Check out globalwho.wordpress.com for more info. Your hand trembles in anticipation as you reach for your placard. Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar... it's almost your turn to vote. You've been waiting three days for this moment. You've worked countless hours with people from around the world, negotiated with allies and traditional enemies alike, researched your topic, and come to a consensus with your f
ellow delegates. You resolution is on the floor- a "yes" vote means aid for your people, and regulations on the companies that have exploited you and your allies in the past. "No" would mean going back to the drawing board, coming up with new ideas, making new deals. The health- and future- of your people, and people around the world hangs in the balance. The world is watching, and history is judging each and every delegate. Will you and your colleagues be able to pass a meaningful new accord? To address the problems plaguing world healthcare? The room goes silent as the votes are tallied... history will be made, lives may- or may not- be saved. And the question is: what role will you play? This is the proving ground for global health diplomacy. This is the GlobalWHO Simulation. What is a WHO Simulation? A World Health Organization Simulation (or WHO simulation) is a conference aimed at giving participants (known as delegates) the chance to take on the role of national ambassadors, reporters, NGO's, and industry representatives at a simulation of a WHO General Assembly. Delegates take on the role of their countries and organizations, and come prepared to meet other delegates in order to discuss, debate, negotiate and compromise. The goal of the conference is to produce and pass one or many resolutions, documents addressing the issues brought up by the theme of the conference. Resolutions are essentially pieces of international law and guidelines for health-related issues. These are not written "just for fun": all resolutions produced by the simulation will actually be sent to the real WHO for their consideration. Delegates will explore global health issues, and will gain an appreciation of the strong political forces that so often shape global and regional health policy. Delegates will study their country's or organization's stance on various issues and will be asked to come up with creative solutions to real health problems, problems that have challenged real policymakers for years. This conference is the perfect training for health diplomacy, as delegates will have a chance to attend workshops on global health diplomacy, work on public speaking and formal writing skills, and gain experience negotiating and attempting to achieve a consensus on issues of extreme importance. As future healthcare professionals, we have a duty to our patients and to society to become advocates for the advancement of global health, and this conference provides a unique way to explore that role. This is GlobalWHO's first year, and we are drawing on the experience of a devoted and qualified team that loves the WHO, WHO simulations, and helping our fellow students prepare for roles in global health diplomacy. Our theme this year is the "Post 2015 Agenda", the successors to the Millennium Development Goals- delegates drawn from countries around the world will be asked to come and discuss what "Post 2015" health goals the WHO should set, and how they should be pursued. If you are interested in global health, its social, political, and economic determinants, and if you like thinking on your feet, creativity, and learning about exciting topics in global health, then you should apply to the GlobalWHO Simulation Pre-GA. We look forward to seeing you at the conference, delegate!
