Team Medical Consultation

Medical students have been active for several years in the medical consultation team of the Medical Care Service for Refugees Bochum (MFH). In consultation hours and on-call duty they provide medical advice and referrals to refugees and migrants without residence permit and therefore without access to medical care. Students employ medical skills and competences acquired so far and rely on a network of local specialists who are prepared and willing to treat refugees and migrants anonymously and free of charge. MFH Bochum hosted a first national meeting of German medical relief organizations for refugees in 2008, and initiated a lively exchange among them (www.medibueros.org).

Representative for many medical students who showed much commitment to MFH over the years, Milena Hub and Raphael Schenk received the Jörg Hogens Student Award endowed with Euro 2500 in November 2010. Universitätsverein Witten/Herdecke e.V., independent alumni association of former UW/H students, instructors and employees since 1999, awards this prize for outstanding initiatives which embrace the core values of Witten/Herdecke University. In this case, the award honored a local and at the same time intercultural student activity of considerable social relevance.

The prize winners: "We believe access to medical care is a basic human right, to be conceded irrespective of legal issues about right of residence. We are very pleased to receive this award, not only because our association needs funding but also because it will make our cause known to a wider public."

For more information on MFH Bochum and contact click here.