Banda Aceh-Syiah Kuala University from Indonesia has been chosen as the host of the Indonesian Medical Student’s Training and Competition (IMSTC). IMSTC is an annual event of AMSA Indonesia to provide members with higher knowledge, skills, ability, and to motivate all members of AMSA Indonesia to be able to create scientific research and health promotion media that have high quality with the three core philosophies of AMSA: Knowledge, Action, and Friendship.
This year, AMSA Universitas Syiah Kuala chose the theme TRYPANOSOMA: “Tropical Disease Prevention and Control by Innovative Solution in Medical Association”, which highlighted Neglected Tropical Diseases as the main topic. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in over 149 countries that have a tropical and subtropical climate. One out of five people worldwide is at risk of NTDs, which generally affects 1.6 billion people that live in the most marginalised communities, resulting in substantial disability, stigma, loss of livelihood, and mortality. Lymphatic filariasis, dracunculiasis, trachoma, and snakebite envenoming are just some of the NTDs that cause substantial disease burdens. Each year, NTDs cost developing countries billions of dollars.
Even within the last few years, NTDs are still a major health problem in Indonesia. Comprehensive planning using a multidisciplinary approach is required to maintain the control and eradication efforts of NTD. WHO is expected to launch new goals this year to guide progress against NTDs until 2030. Recognising the significance of the issue, reducing the burden of disease and disability caused by NTDs are essential to improve the health of the world’s poorest people.
The event was held for 4 days by using Zoom on 6-7 and 13-14 February 2021 with up to 499 delegates from 36 member universities. There were general delegates that partake in all the events and academic delegates for those who were joining the competitions. The activities conducted in IMSTC include workshop and lecture, training, competition, debate, AMSA International Day which consists of Cultural Booth and District Performance, AMSA Indonesia Session, Mini Advocacy Simulation, Ambassador of Public Health Inauguration, Social Hour, Opening of Event of The Year, and other additional activities provided by the committee.
The first day held on 6 February 2021 was done impressively. It was started with the Opening Ceremony; reciting the Qur’an; and opening speech from the Project Officer, Regional Chairperson AMSA Indonesia 2020/2021, Syiah Kuala University’s Dean and Rector; and opened formally by the Mayor of Banda Aceh. The event continued with the first lecture from a doctor specialising in Neglected Tropical Diseases using the English language, and Post AMSEP presentation. To make sure the participants would not get bored, the committee has made several games. The Welcoming Party was held in the evening with a live performance by an acoustic group and videos about Aceh monumental building and culture called “Journey to Aceh” that had a total of five episodes and were played throughout the 4 days of IMSTC.
The second day was filled with competitions and training sessions in the morning until late afternoon. The competitions conducted include scientific paper, scientific poster, photography, public poster, videography, and debate. All the academic delegates participating in the conference showed their best efforts to win the competition. For general delegates, they participated in training sessions with the same topics and skills in the competition. The second lecture about antimicrobials was done actively and the participants had asked some questions. In the evening, the event started with Aceh Culture Night on how to make Aceh Coffee and a review of some of Aceh specialities. It ended with a performance by a famous influencer and singer who performed Aceh songs. They also took part in the games which concluded the event.
The third day continued on 13 February 2021. It started with the debate competition in the quarter to the final round and the public poster and videography competition for academic delegates. Meanwhile, general delegates had small class training with the same topic as the competitions. To recall the past events, the committee showed a 1-week throwback by playing a video that showcased activities of the previous week.
The night session was full of cultural activities to know more about Indonesia. It was called the AMSA International Day: Cultural Booth. Every district had its breakout room, and everyone learnt about each other’s culture. There were several events such as traditional language learning, cooking class, fashion show, traditional singing or dancing, and a city tour from each city in Indonesia.
The fourth day started with a meeting held by AMSA Indonesia for all the representatives of each university from morning to afternoon. In the afternoon, participants had a the Mini Advocacy Simulation to increase knowledge about the health law administrations process. Participants also joined the Focus Group Discussion to share their ideas and perspectives about healthcare and present it in front of other participants.
In the evening, it was time for the Closing Event. It started with the Closing Ceremony. The second event was the Social Hour video and opening of EOTY (Event of The Year). It continued with District Performance which every district has prepared, and they performed in front of everyone. It was added with Puppet Show that has been prepared by the committee to make it more fun and closed with Journey to Aceh video about Rumoh Aceh (Aceh Traditional House). The next event was Ambassador of Public Health Inauguration by showing videos and highlighted the selected Ambassadors of Public Health for each district in AMSA Indonesia as well as the selected National Ambassador of Public Health. The last part of the closing which everybody has been waiting for was the announcement of the winners of each competition.
All delegates were happy to join such an event which not only had advantages on increasing knowledge, making a lot of new friends, having action as social impact to others by using social media as the platform, but they also got to learn more about culture, diversity, and the beauty of Indonesia.