Digital Health

LONWHO ‘24
WELCOME BOOKLET
Member State Actors

Annual simulation of UK Model WHO

 The LonWHO conference is a unique
opportunity for the future generation
to put themselves in somebody else's
shoes, to challenge personal
viewpoints and, importantly, to
develop essential skills in building
alliances, making concessions where
needed and fostering collaboration.
This is how we make progress.
- Peter Piot,
Director of the London School of
Health and Tropical Medicine
WHAT IS
LONWHO? LonWHO is a simulation in which students
and young professionals simulate the World
Health Organization’s annual World Health
Assembly as held in Geneva. Delegates
adopt roles such as Member State, NGO,
UN agency, industry, and media
representatives.

In the past, our topics have been ‘Global

Mental Health’, ‘Health of Women', 'Children
and Adolescents’, ‘Conflict and Health’, and
‘Pandemics: Preparedness, Response and
Recovery.’

What do participants gain from LonWHO?

Participants gain hands-on experience and training in policy writing, advocacy, diplomacy,
and debate. They are also given opportunities to interact with leading academics and
practitioners in global health. The final documents are submitted to the World Health
Organization in Geneva to demonstrate the creative capacity of the next generation of
global health leaders. Feedback from our WHO correspondents will be shared with all
delegates and sponsors.

After reading this Delegate Welcome Pack, we hope you will be excited to put the outlined
concepts into practice from 5th-7th April at LonWHO 2024. Please do not hesitate to contact
us at lonwho@gmail.com should you have any questions.
CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
This schedule provides a comprehensive overview of the conference dates,
key activities for each day, and the specific venue requirements to ensure
the smooth execution of the WHO Model Simulation on Digital Health.

Friday, 5th April

13:00 - 17:00
- Commencement: The event will kick off at 1 pm.
- Activities: Registration, background briefing on WHO
procedures, opening ceremony, and a panel of
external speakers.
-Global Health Fair

Saturday, 6th April

09:00 - 17:00
- Activities: Breakout sessions in groups, NGO and
Pharma presentations, lunchtime
- Evening Social: External social event.
- Catering: Snacks, lunch, and two tea and coffee
breaks.

Sunday, 7th April

09:00 - 17:00
-Activities: All-day plenary session with all
attendees, closing ceremony and awards
- Catering: Snacks, lunch, and two tea and coffee
breaks
LONWHO 2024
LOCATION
The Sir Alexander Fleming
Building, Imperial College London:
The conference will be held at The Sir
Alexander Fleming Building, located
at the Imperial College London
campus. The Sir Alexander Fleming
Building is located in the heart of our
South Kensington campus and has a
selection of lecture theatres and
classrooms, which can be used for
training, seminars, conferences and
meetings. A large, light and airy
foyer can also be used as a
reception area for up to 150 people.

Event Location
Sir Alexander
Fleming Building,
Imperial College Rd,
London SW7 2AZ
For more information email
lonwho@gmail.com
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION
Dress Code
The dress code for all conference sessions is business formal. As such,
please wear appropriate attire for a simulated meeting of the World
Health Assembly. Come dressed to impress!

Of course, for conference socials there is no strict dress code; however,

we encourage delegates to come in their respective national dress.

For security reasons, please ensure you have your conference lanyard
with you at ALL times and keep your name badge intact or you may not
be granted access into the building.

Technology
Delegates are expected to attend the event with their laptops, tablets or
other smart device that has word-processing capabilities, as these will
be necessary for drafting policy proposals during the plenary session,
to support engagement and accessibility to materials, and to stay up-
to-date with social media throughout the conference.

Ample power outlets will be available throughout the various session

rooms, so please bring your any necessary chargers and cables. Note:
International delegates may require an adapter to connect to UK power
sources.

Delegates are more than welcome to bring notepads to take notes

during our training and speaker sessions; however, laptops and tablets
will be vital in the simulation itself.

WiFi will also be available at the venue.

PRACTICAL
INFORMATION
Catering
Refreshments will be provided during coffee breaks on all 3 days of the
conference.

Delegates are responsible for their own meals on Friday – we

recommend checking out the catering outlets across Imperial College.
On Saturday and Sunday, lunches, snacks, tea and coffee will be
provided.

Social Media
We will be using #LonWHO2024 and #LonWHO across all social media
networks, including Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

We encourage all delegates to establish an X account and familiarize

themselves with the platform prior to attending the conference. X will
be a vital source of discussion between delegates of multiple regions
during policy writing as well as helps to share ideas and commentary
with media delegates during conference proceedings. Secretariat and
speaker handles are included with their biographies in this guide –
please feel free to follow, quote and retweet them during the
conference!

@lonwhogram @LonWHO

London Model World Health

Organization (LonWHO)
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION
Social Media examples:
LONWHO
ROLES
WHO’s Who at LonWHO?
LonWHO provides an excellent opportunity for representatives to learn about other ways of
thinking, debating skills, diplomacy, and empathizing with different causes. Successful
participation at LonWHO 2024 depends on how well-prepared you are as a delegate prior
to the conference. We anticipate that our theme of “Digital Health: Improving Health
Through Digital Solutions” may be a challenging topic due to its breadth and depth, so
please prepare for potential topics of debate using our Theme Guide, training, resource list
provided and your own wider reading. Your approach to preparation will depend upon the
role you play as a delegate.

Most delegates will be Member State delegates, while others will be non-state actors.
Some of you may have had experience with the role you are taking at LonWHO 2024, but
majority of you will have little to no previous experience in your role, so it is of utmost
importance that you do your homework in order to make the most of the conference.

Here is a brief introduction to the various delegate roles at LonWHO 2024:

Member State Actors

Member State Actors (WHO Ambassadors) are representatives of Member States who
pursue the interest of their country and should conduct all debate from this perspective
during the conference. They can vote in favour of or against proposed resolution papers
and use this authority to negotiate with other Ambassadors as well as Non-State Actors
during the drafting process, especially during the plenary.
LONWHO
ROLES
Non-state Actors
Non-state actor (NSA) representatives, comprising NGOs, Industry, and Media, hold an
"observer" status at the conference, allowing them more flexibility than UN agencies to
lobby and express their views through appropriate parliamentary procedures. NGOs
and Industry representatives play a crucial role in engaging with WHO Ambassadors,
contributing to global health discourse, and advancing their organizations' goals. They
possess negotiating power through seals of approval on resolutions, with a limited
number distributed per region. The allocation of these seals influences the legitimacy of
resolutions, impacting their likelihood of passing in the plenary session. For a resolution
to reach plenary, it must garner at least 1/4 of all potential NGO and industry seals,
requiring Member State Actors to consider diverse stakeholder interests. NSAs are not
obligated to grant seals if they find resolutions irrelevant and can request edits for
approval. Additionally, NGO and Industry representatives collaborate to host side
events, promoting awareness of their organizations' issues and enhancing their brand
visibility.

UN Agencies
The UN agency delegates, comprising Specialised Agencies like the World Bank and
Funds and Programmes like UNFPA, operate under observer status without voting rights.
The Agency representatives can achieve this through interventions using appropriate
parliamentary procedures (UN Agencies are usually given final word, following Member
States and NGOs) and through technical briefings. As the agencies are bound to the UN,
they are somewhat restricted in what they can say and cannot be seen lobbying Member
States; however, Agency representatives could see their objectives being made through
less direct routes.
LONWHO
ROLES
Media
Media correspondents provide commentary throughout the simulation, through direct
interviews and observation of regional blocs and plenary sessions. They can direct the
attention of delegates through press releases and the holding of press conferences,
stimulating debate and discussion. Whilst they are unable to directly speak in conference
discussions, they can still have great influence on the final resolution papers as WHO
Ambassadors respond to news, rumours and opinions shared through various media
channels.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

NGO representatives engage with WHO Ambassadors to align their organization's
objectives with Member States' interests for inclusion in resolutions. NGOs, along with
Industry representatives, also host side events to raise awareness and can be
interviewed by Media Correspondents to provide opinions on the resolution-making
process.

Industry
Industry representatives, often from pharmaceutical companies, attend the Assembly as
observers to lobby WHO Ambassadors and align resolutions with their business interests
or enhance public relations. With significant financial power and resource control, they
may also be interviewed by Media Correspondents to provide opinions on the resolution-
making process.
LONWHO
ROLES
Assembly All WHO Ambassadors

Dais Chair and Vice-Chair

Committee Assembly and Dais

Act as a moderator of the discussion and enforce the rules of

Chair procedure.

Vice-Chair Assists the Chair with procedural matters during Committee

sessions.
LONWHO
DELIVERABLES
Member State Position Paper
Member State delegates are required to prepare a Position Paper before the
conference. A position paper provides context for a delegate’s country’s policy or
NGO/Company values. It serves as a reminder for individual delegates of their views
regarding topics of discussion throughout LonWHO and a source of information for each
delegation.

During Regional Blocs, each WHO Ambassador will be asked to briefly summarize their
Position Paper before the debate begins. This aids other delegates in seeing points of
overlap and opposition, an understanding of which is vital for the preparation of Working
Papers.

Position papers should be concise and address the conference theme, establish
recommendations for sub-themes and points of discussion before commencing debate
in plenary sessions.

Position papers should be guided by the following specifications:

1. The paper must be typed and not exceed two pages

2. Utilise Arial, Helvetica or Calibri font, with font size between 10 and 12 pt
3. One-inch standard margins on all sides
4. Name file: REGION_Country-Role_Delegate-Name.pdf (i.e. EURO_United-
Kingdom_John-Snow)

Delegates MUST upload their position papers to their respective region’s Google Drive
Folder here: [ Position Papers ] by Wednesday 6th March 2024.
LONWHO
DELIVERABLES
How to write a Position Paper
1) Begin with a brief statement that summarizes your country’s overall
standpoint/attitude toward the conference theme of Digital Health

2) Provide a summary of the healthcare system of your country with regards to the sub-
themes outlined in the theme guide (in this case, 1. Digital Health Financing, 2. Digital
health Governance, 3. Future of Digital Health: Artificial Intelligence, and 4. Digital
Health Divide).
Some other things to include: the structure of the healthcare system, the role of
pharmaceutical companies, the roles of NGOs, and how healthcare is organized and
distributed).
Notable events (widespread disease prevalence, etc...)
Both political and cultural factors unique to your country that complicate possible
solutions, such as:
Conflicts across international borders or civil unrest
Political or economic allies
Clashes between the use of modern Western medicine and cultural traditions
The nature of your country’s domestic and foreign policy – consider if healthcare is
a major priority for your country.

3) Describe the present situation/state of women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health in

your country, including details such as:
Information on recent issues surrounding women’s, children’s and adolescents’
health
Level of dependence on foreign aid by state and private actors
Governmental transparency and accountability
Presence of moderators, such as watchdog NGOs, the WHO or UN
The state of the national health care system and the development of health
infrastructure

4) Explain past initiatives taken by your country to tackle women’s, children’s and
adolescents’ health, including any legislations, resolutions, treaties, amendments, etc.
that have been successfully passed and/or implemented.
LONWHO
DELIVERABLES
How to write a Position Paper (continued...)

When conducting your research: For instance, although the topic of debate may be
on digital health governance, it is important that you have a firm understanding of the
fundamental information describing the overall condition of your country. Research
beyond the realm of digital health not only provides a comprehensive understanding of
your country’s domestic and foreign policies, but also helps in visualizing the interwoven
connections between corruption and social, political, cultural, or economic factors that
greatly impact the efficiency of health policies. For some helpful resources check out
our website. Take note of some of these points mentioned below:

General topography
Physical Neighbouring countries
Natural resources
geography
Coastlines
Ethnic groups
Population & Languages spoken
Religious divisions
Society
Life expectancy
Health expenditures
Healthcare Prevalence of diseases
Major infectious diseases
Levels of malnutrition

Education
Government Age structure and
& Politics population growth
Major political parties

GDP
Economy Labour force
unemployment rates
Major exports and imports
LONWHO
DELIVERABLES
Research tips
Thorough research will help you debate and speak on your country’s policies. It is
recommended that you put together a research binder. A research binder is where you
compile all of your relevant research, on the WHO, the theme, and your
country/NGO/pharmaceutical company/news agency.

Best Delegate has good examples and tips for compiling thorough research binders.

Check out these websites: (hyperlinked)

OUR TEAM
Conference Director:
Asrafizra Kunjang

Operations and Logistics

Team Lead:
Loise Kabiru

Anastasia Rosie
Asenguah Li Yin Ho

Cerys Jasmine Emily

Taylor Little Wright
 Theme Development

Team Lead:
RJ Naguit

Matthias Flavia Esther Tanvi

Walz Russo How Kasture

Inclusion and Diversity

Team Lead:
Aman Sahi

Goodness Tiannan
Ogeyi Odey Jin
 Communication and Studio

Team Lead:
Riani Kenyon

Joyce Helen Beatriz Nefeli

Toh Lee Morais Kouppa
End of document

Thank you