the history | current developments
The purpose of the African Canadian Committee for Essential Surgical Skills (ACC-ESS) is to oversee the Essential Surgical Skills Curriculum and set uniform policies on instructor qualifications, budgeting, financial requisitions and course reporting.
ACCESS Meeting 2009. Back row: Dr. Patrick Chayamanywa co-Chair, Dr. Aamani, Moshi, Tanzania, Lorne Braun CNIS, Dr. Tom Okello, Gulu, Uganda, Dr. Gashaw Gondor, Ethiopia, Dr. Laurean Rwanyuma, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Dr. Abebe Bekele, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Front row: Dr. Aberra, Awassa, Ethiopia, Dr. Grace Ruhinda, Mbarara,Uganda, Nakimuli Kampala, Edmund Wega, CIDA, Dr. Chuchu, Jima, Ethiopia and Netsanet Sileshi, Addis Ababa.
The History
In 2000, the African Canadian Committee for Essential Surgical Skills (ACC-ESS) steering committee met for the first time in Malawi. Participants included one member from Canada and two members from each of the four African countries where ESS was taught at the time: Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda. Since then, Tanzania, Mali and Rwanda have also joined.
Each African department of surgery where ESS is taught has a signed memorandum of understanding with CNIS. ACC-ESS requires that ESS instructors update their certification every 3 years. After the initial 3-day ESS Instructors Course, Instructors must take a 1.5-day refresher course to maintain certification.
Current Developments
In February 2009, the 7th African Canadian Committee for Essential Surgical Skills was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 10 African surgery departments were represented: Addis Ababa, Gondar, Jimma & Awassa from Ethiopia, Dar Es Salaam & Moshi from Tanzania, Mbrara, Gulu & Kampala from Uganda and Butare from Rwanda. Lorne Braun & Dr. Lett represented CNIS, giving updates on Malawi, Mali, and Mozambique who were unable to attend. All centers prepared powerpoint presentations on the outputs and outcomes of ESS training in 2008. ESS, Structured Operative Obstetrics, Structured Hernia Repair, Fundamental Intervention and Safe Transfer & Surgical Skills for African Residents curricula were reviewed & updated. Planning of future structured skills courses also took place: Neurosurgery for Generalists, Essential Burns Management & Circumcision. The CIDA Director from the Canadian Embassy met the participants and discussed development issues.
Dr. Chamanywa continues as co-Chair, leading a task force with Dr. Abebe (Ethiopia), Dr. Rumunya (Tanzania) & Dr. Ruhinda (Uganda) to review regionalization of ACC-ESS.
