME is hosting an important consultation for Christians in medical education and we will be running a Saline Solution seminar.
Peter Pattisson
ICMDA European Office, Russets, Woodlands,
Pembury, Kent TN2 4AZ
Tel: 01892 824872
Email: icmda@ukonline.co.uk
