ABOUT SCOPA
The chairman of scopa shall be responsible for coordinating and guiding the work of the Committee in the field of Population Activities which shall include:-
- Furnishing the member association with the current FAMSA regulations and guidelines for Population Activities.
- Inviting and receiving notification, names of MSA officers, for Population Activities from member Associations whose students may be willing to abide by the regulations and guidelines and who would undertake full participation in this area in their localities. Such notifications should reach the SCOPA not later than six (6) weeks after General Assembly.
- Consolidation arrangement with the medical school authorities for co-operation and supervision of the Population Activities of the respect member Associations.
- Drawing up a list of names of MSA officers of participating member associations.
- Forwarding such a list to SCOPE for Health Educative School arrangements not later than eight (8) weeks after the General Assembly.
- Maintaining close liaison with other bodies conducting investigations of working in the field of Population Activities.
- Distributing information and advice by sending periodic circular letters to all MSA officers for Population Activities which shall include:- List of new literature on Population Activities, summaries of reports received from various MSA officers- by Chairman SCOPA, Details of future conference dealing with Population Activities .
- Compiling a report of its activities in Population Activities, as well as its evaluation of its success, for presentation to the Executive Council and General Assembly.
- Exploring avenues to study its conduct and co-ordination of Population Activities and thus aim at making recommendations for improvement concerning FAMSA regulations for Population Activities.
- Distribute information and advice to MSA SCOPA officers by sending periodic circulars which include; list of new literature on Population Activities, Summary of activity reports from various MSA officers, details of future conference in population activities.
ABOUT THE CHAIRPERSON
Name: Mary Clepinus Rugakingira
MSA: TAMSA – St. Joseph University College of Health and Allied Sciences (TAMSA – SJCHAS)
Year of study: 5th Year
Email address: scopa1@famsanet.org
Mary Clepinus Rugakingira is a fifth-year medical student at St. Joseph University College of Health and Allied Sciences (SJCHAS), driven by a strong commitment to community welfare and population health. She integrates leadership and advocacy into her medical journey to address pressing health challenges.
Mary currently serves as Chairperson of the FAMSA Standing Committee on Population Activities (SCOPA), bringing extensive experience in student governance and community health initiatives. She previously served for two years as Alumni Relations Support Division Coordinator for TAMSA SJCHAS, where she honed skills in project management, professional networking, and organisational leadership. As a Millennium Fellow, she led impactful initiatives promoting sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents.
Her mission within SCOPA focuses on uniting medical students globally to address critical issues such as Gender-Based Violence (GBV), mental health, and healthcare accessibility. Through active participation in community workshops and volunteer programs, including prosthetic limb camps for amputees, Mary has witnessed the transformative power of collective action. Guided by the philosophy, “What you focus on expands,” she remains dedicated to fostering sustainable development, international collaboration, and meaningful impact in global health.