A Medical Student's Role in Global Health Advocacy
Published
Carolina Ramirez Cabal, an MBBS5 student at City St George’s, University of London, recently returned from two major international health events: the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. Her involvement in global health policy and advocacy stems from a deep commitment to equity in healthcare — a passion she pursues alongside her studies and leadership roles.
Carolina is the current Director of Advocacy for the International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN), a global organisation representing over 8,000 members across 60+ countries. She also serves as a working group member of the WHO Youth Council, where she contributes to working groups focused on accessibility and diversity, the rights of the child, and ending violence against children.
We spoke to Carolina about her work with the WHO Youth Council Working Group, her recent travels to international policy events, and the insights she’s gained along the way.
Championing Global Health at the Highest Level
Reflecting on her experience, Carolina shared how impactful it was to witness advocacy at the highest level.
The World Health Organization has reported that around 4.5 billion people still lack access to essential health services. For Carolina, these events highlight the importance of collective global action to address this growing health gap.
A Milestone for Pandemic Preparedness
One of the most significant developments at WHA77 was the adoption of a legally binding pandemic accord by 124 countries. Reflecting on this Caroline said:
"This legally binding accord aims to enhance global preparedness and response to future pandemics, addressing the inequities and challenges exposed by the COVID-19 crisis"
"Key provisions include the establishment of a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics"
Why Youth Involvement Matters
Carolina was particularly encouraged by the visible presence of young advocates at the WHA saying:
"Whether global health is an area of interest for you or not, it indiscriminately affects us all. As students, not just healthcare students, there are hundreds of ways to participate in the global conversation for equitable health access."
For those interested in getting involved, Carolina recommends exploring opportunities with organisations such as:
- InciSioN Global
- International Federation of Medical Students’ Association (IFMSA)
- World Medical Association (WMA) for those already qualified.