UNMDG - What it's all about Lost in Letters? Find out more... Not familiar with the UNMDG? If those letters mean sweet nothing to you, they'll soon mean far more than just a spoonful of alphabet soup... The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG) Project has two components that directly affect YOU: 1) A framework that focuses global efforts towards achieving major progress in global development, particularly Developing World Health (DWH). 2) A new project in the UQ MBBS programme that focuses on DWH & Australian Indigenous Health, delivering related teaching, resources, cultural awareness, clinical experiences, electives, research and other fantastic opportunities for students in all MBBS year levels.   The UNMDG Project is still evolving. Student input is encouraged and is welcomed. Please contact the UNMDG Project Convenor, Emma Sexton, at unproject@uqms.org if you have any queries or suggestions. Read on to find out more...

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG) are set by the UN to achieve global progress in key areas:

1) Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2) Achieve universal primary education
3) Promote gender equality and empower women
4) Reduce child mortality
5) Improve maternal health
6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7) Ensure environmental sustainability
8) Develop a global partnership for development


The first of its kind among Australian medical schools, the UNMDG Project at UQ is a collaboration between the School of Medicine and UQMS. It has links to a related international Universitas 21 project.  Planning began in earnest in February 2008 and has come a long way towards being able to deliver practical changes for UQ medical students.

In second semester you'll be hearing much more about it - great timing with the recent AMSA survey about the UNMDG, which some of you may already have filled out.

Check out www.undp.org/mdg for more info.  The proposed timeline to achieve the Goals, for those of you who love a challenge, is 2015.

This joint UQMS / SoM Project aims to make realistic and sustainable inroads into the progress of the UNMDG by co-ordinating your education and training around these issues. It aims to give you tools to make a real difference throughout your career and life.

Watch this space for further information about the new UQ UNMDG Project.

UQMS UNMDG Project Convenor