The most moving moment of Family Medicine Forum last November in Toronto, Ont, belonged to Stephen Lewis, the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, former Canadian political leader, humanitarian, and orator extraordinaire. Mr Lewis had just delivered the inaugural Family Medicine Lecture, “Caring for Canada—Caring for the World.” He had stressed family doctors’ important role in caring for populations close to home and around the globe. But his main focus was the human tragedy associated with the HIV and AIDS epidemic that continues to unfold on the African continent and, indeed, in other underdeveloped countries.
Mr Lewis reminded us of the thousands of deaths and of families and communities torn apart by the loss of an entire adult generation. The picture painted by his words will long remain in the minds of those present: the severely afflicted in impoverished surroundings, large families of little children being watched over in open fields by their only remaining “parent”—often an elderly grandmother or the eldest surviving child, who might herself be no more than 10 years old.
Many in the audience were moved to tears. These real stories about fellow human beings made the problems in our part of the world seem inconsequential. As Mr Lewis completed his presentation and the standing ovation subsided, two family doctors from the audience took to the stage and seized the microphone. They pledged their support for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s work for HIV and AIDS in Africa and challenged others present to do the same. With Mr Lewis’ agreement, College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) leaders offered to have our Research and Education Foundation booth immediately begin to accept donations to support this cause. Over the next day and a half, more than $61 000 was raised, which has since been forwarded directly to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. In addition to individual member contributions, the College donated $5000 and Scotiabank, a committed College corporate partner, pledged $10 000. Mr Lewis and his Foundation co-workers were overwhelmed by the spontaneous response from family doctors and our colleagues at Family Medicine Forum 2004.
On December 26, 2004, as much of the world was immersed in holiday celebrations, an earthquake disrupted the floor of the Indian Ocean, creating a tsunami that swept over the coastline of many southeast Asian countries. More than 160 000 died. Millions who survived faced the devastation left behind by this powerful wave, not knowing whether they would ever see their families again and consumed with fear about their unknown future.
Within a few days, global relief efforts were under way. Although family physicians were contributing to various community relief efforts, CFPC leadership decided to try to do something more. In response to an appeal from our colleagues at WONCA, the World Organisation of Family Doctors, we decided (despite the challenges of contacting colleagues at that time of year) to do what we could to add to others’ efforts. Government officials and representatives of several large relief agencies informed us that our most valued contribution would be financial and advised us not to send physicians or supplies to affected areas.
We immediately established a Tsunami Relief Fund within our Research and Education Foundation and identified the Canadian Red Cross, committed to helping people throughout all the affected nations, as recipient of whatever monies we could raise. January 11, the deadline set by the federal government for matching all donations, was our first target date. We contacted members via e-mail, fax, and website messages, not knowing what to expect. In less than a week, our members and staff donated more than $140 000, which (when matched by the federal government and then increased by a $20 000 donation from the College itself) brought the initial CFPC family doctor contribution to more than $260 000! Donations are still coming in and will continue to be accepted.
When presented with the CFPC’s cheque, Ms Diana Borowski, Director of Fund Development for the Canadian Red Cross, Ontario zone, said they were “extremely thrilled with what was accomplished by the CFPC and the Research and Education Foundation … and appreciate the quick and generous response from Canada’s family physicians.” WONCA also acknowledged the response from the CFPC and our members. We were overwhelmed by the reaction. Our staff responded without ever questioning the extra hours and work needed to handle the deluge of donations. We were all proud to be part of an organization whose members and staff demonstrated their capacity to reach out and help others in need.
Supporting humanitarian causes has always been part of charitable giving for most family doctors across Canada. From time to time it has also been the focus of organized activities within the CFPC and the discipline of family medicine. But the spontaneous outpouring of support that took place recently was beyond the usual. Some members have asked us to consider establishing an ongoing focus of activity to support humanitarian causes, be they abroad or close to home. External agencies whose mandates are focused on these kinds of activities have applauded our interest and enthusiasm but also advised us to be careful about how far we venture beyond what our staff and other resources can support. We have even been told that if we do not define our program objectives clearly, we might face internal challenges related to supporting one cause over another.
The Boards of Directors of both the CFPC and the Research and Education Foundation will study this issue very carefully and will share what is decided. Whatever the next steps, we know that the reputation of Canada’s family physicians as caring and compassionate individuals prepared to respond to the needs of their own patients as well as the needs of the populations of the world’s communities can never be questioned.