Professor Kokila Lakhoo reports on the Pan African Paediatric Surgical Association (PAPSA) meeting and the pre-conference training course for the PAPSA meeting in Ethiopia.
Hugh Greenwood BAPS PAPSA Neonatal Skills
The faculty from the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS) included myself, Tony Lander (Course Co-ordinator), Richard Stewart, Haitham Dagash, David Drake and Niyi Ade-Ajayi. The local faculty were Hanna Getachew, Woubedel Kiflu and Samuel Nagash.
There were 38 participants from nine countries and all paediatric surgery trainees. We had 45 applications but needed to restrict the numbers due to space allocation. The skill level of the participants was high and the discussions very lively. The content included bowel anastomosis, gastrostomy, duodenal atresia and TOF model with discussions around the topics.
The local organisation was challenging, but we were able to deliver a popular and high standard course.
PAPSA meeting
The British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS), together with Oxford University, were actively engaged in the PAPSA meeting. There were four presentations from BAPS members, three keynote addresses and the Heinz Rode lecture. I delivered the Heinz Rode lecture. Six sessions were chaired by BAPS members. BAPS badged the Neonatal symposium with PAPSA.