Welcome

Dear colleagues and friends,

As president of the organising committee of the 9th WONCA Rural Health World 2009 Conference, I welcome you to Crete for this major event, hosted by the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Crete, Greece, in conjunction with the practice-based research rural network of Crete and EURIPA.

Human genomics and genetics are frequently the main themes of several international meetings and events, since this field is promising a rapid technical advancement. During the past few years, the topic of health inequalities offers a suitable theme to develop inter-professional, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral collaboration, an issue of high importance in recent meetings and conferences, especially those addressing rural health.

This umbrella theme covers the three core subjects of the 9th World Rural Conference; namely, technology suitable for rural settings, island medicine and health services for immigrants. All three strongly relate to the umbrella theme. WHO has undertaken certain important initiatives endorsing health inequalities as one of the main challenges the modern world is facing. This theme also facilitates an important debate on positive health determinants.

Today, it is known that traditional epidemiology and risk factor analysis do not provide sufficient evidence on chronic morbidity, allowing ample opportunity for discovering certain "hidden" supportive, protective and promoting factors for population health, including the capacity for social inclusion and the quality of social networks. High mobility of people in Europe and across the world, together with high unemployment rates and poverty increase anxiety and reduce sense of control.

Strengthening rural communities in remote areas and small islands and empowering immigrants seem to be a high-priority and well-fitted issue within the core subjects of a rural conference. The discussion about assets for health and development has recently received apt attention from the World Health Organisation, while certain universities and research institutes foster inter-professional collaboration and dialogue. The conference's theme is of key importance for community leaders who could contribute in identifying and strengthening existing health assets and explore pathways for maintenance or change. The introduction of high technology, suitable for rural settings is timely and is expected to attract the interest not only of rural practitioners but also from researchers and investigators from other sectors. Thus, it was a challenge for the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Crete to focus on "health inequalities" in this World Rural Conference.

The island of Crete was chosen as a place of significant contribution to the early history of the European civilisation and a unique epicentre, where knowledge developed, as a result of Crete's proximity and interaction with both Asia and North Africa. Moreover, the city of Heraklion offers an ideal location with its perfect climate in early June, friendly atmosphere, famous Mediterranean gastronomy and easy access from most European destinations.

We sincerely thank you for joining the proceedings of this World Rural Conference.

Christos Lionis, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Social and Family Medicine
Head of the Clinic of Social and Family Medicine
University of Crete