Inauguration of the SPICE ROUTE MOVEMENT

MESSAGE FROM: Dr.Sonia Mehra, International Liaison, SPICE ROUTE Movement, WONCA South Asia Region.

Dear colleagues,
The Spice Route Movement is a movement for young and future family doctors/ primary care physicians from the South Asia Region (WONCA) - comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

THE SPICE ROUTE Movement was officially inaugurated at the WONCA South Asia Regional Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal in December 2010. At that conference, there were opportunities for Young and Future Family Practitioners of India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to exchange ideas and establish the basic structure of THE SPICE ROUTE Movement.
In India, links were made between THE SPICE ROUTE and senior organizations such as the FFPAI (Federation of the Family Physician’s Associations of India) and the AFPI (Academy of family Physicians of India). In Nepal, an online forum of discussion for Young and Future Family Physicians of Nepal was created.
Work continues to support the on-going formation of strong Young and Future Family Physician representation in the countries represented in Kathmandu in 2010 as well as other countries of the WONCA South Asia region.  
At the latest WONCA South Asia Regional Conference that was held in Mumbai, India from 16-18th December 2011, THE SPICE ROUTE held its first pre-conference programme, thereby giving Young and Future Family practitioners from the region and beyond, a forum to discuss issues pertinent to them, with a particular focus on THE SPICE ROUTE organizational structure and communication channels, education, training and faculty development, primary care research, and international exchanges.

I have uploaded an article which gives an overview of THE SPICE ROUTE MOVEMENT and its sister organizations:
The VASCO DE GAMA Movement in Europe   www.vdgm.eu  
The RAJAKUMAR Movement in Asia/Pacific    http://rajakumarmovement.org  
The WAYNAKAY Movement in South America
and the NAFFDONA Movement in North America.

Following the pre-conference held in Mumbai on the 16th December 2011, the aims and objectives have been further defined and I will upload them on this Facebook group shortly.
 
Hopefully this will give those of you who have not yet had a chance to attend a SPICE ROUTE event more of an idea of what it's all about...

Please feel free to ask any questions on the Facebook Group and we'll try our best to point you in the right direction.