Preface

It is with a great pleasure and honor, As the Chair of the organizing committee of the
International Federation of Medical Students Associations, African Regional Meeting I
welcome you to RWANDA , the country of a thousand hills, for the 11th International
federation Of Medical Students Association -African Regional Meeting, Medical
Students Association of Rwanda (MEDSAR), under the College of Medicine and Health
Sciences are proud to host the upcoming Conference.
The International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) is a non- political
and nonprofit organization recognized as one of the oldest and largest student
organizations in the world.
As IFMSA our vision is a world in which all medical students are united for global health.
In keeping with that IFMSA calls for regional meetings to discuss challenges and
solutions to problems affecting particular areas. The 11th African Regional Meeting
(ARM) of the IFMSA follows the theme; Post 2015 Maternal and Child health a will be a
worthy platform to engage future physicians to discuss the way forward to sustainable
development goals and further discussion to the post 2015 Agenda.
Therefore the organizing committee of the upcoming African Regional Meeting has
committed itself to prepare and organize the unforgettable moments in Rwanda, a very
dedicated team; National organizing committee is working tirelessly with the Africa
Regional Team to ensure that delegates will have great stay in Rwanda.
I would like to thank the African National Member Organization(NMO) who have
entrusted Rwanda to host one of the greatest event continent wide. We wish you well
for preparations; we cant wait to have you all in our Beautiful country.

The Message from Regional Coordinator

Dear Africa
It is with great pleasure that I write to you all, to invite you to the amazing upcoming
African Regional Meeting (ARM) that will be held in the beautiful city of Kigali in
Rwanda.
The African Regional Meeting is a platform where the African students in International
federation of Medical students Associations gather to discuss issues pertinent to our
growing region. We definitely have various challenges that our regional is facing. The
ARM is geared to providing us with opportunities to discuss some of these issues. And
most importantly find solutions on how we can contribute to bringing the changes in
our communities.
This year the theme will be Maternal and child health in the post 2015 Agenda. Despite
the progress that has been made toward achievements of MDG 4 and 5 as we come to

the end of the MDGs era and the beginning of the sustainable development era we
need to ask ourselves what limited this process in the past and how can we build up on
the progress made to finally finish what the MDGs stated.
I therefore looking forward to having fruitful discussion with you all in Rwanda,. the
Organizing committee is working tirelessly to ensure you all have unforgettable time in
Rwanda
Come in December pack your bags and prepare yourselves for an amazing
Experience ,in Rwanda cannot wait to see you all there.
Best Regards
Meggie Mwoka

Overview of Rwanda
Rwanda is a landlocked East African country whose green, mountainous landscape has earned it the
nickname Land of a Thousand Hills. Its renowned Volcanoes National Park is home to mountain
gorillas and golden monkeys. Bordering Congo and Uganda, the park encompasses 4,507m-tall Mt.
Karisimbi and 4 other forested volcanoes. Kigali, the nation's sprawling capital, has a vibrant

restaurant and nightlife scene

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Capital: Kigali
Currency: Rwandan franc
Population: 11.78 million (2013) World Bank
Official languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French
Getting to Rwanda
The main airport in Kigali is the Kanombe International Airport. It is located 10
km east of the Kigali centre.Kigali currently receives direct flights from Nairobi,
Entebbe, Bujumbura, Addis Abeba, Kilimanjaro, Brussles, Amsterdam, Dar es
Salaam, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Juba, Lagos and Dubai via Mombasa.It is also
possible to take a bus from neighboring countries.
Short distances within cities can be travelled either on foot or by taxi-velo
(bicycle taxi). These are relatively inexpensive.
Motorcycle taxis (taxi moto) are the most popular in Kigali. These taxis can be
identified by their jerseys and they always have an extra helmet. Most drivers
speak basic English or French. Laws require moto-bikes to use helmets, and
Rwandans abide by this.

Entry Visa

You might! Visas are required for visitors EXCLUDING nationals from the
following countries:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Uganda

Kenya

Germany

Hong Kong

Mauritius

South Africa

Sweeden

Singapure

United Kingdom

United States of America

Those traveling from countries not listed need to apply for a T2 visa and can be
done online ( Online visa for Rwanda and you will find the Rwanda Directorate
General of Immigration and Emigration) The visa is Rwf 30,000 (USD 50). The
visa is valid for up to 90 days. For a visa extension, visitors may go to the Client
Service Centre of the Director General in Kigali.
You can easily apply for an online single entry visa and the you can easily
download the application from here https://www.migration.gov.rw/index.php?id=203

What Vaccinations do I need?

Yellow fever is a risk in Rwanda. It is recommended that all travelers over the
age of 9 months receive this vaccine. This is also important for travelers who
will continue on to other EAC countries since Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya all
require yellow fever vaccinations as well.
The following vaccinations are recommended but not required when visiting
Rwanda:

Hepatitis A

Malaria

Typhoid

Hepatitis B

Rabies
Money/ Currency

Rwandas unit of currency is the Rwandan franc (Rwf). It is best to arrive

in Rwanda with US or Euro cash, which can be exchanged at the airport or
any of FOREX bureau / banks. The most useful bank branch would be the
Banque de Kigali, which offers cash advances on credit cards and also
accepts travelers cheques, which is not possible in the provinces.

There are ATMs throughout Kigali which are accessible to visitors.

Credit cards are accepted in some upper-market restaurants and hotels,

but it is best to confirm prior to ordering.

Bureaux dechange (FOREX Bureau) is mostly located in Kigali and can

offer slightly better exchange rates than most banks.

All banks, and most bureau dechangeare closed on last Saturday of the
month at the morning hours ( up to 11:00 am) for the community work
UMUGANDA and Sundays

VENUE

La Palisse Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda

Ideally located in one of Kigalis most charming regions, the Hotel is built around a polished granite atrium,
which
Relaxed yet elegant, the Hotel features a lounge and Bar, which opens onto a wide sundeck overlooking the
newly refurbished swimming pool. Also overlooking the pool, the popular Hotel Restaurant offers a wide
range of all-day buffet choices, while the relaxed Hotel Caf offers inside and outside poolside seating.
Regarded by many as one of Kigalis natural business Hub, the hotel also boasts its own extensive conference
center, 300-seater auditorium and a lavish ballroom.
Lapalisse hotel is convenient removed from the Hustle and bustle of the city of Kigali situate on Rwamagana
Road only 500 meters from Kigali International Airport and 12 KM from Kigali Town.

Theme development: post 2015 Maternal and Child

Health
Children with healthy mothers are much more likely to survive childhood, attend
school and live healthy, productive lives. Liya KEBEDE (Model and maternal health
advocate).
Improving the health of mothers, newborns and children around the world is a top
development priority as it is included in our Millennium Development Goals.
According to the UN; MDGs 2014 report and the Countdown to 2015(Maternal,
Newborn and Child Survival) 2014 report; almost 300000 women died globally in 2013,
with very high maternal mortality rate in almost 16 countries in Africa (500 or more
deaths/100000 live births which is 14 times lower in developed countries) from causes
related to pregnancy (mostly bleeding after childbirth, infection, hypertension during
pregnancy).
Those reports also state that 6.3 million children less than five years died in
2014(mostly in neonatal period) from causes like pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria
related to maternal health.
This shows how the maternal and child health are closely related.
Despite the success in reaching most of MDGs targets, many obstacles are still in line
and much more effort is needed.
In fact:

Nearly half of child deaths are attributable to under nutrition

Lack of skilled health workforce(40 million births in developing regions were not
attended by skilled health personnel in 2012)

Preventable and treatable diseases are still the leading causes of child and
maternal deaths
Lack of new and reliable data in most countries.

UN describes key underlying determinants of poor maternal and child health outcomes
and the need for well-coordinated, comprehensive approaches for addressing them
such as introducing a combination of nutrition, specific and sensitive interventions to
reduce pervasive malnutrition, targeting interventions to the underserved to reduce
inequities in access to care, and increasing womens social status through improved
access to education and income-earning opportunities.

MDGs targets have a deadline of 2015 but they have shown that we can make
profound differences in peoples lives (BAN KI-MOON, UN secretary general)

IFMSA choose to discuss about the maternal and child health in this years African
Regional Meeting because MDGs, at the end of 2015, will be replaced by Sustainable
Development Goals; and medical students, as future doctors, want to get involved in
this Millennium Fight for a sustainable and healthy future.
The 2015 African Regional Meeting will be a platform of discussions and decisionmakings through activities like capacity building, workshops, seminars, training
modules, regional publications led by student peers and experts. There will also be
abstract presentations by participants in which they will present studies showing what
have been achieved and still needs to be done in their respective countries in the field
of maternal and child health. Those abstracts will be reviewed by a scientific Committee
from IFMSA members and observers at the conference.
In the end of the meeting, expected outcomes and outputs will be to create a common
advocacy and policy platform for the African Youth Movement on maternal, newborn
and child health; establish clearer links between maternal, newborn and child health
agenda, social determinants of health and post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals;
produce a coordinated African Youth Movement that is a solution on maternal and child
health challenges, gender imbalance, that is committed to join action as a youth
movement and mobilize for the post 2015 negotiations; and finally an outcome
document from the meeting will summarise all the discussions and will then be
presented to the major externals connected with IFMSA.

Social Program

Rwanda, the heart of Africa, is a relatively stable Eastern African country that is easily
accessible, safe and simple to travel around.
21 years ago, an estimated one million people were slaughtered during the 1994 Tutsi
genocide.
Ever since then, Rwanda has tried to move past this violent
episode with a major construction campaign and a push to erase the ethnic divisions.
During your stay here in Rwanda, as you travel around visiting the country, we
encourage you to visit the Gisozi Genocide memorial where rest around 250,000
victims of the 1994 Tutsi Genocide.
Rwanda is a beautiful country when you get to see it, for instance when you shall visit
the Natural History Museum of Kigali also known as KANDT House, you will be
mesmerized by the natural beauties and the richness of Rwandas nature, this museum
showcases many specimens and replica of the natural wonders of the country as
discovered by Dr. Richard Kandt.
For first timers in Rwanda, you will be impressed as to what the country has achieved;
we shall move around the spotless city on broad day light where there are many fun
things to do like assisting the art exhibition at the Rwandan cultural hub, Ishyo Arts
Center; or even relaxing through games and outings at the various game clubs.
Approximately five (5) hours away from Kigali city to the west; theres Nyungwe
National Park, with the famous canopy, the East Africas highest with a metal bridge
suspended 50 meters above the forest plus a hiking session that you wouldnt possibly
want to miss!
Nyungwe Forest is

not the only highlight of the eastern province, the province also homes the Kings
Palace in Nyanza and the Rwanda National Museum.

Night hits the beautiful country early at 6 pm; when you go out at night, you will get to
see it on full night display with lights on, get to make your own fun throughout dinners
at different exotic and local restaurants as you enjoy live band performances and
actually go out on Friday nights as it is a must in Kigali.
As we gather around from our respective countries, expect a cultural event that aims at
facilitating cultural exchange and strengthen interactions among us where everyone
from their respective countries will take part in showcasing their traditions through
cultural performances including singing, dancing, etc. thus bringing the activity to the
climax. Bring foods and drinks from your country and lets share.
Otherwise expect a warm and friendly welcome and stay to a beautiful country,
Rwanda as well as security advisories. CHEERS!

REGISTRATION
The registration will cover all conference, Accommodation, meals ,materials, refreshments during breaks and
one social function organized by conference organizing committee. The registration includes: breakfast,
dinner, transportation and accommodation.
Additional information regarding accommodations can be found on the ARM2015 website at
www.arm2015rwanda.com
The registration of the conference is as provided by internal operating guidelines, they will be only one early
registration which will start on 25th July and closes on 25th August. We expect to send a survey to the NMO
president to estimate a number of delegates they would wish to send and the values goes out our capability we
will allocate a certain number to a particular NMO according to its needs.
All participants will register through the web link that we will provide I the soonest. We
PAYMENT INFORMATION

Registration ARM 180 USD

Registration Pre ARM 180 USD
Registration Post ARM 120 USD
Local students will register, but many of them will not be staying at the hotel they will
pay according to the agreement with MEDSAR Executive Board and OC ARM

The accounts will be also provided on the web and we are discussing with different
banks to reduce the transfer cost since no payment on arrival will be accepted.

Cancellation Policy is yet to be agreed on as far the Regional Team is concerned