ICRC holds a war surgery seminar in Harar

 The following was issued as a press release by the ICRC delegation in Addis Ababa  

This important workshop, opened by Dr Kassa Hailu, Head of the Harari Ministry of Health, took place from 30 January to 1 February 2007 in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia. Dr Valery Sasin, the ICRC regional surgeon based in Nairobi, conducted the course, assisted by Dr Mauro Della Torre.

The participants reviewed several related topics, including trauma surgery, weapon-wounded patients and management of mass casualties.

" This was the first seminar on war surgery organized in the country by the ICRC since 1999, " explained Dr Pierre Hofer, health coordinator of the ICRC in Ethiopia. " After a primary assessment of the main referral hospitals in Harar, Dire Dawa, Jijiga and Gode last October, we realized that they may face constraints in organizing and providing surgical care for the weapon-wounded in case of mass influx. We therefore decided to offer to our Ethiopian colleagues the possibility to develop and share their knowledge and experiences during three seminar days on various subjects, such as thoracic trauma, cranial wounds in war, or triage management. "

Dr Hofer concluded that the seminar will allow for the updating of guidelines on war-wounded treatment, and will help to keep focus on emergency preparedness and capacity to respond to mass wounded influx.

The rights and duties of medical personnel during armed conflict were also presented to the participants. The workshop was then concluded with group syndicates, and presentations by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society on their activities related to first aid and blood banks.

 For further information, please contact:  

 Patrick Mégevand, ICRC Addis Ababa, tel. ++251 115 - 518366