Who are we?

Early summer 2020 we didn't feel as comfortable as we would like as students in the healthcare sector. The aftermath of the BLM movement combined with our own experiences lead us to take initiative and found AfroMedica.

But don't let our history fool you. We are not a student association. Think of us as a group of students and employees active in the healthcare sector with one common goal. Namely, addressing and tackling the shortcomings of our healthcare sector concerning diversity, or rather the lack of diversity...

Why?

But what are all these "shortcomings" we keep talking about. Well, the healthcare sector (including work and education) in Belgium is certainly not bad, but suffers from certain flaws we would like to see addressed. These include:

A lack of representation of diseases in POC

The tendency to underestimate the experience and treatment of a disease in POC

Micro-aggressions during internships against students

The underrepresentation of lecturers and students with a different background

A lack of research into the racial disparities in healthcare, both in Belgium as in Europe

This list serves as a brief summary of what we as an association consider to be the most pressing issues. These are therefore given the highest priority in our agenda.

Waarom

How?

Now, how do we actually intend to realize our goals?

We plan to support and encourage the healthcare workers of tomorrow and thus help shape a future diverse workforce
- By interacting with educational institutions in the healthcare sector about the intrinsic colonial accent of certain curricula
- By organizing events like info- and study sessions as preparation for the entrance exam.
- By being a helpline for when issues arise during internships

We plan to raise awareness for the variety of problems POC encounter in the current healthcare system
- By sharing information through mainstream media, pamphlets, websites
- By informing patients about their rights
- By bringing to attention organizations who also try to raise awareness for these issues
- By opening up taboos or sensitive topics for discussion

We plan to create a network and safe space where experiences can be shared
- By organizing events like lectures, workshops, teambuilding and study nights...
- By interacting with on one hand the different actors and on the other hand individuals in the healthcare sector and thus collecting experiences.

In such fashion we'll try to rebuild the current healthcare sector into an integer system that values and acknowledges differences and similarities. We endeavor to realize this goal independent from any political party or organization, without differentiating between culture, race, gender, or philosophy of life.

For more info about our grand plan, take a look at our taskforces!

Hoe