Applications are now open for the CLASA/ WFSA Pain Fellowship in Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Please click here for more information about the fellowship, and the application process.

Applications close: 30 July 2014

The Society of Anaesthesiologists of Tanzania held it's first ever Scientific Conference last month, in the Commercial City of Dar Es Salaam. The theme of the conference was 'Safe Anaesthesia in Tanzania'.

The Venue of the meeting was the Golden Jubilee Towers, where over 100 delegates from all over Tanzania and beyond were hosted. A majority of those who attended were Nurse Anaesthetists. This meeting was made possible due to the kind support provided by the stakeholders and friends of SATA, which includes the WFSA.

The Faculty at the Conference included Prof David Linton from Hadasah University, Dr Mark Gacii from the University of Nairobi (Programme Head: WFSA Paediatrics Anaesthesia Fellowship Program), Robert Dickson from South Africa, Robert Neighbour from Diameca, Dr Henriette from Holland, Dr Said Kilindimo, Dr Tim Baker of the Life Support Foundation, Prof Lars Irestedt from Karolinska and Prof Mwafongo of Emergency Medicine MUHAS.

While the dust settles from the activities of our first Conference, plans are already under way for next year's event.

We thank you for your support,
Mpoki M. Ulisubisya, MD
President
Society of Anaesthesiologists of Tanzania

Applications are now open for the CLASA/ WFSA Pain Fellowship in Buenos Aires, Argetina.

Please click here for more information about the fellowship, and the application process.

Applications close: 30 June 2014

The WFSA Annual Report 2013 is now available to view here

It is with deep sorrow that the WFSA learned of the passing of the much loved former president of Bangladesh Society Anaesthesiologists & SAARC Association of Anaesthesiologists, Prof SN Samad Chowdhury, who died on 18 May 2014. He served on the Asian-Australian Regional Section (AARS) of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) between 1990-1994 and was also on the Board of Directors, AOSRA (1989-1993 & 1993-1997). In addition he was a founder member of the Asian & Oceanic Society of Regional Anaesthesia (AOSRA).

Professor Chowdhury made an enormous contribution to anaesthesia, both in Bangladesh and internationally, and he will be much missed.

The WFSA is delighted to announce that Anaesthesia Educator Mr Kessete Teweldebrhan (Anaesthesia educator in Eritrea) has been invited to become a member of the distinguished alumni circle of La Roche College, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and professional success.

Mr Teweldebrhan has been instrumental in establishing anaesthesia services in both Eritrea and in Ethiopia for decades, and he has done so at great personal expense. Through his teaching and clinical practice he has made an extraordinary contribution to anaesthesiology in Eritrea, and had significant impact on the lives of colleagues and patients in one of the world's poorest countries.

Mr Kessete with Dr Jannicke Mellin-Olsen, Deputy Secretary of the WFSA

The WFSA coordinated a response to Governments and the World Health Organisation to limit a potential threat to the availability of ketamine as an essential anaesthesia drug. Over 40 member societies made written submissions that were sent to Ministers of Health and the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) clearly identifying the medical necessity of ketamine in anaesthetic practice, especially in low and middle income countries.

On the 16th of June 2014 WFSA deputy secretary, Dr Jannicke Mellin-Olsen, attended the meeting of the ECDD in Geneva and made a powerful presentation on the importance of ketamine as an anaesthetic drug and the potentially devastating impact that further restriction on the availability of ketamine could have on patients around the world. Her presentation can be seen here

The WFSA letter to WHO can be downloaded here

After critical review, the June 2014 meeting of the ECDD recommended that ketamine not be placed under international control. It acknowledged the important medical use of ketamine as an anaesthetic, especially in low and middle income countries and in crisis and energency situations because of its safety margin and its ease of use. The Committee noted the concerns raised with respect to the potential for ketamine abuse, but considered that the risk to public health posed by ketamine abuse does not warrant its scheduling (however national controls may be considered).

The full report of the WHO Secretariat on the 36th meeting of the ECDD can be downloaded here. The WFSA thanks all its members, regional sections and partners that helped draw attention to this issue and looks forward to their continued support in highlighting the importance of the availability of this essential medical drug. The next step is to ensure that the recommendations of the ECDD are taken into account by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) which meets in March 2015.  

A Factsheet on Ketamine can be downloaded here

El Comité de Educación de la WFSA en conjunto con la Dra Silvana Cavallieri, después de revisar las 10 solicitudes de anestesiólogos de Latinoamerica para el fellowship de anestesia pediátrica en el Hospital Luis Calvo Mckenna de Santiago de Chile, Colombia (3), Venezuela(3), Perú(1), Paraguay (1) and Argentina (2), decidieron otorgar la beca a la mejor candidata, la Dra. Lisa Benítez del Paraguay. Felicitaciones!

Applications are invited for a fellowship training position in 2014 at UMMC, Kuala Lumpur.

The duration of the fellowship is 6 months. The start date is expected to be 1^st October 2014.

The fellowship is intended for anaesthesiologists working in low resource settings who wish to develop knowledge and skills in the field of obstetric anaesthesia. Successful applicants must agree to return to their home country at the completion of the fellowship.

Priority will be given to applicants from Asian member countries, but applicants from other parts of the globe will also be considered.

The fellowship offers funding for tuition costs, accommodation and subsistence living expenses.

For more information, please contact the programme head, Professor YK Chan (chanyk@ummc.edu.my)

How to apply:

The closing date for applications is 31st May 2014. Successful applicants will be notified before mid June 2014.

Applicants must complete the Fellowship Application Form (link below) and provide the documents listed at the end of the form. Please send or email the form and documents to Renee Blij, Administrative Coordinator, WFSA.

Email:              admin@wfsahq.org

Postal:             Renee Blij, Administrative Coordinator

World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists

21 Portland Place

London W1B 1PY

United Kingdom