This is a press release from the Ateneo de Manila University Health Sciences Society.
Hoping to inspire the youth to step up and create a sustainable impact on the country’s health system, the Ateneo Health Sciences Society (HSS) held a 3-day conference dubbed as “Catalyst: A Public Health Crash Course” last April 10, 16, and 17.
The 3-day conference involved a series of dialogues with public health professionals, activities on design thinking, mentorships directly from the health sciences undergraduates, and various opportunities for the senior high school participants to discern about what they aspire for the good of the public health sector. To ensure that each participant will maximize the opportunities to engage with their mentors and peers, the event was held exclusively for the participants. However, the public may choose to interact with the campaigns to be launched by the participants as their culminating project.
This year, Catalyst’s 72 participants came from various senior high school tracks, the majority coming from the STEM, ABM, Health Allied, and HUMSS strands from 19 senior high schools across the country.
For Catalyst’s pilot launch, the program revolved around the theme “Leadership and Governance in Health.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leadership and governance in building a health system involve “ensuring that strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight, coalition-building, regulation, attention to system design, and accountability.”
In fact, the governments who were able to create an effective and efficient COVID-19 response were the ones who imbibed accountability and transparency. These governments valued accurate scientific findings in determining data-driven decisions. Beyond the status of the country’s government at present, the organization believes that building the next generation of leaders in public health who will embody such ideals is a dream worth pursuing.
True to its ideals, the organization aspires to empower individuals to contribute to the public health sector as dynamic leaders, outstanding health professionals, and decisive social catalysts.
Now more than ever, the national situation shows the need for robust collaborations and empathic leadership, especially during a pandemic.
As HSS believes that this is an attainable endeavor, the organization hopes to take the first step through inspiring the youth to step up and create a sustainable impact on the country’s health system.
The organization aspires for Catalyst to be a pioneer in creating avenues for students who are interested in taking up a career in public health.
In addition, the organization hopes that this project would amplify the importance of viewing health as a resource, and a right for all people, especially amidst ongoing and emerging public health crises.
Altogether, HSS will continue to be true to its commitment to becoming more, and going beyond for the future of the health system in the Philippines, and of the world.
Grounded upon the idea of “being more,” the Ateneo Health Sciences Society is a tight-knit collective of health advocates who envision a more public-spirited community. Going beyond being the home organization for the Health Sciences majors, the HSS is collectively advocating a multi-faceted perspective of health by championing innovative public health initiatives, developing strong support systems, and involving members in community-building activities.
Visit Ateneo de Manila University Health Sciences Society’s Facebook page to know more about Catalyst. For those who are interested in partnering with HSS for future projects, you may send an email to healthsci.eb@gmail.com. – Rappler.com