Welcome to Cancun

The Millennium Development Goals: the Contribution of Family Medicine.

The 2010 World Wonca Conference will bring the world of family medicine and primary care to Cancun, Mexico. This world gathering promises to be very special, in the history of primary care: it takes place against the background of a strong revival, around the world, of primary care as the leading force in health care.

As medical generalists and family doctors we work from a strong professional relationship over time, with patients and communities. Patient – or person centred care has been a trademark of our profession. This is the basis of trust and confidence, that determine the outcome of care. Human values are an integral part of our professional endeavours, and we have to address patients' perspectives in increasingly more complex world.

But the professional relationship of family physicians – and other primary care professionals – with communities, and their orientation on human values, acknowledge responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the population as a whole. This combined pursuit of individual and population heath lends primary care its key position in the heath care structure.

Social, societal, economic and cultural factors are important determinants of health, and poor health often marks social problems, as has been very apt articulated in the 2008 WHO report on the Social Determinants of Health. Addressing the cause of such health problems may ask for responses beyond health care itself. Primary care plays a leading advocacy role for social actions, and this promotes equity of health.

The United Nations did formulate the Millennium Development Goals, to urge action on social and societal development, to create better conditions for populations. Addressing the Millennium Development Goals will provide a solid foundation for better population health.

This is the theme of the 2010 Wonca World Conference:
The Millennium Development Goals: the Contribution of Family Medicine.
It is, in other words, the very stuff of primary care.

I cordially invite all involved in primary care – family physicians, other primary care professionals, researchers, teachers and educators – to join us in Cancun, 19 – 23 May 2010.

Looking forward to welcome you all there!

 
Professor Chris van Weel
President Wonca

The Host Organizing Committee of the 19th Wonca World Conference of Family Doctors (Wonca Cancun 2010) have great pleasure in inviting you to join us and more than 5,000 of our international colleagues in Cancun, Mexico, May 2010. Give us the opportunity to share with you our culture as well as our hospitality.

Through Wonca Cancun 2010 we will analyze issues related with the technical and social role of Family Doctors in the achievement of the main international goals proposed during the 2000 Millennium Summit, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We also will continue the Wonca tradition of distributing cutting edge technology, promoting global calls to action and announcing practical applications of the latest medical progress.

The Scientific Program for the Wonca Cancun 2010 will be structured around the MDGs more strongly linked to Family Medicine, and will respond also to Wonca Goals and scientific needs from the seven Wonca geographical regions.

The Plenary Sessions will be presented by leaders of the United Nations System as well as representatives of other international organizations. The Program will also include a variety of activities oriented to increase and strengthen the knowledge and skills of all the potential participants: free standing papers, workshops, symposiums, poster presentations, and academic activities with Wonca Working Parties, Task Forces and Special Interest Groups.

The conference, first ever organized in a Latin American country, promises to be a very stimulating international event with delegates coming from all Wonca regions. Wonca Cancun 2010 will provide the opportunity to bring together experts in family medicine and primary care from all over the world to exchange ideas, information and the most up to date findings allowing us to enhance family health across diverse cultures.

And for the delegates and their families the possibilities for entertainment, adventure and contact with history and nature are endless. Cancun truly has it all.

We look forward to seeing you at Wonca Cancun 2010!

 
Host Organizing Committee
Wonca Cancun 2010