From March 28th to 29th 2009, the student charity Medsin will host 550 delegates interested in health, development, ethics and politics for two days of controversial and topical workshops, debates, campaigns and exhibitions.

Entitled 'Healthy Interventions', the Global Health Conference 2009 will stage four panels of expert speakers to discuss topical and controversial issues in international health.

550 delegates interested in health, development, ethics and politics will converge on Manchester for two days of workshops, debates, campaigns and exhibitions. The new state of the art and environmentally conscious University Place conference venue will be the backdrop to an exciting and thought provoking forum.

Plenaries include ;

Refugee Health in the UK
As the world gets smaller, the casualties of international health get closer to our own doorsteps.  Global health is no longer something that happens ‘out there’, it is no longer restricted to exotic locations and mysterious diseases, global health is here and it is now.

Even if a physician never leaves this country, it is unlikely they won’t encounter a refugee or asylum seeker in a GP’s surgery or in a hospital bed.  It is therefore important that all health professionals have an understanding of the problems that this vulnerable population face.  These problems are not just physical or psychological illness but also political and social barriers to healthcare and support.

This plenary seeks to examine how refugees and asylum seekers who come to our country are treated, what their specific health needs are and what we as future medical professionals need to know about asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.

Workshops include ;

Healthcare for Asylum Seekers - Saturday pm
A short introduction to the work done at the Horizon Centre and the countries/situations people are coming from. Then a discussion about how medical professionals tackle these cases and the ethical issues involved
Speakers: Dr Rebecca Farrington

How to help Medical Justice stop the medical abuse of immigration detainees - Saturday pm
• Who are immigration detainees ?
• Who is Medical Justice ?
• Conditions of immigration detention
• Medical issues immigration detainees have and medical abuse they suffer
• Medical Justice activities - case-work, policy work, parliamentary work, campaigning, raising public awareness
• How Medsin members can help
Speakers: Dr Frank Arnold, Dr Fred Martineau, Emma Ginn.

In The Shoes of The Asylum Seekers - Sunday am
Experience the trauma of being displaced from home and the process of asylum seeking in the UK by role plays. Participants are encouraged to embrace their characters wholeheartedly and examine their own emotional reactions. The workshop explores some of the human right issues, the UK immigration policies and the struggles of asylum seekers. There will be a discussion to conclude the session. No acting experience required, only an open mind and plenty of enthusiasm needed.
Speakers: Crossing Borders Manchester