Over 85% of the world’s population live in Low and Middle Income countries. Health statistics in these countries are characterised by numerous deaths from treatable time-sensitive illnesses and injuries resulting from inadequacies in health systems; particularly Emergency Care.
However, across the world, Emergency Care continues to grow, and every country has a story to tell. There are similarities in our stories: the overwhelming sense of responsibility, the exhaustion and feeling of being undervalued. But there are also glaring differences in quality. Africa can be better and it should be.
2017 marks 10 years since the first Emergency Medicine Physician graduated in Africa. From one single Residency program in 2007, there are now 11 more in 9 of Africa’s 54 countries. 2009 saw the formation of The African Federation for Emergency Medicine (AFEM) supporting Emergency Care development across Africa. AFEM’s projects include:
– The biennial African Conference on Emergency Medicine (AfCEM), the only scientific conference on African emergency care.
– The Annual Consensus Conference that addresses various aspects and challenges of Emergency Care in Africa.
– A quarterly international, peer-reviewed journal, publishing original research on topics relevant to Africa, freely available online and offering free publication support to African researchers through Author Assist.
– Supadel, a peer-to-peer sponsorship program funds attendance of practitioners to AFEM-affiliated conferences on African soil, allowing them to network and learn valuable lessons in Emergency Care to improve systems in their countries.
Building and maintaining robust Emergency Care systems addressing community needs and improving the health of populations requires us to connect to each other and the world. For us to contribute to the world and for the world to support and contribute to programs and projects in Africa. The African story is about everyday people connecting with each other to change themselves, improve their systems and transform lives.
For more details about the upcoming African Conference on Emergency Medicine On 7-9 November 2018, In Kigali-Rwanda, go here
To hear more about Supadel and sponsoring delegates to African Meetings, go here, and to see what we’re doing in Sydney, read about SMACCReach here
