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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.

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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.

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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 in-

depth 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

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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.

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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!

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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 5th 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.

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AWARENESS CAMPAIGN: CERVICAL CANCER, BREAST

CANCER

Devyani Mukherjee

Shafaat Ahmad

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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'

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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 Self-

Examination (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…’

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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.

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◇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.

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