Nepalese Students Hold Their National Meet

“Health is a social issue determined by social, economical and political factors. Everything that determines health in turn is determined by politics”- a medical student expressed his view demanding political stability and social justice as major requisite for Health. He urged to view health through social window going beyond the pure Biomedical and techno-dependent boundary .Opinions against the uprising militarism and malignant proliferation of nuclear weapons were voiced and nuclear weapon states and others were asked to comply for NPT and CTBT.

Over sixty students from more than half a dozen of medical colleges and health science institutes  participated in the NATIONAL HEALTH STUDENTS’ MEET organized by student chapter ,Physicians for Social Responsibility’ Nepal (PSRN) on May 28, 2005 at Dhulikhel Medical Institute. With the establishment of PSRN in 1996, student chapter has been actively working in raising and consolidating voices of young medical and health science students for social justice, peace and nuclear disarmament. It involves in creating and sensitizing students in broader aspect of health compounded by interlinked chain of poverty, hunger, injustice, social discrimination and conflict. As a part of the campaign, to involve students from across the country, this program was organized to introduce PSRN, IPPNW and their activities and establish an effective Networking and Communication mechanism.

After the brief introduction of PSRN and IPPNW, presentations following interactive discussions were made on: Health and Human Right, Pen for Peace, Nuclear Hazards, Medical Ethics and Health Status and Delivery System in Nepal. The malicious spectrum of consequences and threats posed by nuclear weapons were highlighted reminding the black history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing in 1946 which engulfed more than 200,000 lives and rendered the cities uninhabitable for ever.

During the program students challenged the doctrine of “War for peace” with the novel doctrine “Pen for Peace”. Role of pen as a means to create awareness, educate people, help them understand the reality and stand for their rights were discussed among others. A video show on “Effects of War in Afghanistan’s Environment” was screened. Role of health students /professionals within and beyond the profession’s boundary was discussed and a networking module, with one student representative from each college, was formulated to work in coordinated and integrated fashion. Paper presentation on “Medical life”, game play and photo show reflecting social outlooks were also the part of the program. The forum provided a stage for students to put forth their ideas, discuss and express their solidarity for healthy, peaceful, just and nuclear free world.