IFTM: Formation

	International Federation for Tropical Medicine
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Formation of the Federation

With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, representatives of ten major tropical medicine societies convened on March 7-9, 1984 in Antwerp as a Constitutional Committee. A draft of the Constitution of a Federation for Tropical Medicine was written and was approved in Calgary in 1984 during the XI Congress of Tropical Medicine and Malaria.

Dr Alex Muller, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, was selected as President, with Dr Luc Eyckmans, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp as Secretary, and Dr Michel Fernex, Basle, Switzerland as Treasurer. Dr William A Sodeman has served as Secretary-Treasurer since 1988. Successive Presidents have been Dr Adetokumbo Lucas, Dr Scott Halstead, Professor David Warrell and now Professor Sornchai Looareesuwan.

It is interesting to look back at the preamble to the establishment of the Federation's constitution, which gives a very contemporary justification for its formation. While the International Congresses had been held for some time on a regular basis, it was felt that:

in view of the expanded definition of tropical medicine and recent scientific advances in the field, there is a need for a continuing, active infrastructure for the organisation of the periodic Congresses. In the period between Congresses there is also a need for a well-defined method for co-ordination and exchange of information among national tropical medicine societies: to facilitate transfer of research knowledge and its applications to practitioners in the tropics; to disseminate information about opportunities for education and training; to advise on funding opportunities; and to co-sponsor interim regional meetings and scientific sessions on specific subjects of national or regional importance.

When we look at the distinguished list of former Presidents and Officers we are honoured to hold office at this time. IFTM has certainly provided the continuity that facilitated the International Congresses of Tropical Medicine and Malaria of recent years.

Once these are set up, it is the local organisers who do most of the hard work but the IFTM has the accumulated experience that is so vital to those planning such large and complex Congresses. Our predecessors in IFTM deserve much credit for past successes.