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Medical students of the IFMSA formed the Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS (SCORA) in 1992, driven by a strong will to take an active part in prevention interventions concerning HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and to support people living with HIV/AIDS, aiming to decrease stigma and discrimination. SCORA also focuses on gender issues like domestic violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and glass ceiling as well as provides opportunities to address issues regarding sexual orientation, trans-sexuality and teenage pregnancy.
History
Driven by a strong will to actively take part in prevention activities concerning HIV and sexually transmitted infections, medical students in 1992 formed the youngest working group in IFMSA: the Standing Committee on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (SCOAS). The activities in SCOAS later developed from HIV/STD advocacy and awareness campaigns to encompass a wider range of reproductive health and related issues.
To mark this change of focus, the name was in 1998 changed to the Standing Committee on Reproductive Health including AIDS (SCORA). Over the last couple of years, more emphasis has been put on women's health and rights and the importance of gender equality policies in IFMSA.
SCORA MOTTO
“ The only way to fight HIV/AIDS is through prevention. The only way of prevention is through education.”
SCORA develops and promotes medical students’ empowerment and activities aiming at improving sexual and reproductive health and rights led by students for the benefit of their communities. This is primarily done through peer education and trainings, advocacy and awareness campaigns at all levels from grassroots to international.
Structure
On the international level SCORA is coordinated by SCORA Director (SCORA-D), on the national level SCORA is coordinated by National Officer on Reproductive Health including AIDS (NORA), on the local level we have Local Officers (LORA) and their Assistants (LORA Ass.). Communication with externals in international organizations who share our aims is the responsibility of Liaison Officer for Reproductive Health issues, including AIDS (LO to SCORA) and coordination of SCORA teams working in each of the five regions within IFMSA is Regional Assistant’s task (SCORA RA).
Think globally act locally
One of the strengths of IFMSA/SCORA is that we work together locally, worldwide. Through campaigning, workshops and peer education we intend to increase the awareness among medical students, as well as in the general population, of safe sexual behavior and HIV prevention, of gender equality and women's health. Knowing that these are global issues, yet complex and multifaceted, we encourage medical students to voluntarily take active part in local campaigning for better health as a crucial aspect of our work.
Goals
- To establish unified preventing HIV/AIDS youth policy
- To train well educated ,in matters of reproductive health, future doctors, that would not follow the common stigma of HIV/AIDS and that would be aware of the needs of the patients affected with STIs
- To provide members of SCORA with complete knowledge about HIV/AIDS, viriology, epidemiology, world's most prominent preventing actions, new scientific discoveries in fighting the epidemy
- To raise tolerance among future doctors and their enviroment
- To show to the students ethic aspects of relation doctor-patient
- To inspire young people to find new ways of preventing HIV/AIDS and fighting prejudice
- To encourage research on HIV/AIDS
- To create a well integrated SCORA Team
SCORA thrives on the enthusiasm, creativity and dedication of medical students.
Feel free to contact the SCORA-Director under scorad[at]ifmsa.org for any further questions you might have! |
