World Orthopaedic Concern UK

WORLD ORTHOPAEDIC CONCERN (UK)

 Chairman's Report,  2008

On a personal note it has been a very busy year as I settle back into clinical work in UK but continue with a mountain of developing country research and support work. I have a slight shame over my carbon footprint as I have had four trips to Africa this year, but console myself that the trips are not package holidays, are for the benefit of the health care of millions who will never even think of flying and that many other trips are avoided through skype, email and other communication technology.

 I have been pleased to see the interest of UK registrars in global needs and throughout this year we have had 2 full time registrars in Africa, one in Malawi, supported by the Furlong foundation, and one in Zambia.  Interest continues to increase and in 2009 we will have three registrars overseas.  One of WOC's roles is to ensure that their time is well used, that they are appropriately supervised and that appraisal is made of their time and experience.

 Back in UK the WOC Committee has continued links to orthopaedic training programmes in Cambodia, through Dalton Boot, Zambia and Mpumalanga through Hillary Robinson, Malawi through myself and Steve Mannion, Ethiopia through Sally Tennant and Stephen  Wood and, as a recent addition, Ghana through Paul Ofori-Atta.

 Where is WOC going?  This is always a good question to ask at the end and beginning of a year.Some people would like to see it as an organisation that funds clinical work and training in developing countries and. in a small way, I am happy for it to continue to do this, with the emphasis on pump- priming of projects; but WOC will never have the funds or administration to be a major NGO. For my pesonal view of WOC's future I can do no better than to plagiarise the outline suggested last year by Louis Deliss.

 WOC (UK) is concerned with Orthopaedic Education in the developing world and about the developing world.   As an organisation of UK Orthopaedic Surgeons we:

•  1.  Offer advice and help to those setting up and actually practising orthopaedic education on the developing world, mainly in the form of volunteers.

•  2.  Act as an internal group in the UK encouraging orthopaedics in the developing world.  This will involve linkages with  the Department of Health, DFID, PMETB, THET and colleges.

•  3.  Supply of information to BOA members.  This is currently through emails but, increasingly,through our website.

• 4.   Encouraging BOA members to experience overseas work, through linkages with existingWOC projects and developing new linkages.  Giving support to airfares and, in the case of registrars, some support with costs through our bursaries.

                                                                                                Chris Lavy.  September 2008.