Peter Armon writes:
Developing Health Course 2004
This year’s course was as popular as ever with some 38 participants, 28 of whom attended the whole course. They came from seventeen different nations and were or will be working in 21 different countries. There were 23 doctors and 15 nurse/midwives taking part. Twelve of the participants were in the final stages of preparation to work overseas. Interestingly, only 8 were UK nationals actually serving overseas.
There were several new faces in the lecture team, including several who are currently working abroad themselves. Professor Chris Lavy (from Malawi) led a number of sessions on various Orthopaedic topics. Mark Pietroni (from Nepal) spoke on non communicable medical diseases. Gisella Schneider from the Gambia led a day long seminar devoted to various aspects of HIV/AIDs and Anne Merriman (from Hospice Africa in Uganda) contributed a session to this on the palliative aspects of care. Gisella also led an excellent session on ‘Where there is no electricity’. Colin Binks was able to join us from Bangladesh and spoke on the ‘Acute Abdomen’, giving a very practical approach, for non surgeons, to the topic.
Several practical Workshops, in Paediatrics, Surgery, O&G, and Public & Mental Health, were held and highly evaluated.
Developing Health Course July 3rd-15th 2005
Next year’s course will take place at Oak Hill College in North London. It has been decided to add an extra day, by starting on the Sunday evening (3 July), with an evening meal and introductory session. This will allow a little more space and the inclusion of a Medical Missions Day during the middle weekend.
The course itself, highly recommended by past participants, usually carries 50 CME points from the RCP and is recognised by the NMC for PREP. It remains unique in its field and should be a must for Christian healthcare professionals considering spending time abroad. Please make such folk aware of the course and encourage any overseas healthcare professionals you know, who will be home on leave next year, to attend.
A Medical Missions Day, 9 July 2005
The aim of this day will be to inform and give opportunities for students (those who have been in receipt of a Healthserve elective grant and others who are thinking about electives), those who are thinking of working abroad (trainees, retirees and those in clinical practice) to meet with course participants, share experiences and attend seminars on various healthcare mission related topics. It is hoped that a number of Mission Agencies and NGOs will have exhibition stands and be available to answer questions.
The Developing Health Course to go overseas?
There is the possibility of duplicating the course overseas. One of this year’s participants from Nigeria, who works with the CMDA in Nigeria has asked for our assistance in the running of a similar course that he hopes to set up in Nigeria in the autumn of 2005.
Hosts for the Developing Health Courses UK
Peter and Hilary Bewes, who have done (and are doing) an excellent job of hosting the course for a number of years now, are thinking of retiring. We are looking for replacements, preferably a couple with overseas experience. A job description is available from the Office, or they can be contacted personally. It is hoped that an interested couple will be able to work alongside them in planning the ‘spiritual’ input for the 2005 course and helping to run the course itself. The post involves being resident at Oak Hill during the 2 weeks of the course, each year.
The Developing Health CD Rom
Copies of this excellent CD are now available from the Office. It contains lecture notes, presentations and protocols relevant to those working in resource poor countries – taken from lecture notes from past Refresher Course - and much more beside.
We are happy to give them away free to those who are going abroad – elective students or graduates - or those who have contacts abroad who would find them helpful. Any donation to the cost of future editions would be gratefully received.
For those with an active overseas interest
We are continuing to consider the possibility of organising short term healthcare teams to go abroad, possibly assisting some of our overseas members in the work that they are doing. If you would be interested in being a part of such a multidisciplinary team or would like to be put on our Locum Database or would like to be added to our email alert list for overseas vacancies as they are put on to our website, please contact us at the office – healthserve@cmf.org.uk
For your Diary
New Directions Retreat – For those returning to live in Britain after service overseas, organised by EQUIP (a ministry of Action Partners) - is being held at Bawtry Hall, nr Doncaster from 22 – 24 October 2004. Contact: equip@bawtryhall.co.uk
Student Elective Days 2005
In Leeds on Saturday 5 March at South Parade Baptist Church
In London, at Partnership House on Wednesday 16 March
