By Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu
In a groundbreaking milestone for the African continent, Egypt has become the first country to launch the “Health Diplomacy for Medical Students” program, a pioneering initiative aimed at equipping young doctors with the skills to shape global health policies and diplomacy.
The program, which debuted in Cairo, is the first of its kind in both Egypt and Africa. Spearheaded by the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, Egypt (IFMSA-Egypt) and hosted at the Faculty of Medicine, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), the initiative was launched in collaboration with the Scientific Association of Medical Students and media partner AfroMedia Initiative for Journalism and Media.
Designed to merge medicine with international relations and policy-making, the initiative aims to empower Egyptian and non-Egyptian African medical students, especially Sudanese students displaced by war, through inclusive academic and practical training. Participants received expert insights into public health, sustainable development, negotiation, and youth diplomacy, all while gaining tools for active engagement in local and global health governance.
A panel of distinguished experts lent their voices to the program, including Mr. Mostafa Magdy from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UN youth advisor Dr. Samah Kamel, and sustainable development consultant Dr. Mahmoud El-Qally. Other key speakers such as political scientist Dr. Ahmed El-Rifai and anthropologist Hassan Ghazaly stressed the role of young African doctors in advancing diplomacy and community-based healthcare solutions.
Ghazaly, founder of the Global Solidarity Network, emphasized the cultural competencies required for doctors to truly understand and serve communities in need.
Special recognition was extended to Professor Mohy El-Din Ragab El-Banna, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Professor Hesham Mohamed Omran, Vice Dean for Student Affairs, for their unwavering support and commitment to student development and African integration in academia.
Key topics covered during the sessions included:
Public and youth diplomacy
International law and health systems
Volunteerism in African medical institutions
Negotiation and leadership for doctors
Personal branding and policy advocacy
Public health as a tool for sustainable development
The launch of this program marks a visionary shift in the medical education landscape—positioning doctors not only as healthcare providers but as global change agents and policy influencers.
Organizers pledged to continue the initiative in future editions, solidifying Egypt’s position at the forefront of health diplomacy and sustainable development in Africa and beyond.