Ethiopia

Orthopaedic practice and training continues to take great strides in Ethiopia with newly qualified consultants really driving things forward. There are now two large training centres in the capital – based out of the Black Lion Hospital (Addis Ababa University) and ALERT hospital (St Pauls University). There is also a training programme established in Barhir Dar. The need to support these training programmes, and their many trainees, is as great as ever.

New orthopaedic departments are also being born at many other institutions where recently qualified surgeons are returning to set up their practices. Of note, surgeons at Hawassa (supported by the Northwest Orthopaedic Trauma Alliance for Africa – NOTAA) and Gondar (supported by the Leicester-Gondar Orthopaedic Project – LGOP) have been able to develop and grow orthopaedic services with the support of WOC-UK members. Bristol are currently developing a link with Barhir Dar (Bahir Dar Orthopaedic Network and Exchange with Severn – BONES). Others are seeking similar support – Dr Moa Chali in Harar being one example.

The main focus of visits to Ethiopia by WOC-UK members will remain clinical teaching visits at the main training facilities. The activities of WOC-UK members in Ethiopia are expanding though, and now include support of the development of clinical governance, research and the moderation of annual examinations for the residents. Furthermore, in the capital, some of the consultants are beginning to develop specialist areas of interest – trauma, tumours, paediatrics, spines, limb reconstruction and arthroplasty. There is a role for surgeons in the UK to help mentor the consultants one to one as they build their knowledge and expertise in these areas. This more specialised aspect of support has begun and will hopefully grow over the coming years. Finally, a number of courses are run for Ethiopian consultants and residents each year, with international faculty. This is not the main priority for WOC-UK, but a number of WOC-UK members have been involved in these courses. There continues to be an appetite for the provision of courses.

We want to plan the calendar of WOC-UK supported visits to Ethiopia for the next 12 months. There is a fairly busy timetable of international visitors to the Black Lion hospital throughout the year, but we are always welcomed by Dr Biruk and his team. In addition, we seek to increase our support for the St Pauls and Barhir Dar training programmes.

WOC-UK is able to offer financial assistance to it’s members of up to £500 per week of a trip. To make the life of our treasurer easier, and help plan allocation of our resources, travel bursaries will only be approved prospectively. A detailed record of our spending is important to allow transparency with the charities commission. Therefore we ask that an application form is completed before bursaries are approved (this can downloaded here) . Please also note that money will only be transferred upon receipt of a report for your trip. This does not have to be lengthy but is useful so we can keep members updated of activities through our newsletter. We also aim to maintain funding from groups such the Bone and Joint Journal and they will require reports for this.

If you are interested in being part of the WOC-UK work in Ethiopia, please get in touch. Generally we aim for first time visitors to make their first trip alongside someone who is making a return visit. We also have many trainees who would like to become involved, and I am looking for consultants who would be interested in joining them on a trip.