18th AFCMA CONGRESS 2024 SEOUL, KOREA. 7th to 10th NOV 2024
The 18th AFCMA Congress was successfully held in Seoul, Korea from 7th to 10th Nov.2024.Congratulations to Prof. Seung Kew Yoon, Organising Chairman 18th AFCMA Congress and his Organising Committee for a job well done! The THEME of the Congress was “Go and Do Likewise” –Luke 10 25-7.
Altogether 300+ participants throughout Asia attended the Congress. This included Speakers and Chair Persons from 16 Member countries of AFCMA. This year we were happy and fortunate to welcome Macau and Timor Leste as New Members of AFCMA.(1) The Association of Catholic Health Service of Macau which was represented by its President Dr. Charon Cheang and (2) The Catholic Medical Association of Timor Leste represented by Dr. Laura Antonio de Jesus.
We were pleasantly surprised to hear from Dr. Laura that her small country of less than a million population comprised of 98% Catholics. These two Associations will be applying to join FIAMC in the near future.
Congress Venue: The Congress Venue was the the Catholic University of Korea, SEoul. This is a very big campus consisting of 3 big buildings viz. a, St. Mary’s Hospital, b, Omnibus Park and c, Maria Hall. THe Lectures and meals were served at b and c..
Accommodation : A few Hotels nearby the Congress Venue were selected for the participants to stay eg. Ganagnam Artnouveau City II Hotel which is 10 minutes to our Congress Venue.
Congress Proper: : The Congress started on 7th Noc with an Opening Mass presided by His Excellency ArchbishopPeter Chung of Seoul who expressed his deep respect to the participants “who whilst carrying their hard work as Catholic Doctors, follow the love of Jesus Recognised as a “Divine Physician”.
Program: There were altogether 11 Scientific Sessions which included ( a),Burnout and Healing. How to recover from Burnout. (b) Palliative Care and Ethics in Terminal Cancer Patients. (c)The Role of Catholic Physicians in the Problem of Addiction (d) AFCMA’s future developmentPlan, Medical Service and Mission to the Future.In this Session 9 medical Students throughout Asia gave their views.
Welcome Dinner:: on the first night on 7th Nov 24 we were entrtained to a Welcome Dinner by the Organisers. After Dinner each AFCMA Member country were requested to put on a performance to entertain the guests. Everyone had an enjoyable evening!
18th AFCMA AGM: On Day Two 8th Nov 2024 the 18th AFCMA AGM was held.(1) Prof. Seung Kew Yoon Organisng Chairman of 18th AFCMA Congress was popularly elected as the New President of AFCMA for the 2024- 2028 Term.(2) Prof. In Seok Lee Secretary General of KFCMA ( Korean Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) was elected as the New Secretary General of AFCMA.(3) Philippines will be the Host for the 19th AFCMA Congress in 2028 after its 2 representatives present at the AGM agreed to host the AFCMA Congress in CEBU, Philippines.
In addition the Organising Chairman and Hon. Treasurer of the 19th AFCMA Congress wil be from the Philippine Pilgrimage Tour:After the morning Scientific Sessions on 9th Nov 24 we were taken on a Pilgrimage Tour to the SEOSOMUM Shrine where hundreds of Korean Martys were killed for their Catholic Belief by the Chinese Soldiers and buried here.
Country Report.:The Country Reports were presented by the various Member Countries of AFCMA on the last Day 10th Nov 2024. Each Member Country of AFCMA gave an account of what they had been doing for their own Members as well as to their Community by Outreach Programs to the Poor, sick, marginalised, migrant workers anf Refugees.
Closing: The 18th AFCMA Congress finally came to a close after the Country Reports with a Closing Mass.
Prepared by Dr. Freddie Loh
Past President AFCMA and CDAM
Past Chairman FIAMC Mebership Committee
