BMSS holds Grand National General Assembly

Bangladesh Medical Students' Society (BMSS) successfully pulled off its flagship event, the National General Assembly (NGA), on April 22, 2022 in the campus of United International University. The event featured over 270 enthusiastic participants from 40 medical colleges all over the country.

With the theme "Regeneration and Repair: Reflecting on inadequacies of health systems and navigating ways for better pandemic preparedness in developing countries", the event was declared open by its chair Dr Myesha Maliha Binte Mamun, who is also the Secretary General of BMSS. The opening ceremony was presided over by Prof Dr Md Nazmul Islam, Director, Disease Control and Line Director, Communicable Disease Control, DGHS, alongside Dr Khandoker A Mamun, Professor, Dept of CSE, UIU, Director, AIIMS Lab, and Founder, CMED.   Salim Khan, Head of Sales, Square Pharmaceutical, and Dr Tasnia Noor Salim, President, BMSS, also joined them.

In addition to Prof Dr Nazmul, the thought-provoking thematic session which took place shortly afterwards was graced by public health activist Dr Abu Jamil Faisel and Dr Saklayen Russel, Associate Professor and Head, Dept of Vascular Surgery, BIRDEM, as speakers.

In the external affairs session, BMSS had Prof. Mohammad Ali, Founder of National Liver Foundation, eminent oncologist Prof. Dr. Parveen Shahida Akhter, Mohammad Jisun, founder of bloodman and Umme Farhana Zarif Kanta from Bandhu Social Welfare Society, who spoke about their work.

The premier publication of BMSS, "BMSS Buzz" was unveiled, for the first time in print, in the presence of the distinguished guests.

Two activity fairs were hosted. In one of them, Local Committees, the very base of BMSS, showcased their yearlong initiatives whereas in the other one, the six Standing Committees of BMSS portrayed their impactful youthful activism, with a focus on issues such as public health, medical education, professional and research exchange, sexual and reproductive health and human rights.

The six standing committees also conducted separate sessions to familiarize participants about their vision, mission and objectives.

An idea competition aiming to explore solutions to the inadequacies in health care was held, where participants came up with insightful solutions.

Members of the current and previous executive body, including BMSS alumni and general members, alongside other youth activists spent the whole day together, attending different sessions, competitions, and plenaries.

The author is Co-Chair, NGA 2022, Bangladesh Medical Students' Society.