Overseas Development and Education Committee
The Overseas Development and Education Committee (ODEC) oversees all aid, including educational, financial, material or skill based, outside Australia and New Zealand which involves ASA members or resources. It acts jointly and cooperatively with ANZCA, the New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists, the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists and other aid organisations. The main focus of the ASA Overseas Development and Education Committee (ODEC) is to support and promote anaesthesia training in the Pacific. Over 75% of the substantial ODEC budget goes towards Pacific anaesthesia and this support has seen significant achievements.
WFSA represents global anaesthesia at 71st World Health Assembly
In advance of the 71st WHA, the WFSA launched an update of the WHO-WFSA International Standards For A Safe Practice of Anaesthesia, co-published with World Health Organization (WHO) for the first time. Read them here.
At the the WHO Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (EESC), the WFSA also had the opportunity to present the WHO-WFSA International Standards, as well as launch the recently developed Anaesthesia Facility Assessment Tool (AFAT). The AFAT tool was designed in order to help regional and national anaesthesia and health care leadership to gather data about anaesthesia workforce, equipment, medicines and practice at the facility level. It is part of a shared effort to improve data collection and knowledge management in support of the implementation of Resolution 68.15 and to ensure that anaesthesia is represented in national health planning and in NSOAPs.
Click here to read the full report on the WFSA’s involvement in the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2018.
Fund a Fellow
Click here for update on WFSA Fellowships and the impact they have on the provision of safe anaesthesia globally
As presented at ASA's NSC in Perth, October 2017 by Dr Victor Fesaitu
Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Services, CWM Hospital, Fiji Islands
ASA Corporate Travel Details - including DFAT
ASA Guidelines for Travel – with DFAT advice
ASA Guidelines on Humanitarian Work
There are many opportunities for ASA, NZSA and ANZCA members and Fellows to work and teach overseas. Anaesthetists often ask for advice as to how to select and assess possible trips.
This document aims to provide Fellows and members with some broad principles to help with their deliberations.
Applications for funding
ODEC welcomes applications for support and gives preference to projects that:
- Support the development of anaesthesia and resuscitation in the Asia Pacific Region
- Have limited alternative funding possibilities
- Are sustainable over the long term with good prospects of self-sufficiency
- Have a strong teaching/education component
- Involve members of the ASA or members of anaesthesia societies of the host country.
For further information on any of the above please contact the ODEC Secretary
International Anaesthetist & Advisor Opportunity
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is seeking a flexible and qualified Anaesthetist to work in Timor-Leste (East Timor). Do you have a range of anaesthetic skills to contribute in a low resource setting?
RACS are interested in hearing from registered Anaesthetists with the following qualifications, skills and experience:
Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) or equivalent
Mentorship, teaching and training
Leadership, supervision and/or management
For enquiries about this position, applicants should contact: Gwyn Low at
[email protected] +61 3 9276 7436. Read more
here
East Timor Fellowship program
Three (3) month position based in Dili, East Timor – timing by mutual agreement
Description: Clinical and curriculum based teaching of East Timor anaesthesia non-specialists at Hospital Nacional Guido Valdares(HNGV) (Dili, East Timor). Clinical anaesthesia at HNGV.
Appointees must be:
- Fellow of Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA); or
- Successfully completed the ANZCA Fellowship Examination and in final year of ANZCA training (PFY / ATY 3)
- Have experience working in developing countries; and/or has completed a course in remote area anaesthesia (e.g. Real World Anaesthesia Course or equivalent)
Download
Position Description. If interested in options contact:
[email protected]
Lifebox
Lifebox is a not-for-profit organisation saving lives by improving the safety and quality of surgical care in low-resource countries. The introduction of Lifebox pulse oximeters to hospitals in low-income and middle-income countries will make a major contribution to the quality and safety of anaesthesia and surgical care.
Since 2011, more than 15,000 Lifebox pulse oximeters have been distributed to over 3000 hospitals, and more than 5,000 health workers have been trained in how to use them effectively. Read the Lifebox ANZ Report for 2017
You can help by donating through the ASA.
For further information on Lifebox please visit the Lifebox page.
Find out everything about Interplast achievements in 2016-2017 Interplast Annual Report
2018 / 2019 Events, Courses,Workshops and ongoing Projects
ASA National Scientific Congress 6 - 9 Oct 2018, Adelaide www.asa2018.com.au
Sunday 7 October 2018 commencing at 9am - "Strategic workforce planning in the Pacific"
- Local speakers – Dr Justin Burke and Dr Rob McDougall
- Overseas speakers - Dr Jocelyn Christopher (President - PSA, Fiji) and Dr Liz Inaido (Fiji)
2018 REAL WORLD ANAESTHESIA COURSE (RWAC) - Applications now closed
Date: 17 - 21 September 2018
Venue: Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia
Application - to apply please download theapplication form and email Dr Phil Blum your completed form.
Download invitation brochure
Global Outreach Course
ODEC would like to let ASA members know that the 10th Annual Anesthesia for Global Outreach Course will be hosted at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts from October 26-28, 2018. This is a training program that prepares anesthesiologists to work in developing countries or austere environments. The first of its kind in North America and one of only three offered worldwide. To register or for more information follow this link. Find out more about this course here.
Essential Pain Management program
The Essential Pain Management (EPM) program is a multidisciplinary educational program initially designed for health workers in low and middle income countries. It is also now being used in a number of high income country universities (including 13 medical schools in the UK, Australia and New Zealand). It has been developed to improve pain management worldwide by working with health workers at a local level to:
• Improve pain knowledge
• Provide a simple framework for managing pain
• Address pain management barriers
The first program was in Lae, Papua New Guinea, in 2010. EPM was subsequently introduced into the curriculum of the University of PNG medical school in February 2016. As of February 2017, EPM has been introduced to 47 countries and there have been 230 EPM workshops, involving 7638 participants. There have been 56 Instructor workshops, which have trained 1077 local instructors. EPM is funded by a number of organisations including the ASA, ANZCA, IASP, WFSA, DFAT and RACS. For further information, contact details and access to the EPM Newsletters please go to the Essential Pain Management website. EPM December 2017 newsletter in PDF format can be accessed here.
Solomon Islands Anaesthetic Training Centre (SI ATC)
Region: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Project commenced December 2015 - funding initially for 5 years with possible extension for a further 5 years. A collaborative project of the Anaesthetic Department of the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and the ASA to formally establish an Anaesthetic Training Centre for Registrars in the Solomon Islands (SI) at the NRH for the purpose of training Anaesthetists prior to their entering into a formal Post-graduate Anaesthetic Training Programme at either the Fiji School of Medicine (FSM) under the Fiji National University (FNU) in Suva or the Medical Faculty of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in Port Moresby.
For further information please
email Maxine Wade, ODEC Committees Assistant.
Laos Project
Region: Laos PDR- nationwide but main focus anaesthesia training program based in Vientiane
Duration: Generally annual visitation since 2006.
Brief details - Annual project since 2006 with predominately focussed support of in country anaesthesia training program that has existed in its present form since 2006. Centralised in Vientiane through Mahosot hospital which coordinates the anaesthesia program. Add-on projects as requested by local anaesthetists and the Lao Society of Anaesthesiologists in regional centres of an educational support nature.
Lao Society of Anesthesiologists - Email:
[email protected]
For further information please
email Maxine Wade, ODEC Committees Assistant.
Emergencies in Anaesthesia
Dates: Ongoing annual projects with intention to move to independent courses by local instructors
Region: Yangon, Myanmar
Details: www.developinganaesthesia.org
This project is part of a larger project to support anaesthesia training in Myanmar via the Myanmar Society and the universities of Medicine.
For further information please
email Maxine Wade, ODEC Committees Assistant.
Micronesia Anaesthetic Refresher Course, (MARC)
- Region: Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshalls
- Details: Following another successful Course, the Palau Ministry of Health issued the following media release http://facebook.com/MOHPalau
Biennial meeting since 1994. The MARC has provided educational support in a region chronically under resourced in anaesthetic skillsets It has been instrumental in the formation of the Micronesian Anaesthesia Society and the promotion of safe anaesthesia in the region.
- For further information please email Maxine Wade, ODEC Committees Assistant.
Pacific Fellowship Program 2018 - applications are now closed for 2018 - watch this space for 2019 opportunities
Date: TBA
Region: Suva, Fiji Islands
Description: This project is a partnership between the ASA and the Fiji National University postgraduate anaesthesia training program. The scholarship provides ASA and NZSA member anaesthetists the opportunity to work and teach at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji. Financial support of up to AUD $12,500 and accommodation is provided. FANZCAs and experienced Provisional Fellows are encouraged to apply.
Please
contact Justin Burke for further information. Applications are now closed for 2018.
ODEC volunteer database / paid positions
Ministry of Civil Service, Fiji. The latest group of vacancies and position descriptions can be accessed through the LinkedIn page “Ministry of Civil Service, Fiji” and the following link: http://www.labour.gov.fj/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138:csvacancies&catid=19:home&Itemid=205
Global Anesthesia Fellow - Ethiopia Anaesthesia Development Program - Starting August & November 2018/Feb 2019 for 6 months/12 months
Based in the diplomatic hub of Addis Ababa, the post will involve helping to develop and expand an existing training program with over 60 residents, providing clinical and classroom teaching and helping to co-ordinate an international volunteer faculty and support the
local departmental staff. This post will suit a senior anesthesia trainee who has completed their anesthesia training (or is close to finishing) and is open to international graduates from all jurisdictions.
Closing date: 16 May 2018.
Email your CV to: [email protected]
Global Anesthesia Fellow www.zadp.org
• 2 Senior anaesthesia trainees who have finished, or close to the end of their training
• UK and non-UK international graduates invited to apply
• 6 or 12 month posts
• Opportunities to engage in education or leadership/patient safety
An opportunity for anaesthesia trainees to join a cross-cultural training experience that aims to promote anaesthetic development in Zambia. Highlights of the post include exposure to a varied and challenging clinical case mix; education experience including simulation-based teaching and educational resource development; leadership / patient safety including supporting systems changes to improve the quality of perioperative care in Zambia; and the opportunity for involvement in research projects. We are currently seeking ongoing funding for the project with grant applications in progress. The post has excellent support from UK based ZADP team and local faculty in Zambia. Further information [email protected]
For information on the joining the Volunteering database please visit the volunteering page.
Contact details
For further information on any of the above please contact the ODEC Secretary