NEWS: Global Outreach Course - University of Dalhousie, Nova Scotia

In May 2008 the University of Dalhousie, Halifax, Nova Scotia ran its first annual Global Outreach course, Anaesthesia in Challenging Environments. A CME Accredited Course, in partnership with CASIEF, Diamedica were invited to attend in order to be able to give the participants hands-on experience in using the Glostavent®. As the Glostavent® is frequently the machine which those doing placements or volunteer work in many parts of Africa will come across, Diamedica was only too happy to help.

"It is of enormous benefit for those going out to work in Africa and other developing countries to know, and use, the equipment which they will find there," said Robert Neighbour of Diamedica who carried out training on the course. "It is high time we woke up to the fact that going out to work in such places requires specialised training and knowledge and Dalhousie are one of the pioneers of this sort of course."

Topics covered during the four day course included paediatric and adult ventilation, tropical medicine, the servicing and maintenance of older pieces of equipment likely to be found in clinics and advice on how challenging the environments were likely to be.

"We have been invited back to attend next year," said Robert. "What I would really like to see is other universities getting more involved in such courses. Diamedica has a wealth of experience in what is actually required and we know that, not only are we able to assist, but that we gain valuable feedback for our future research and development."

The 2nd Annual Global Outreach, Anaesthesia in Challenging Environments, will be held at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia from May 23rd-26th 2009.