BJJ News | I ssue 8 | S eptember 2015
through the internet. The visit should be aimed for next November. The second bursary would be for a consultant to be part of the faculty for the fracture course next April, working with Australian Doctors for Africa, and to stay on to share in the work and teaching of the department. The value of each bursary would cover flights and accommodation in a good hotel, as the apartment at BLH is very basic and likely to be a challenging distraction to someone from an affluent country.
Fig. 8 Boy recovering af ter bilateral post-traumatic amputations. Surgeons of East, Central and South Africa (COSECSA) and took their examination, which would carry much more weight in this part of the world. However, that would be for local decision. With regard to the BJJ, I made the following two requests: 1. Would BJJ be prepared to give free online subscriptions to the residents of Black Lion Hospital? They would therefore be up to speed with the literature and everything else the BJJ has to offer. 2. Would the BJJ be prepared to fund two bursaries for established British consultants to spend two weeks at BLH? A particular problem for BLH is pelvic trauma, and the first bursary would be for a consultant with a broad experience of trauma and a special interest in pelvic and acetabular fractures. The visit would be coordinated by Dr Geletaw, a young surgeon with a special interest in the subject and who recently became Head of Department. They could prepare their programme beforehand
Fig. 9 Black Lion Hospital Or thopaedic Depar tment on its 25th anniversar y.
Fig. 10 The CURE consultants (lef t to right): Mesf in Etsub, Rick Gardner, Tewodros Tilahun and Tim Nunn.
A uthor
In summary, I had a rewarding, enjoyable, sometimes uncomfortable but always interesting time in Addis. I am particularly grateful to all the staff at BLH for making me feel welcome, and to Rick and Anne Gardner for their outstanding hospitality. It is pleasing that relations between BLH and WOC are restored, and I was hopeful that my proposals would be seen as modest but constructive ways forward. I did not have long to wait. SICOT responded first and delivered all that was requested. Ethiopian trainees may now be part of that organization at no cost, and will be particularly welcome to its Young Surgeons Committee. The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery recently agreed to provide free online subscriptions to all Ethiopian residents, and to fund two bursaries of £2000 each, which will allow two surgeons to visit and work hands-on at BLH next November and April. These visits will be a collaborative effort between the BJJ and WOC and along the lines requested by BLH. As a further example of its charitable objectives, the British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery is funding a separate orthopaedic project at Gonder, in northern Ethiopia. This will be a collaboration with Leicester Royal Infirmary, and was largely brought about through the efforts of Laurence Wicks, a senior trainee there who is already dedicated to improving orthopaedic care in Ethiopia. All this news has been warmly received in the Ethiopian orthopaedic community, and I am optimistic that during the coming months, these pages, and the websites of BJJ and SICOT, will carry positive reports of locals and faranjis working together.
details
David Jones Honorary Consultant, Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children, London, UK davidhajones@hotmail.co.uk
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