Following our strategy review, we have spent the early part of this year seeking to build our relationships with other agencies, such as All Nations Christian college and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. We trust that closer cooperation will lead to more supportive placements for our members as you move about the world.

Short term vision trips

If you're working long-term overseas you will know that longevity of service, relationship building and language learning are all important parts of effective intervention. However, for many the interest to serve long-term comes from a short-term mission trip.

Sadly, due to the Iraqi government's blockade on international flights into Erbil, our March trip for refugee clinical work was cancelled. But we are glad to say we have another eight people keen to go from 1-8 September. Please pray for them as they prepare.

Developing Health Course

We have an exciting revised Developing Health Course. It ran from 8-20 July at the London School of Theology in Northwood, Middlesex. While numbers were smaller than in previous years, the same mixture of disciplines, national origin and place of work among participants and first rate interactive teaching, made this a stimulating fortnight for all involved.

Corruption and conflict of interest

Medical corruption and conflict of interest are issues that affect us all ? and we have a small team seeking to further explore and make resources available for members. We will be hosting meetings to dialogue further with international partners about this topic at the ICMDA World Congress in Hyderabad.

Big thanks to Andrew Tomkins, John Wyatt, Catriona Waitt, Ibrat Djabbarov, Transparency International and others, helping us on this project.

Lebanon group formed at regional meet

Twenty-two delegates attended the first ICMDA regional event for the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa in Lebanon in May. Delegates were from Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan and there were invited guests from South Korea and the UK.

It was a great weekend of teaching, encouragement and fellowship. Egypt already has a strong CMF movement and this weekend saw the formation of a new group in Lebanon. Hopes are that this conference and ones to follow will lead to the development and strengthening of ICMDA groups across the METNA region. Please continue to pray for Christian doctors and nurses in the region as they seek to live for Jesus Christ.