“At the heart of this work is the people of the Pacific countries across the region and their Emergency Physicians and health systems, that they have access to effective emergency care systems and the necessary expertise to do that,” says ACEM President Dr John Bonning.
“Health emergencies happen everywhere in the Pacific region from trauma incidents, climate related injuries, ailments or disease such as measles or dengue fever. Formalising this collaboration with our friends at SPC allows us to take the next step in a partnership that will benefit patients, their families, communities who come from the different countries and cultures of the Pacific,” says Dr John Bonning.
The College is hosting the signing at the Global Emergency Care Dinner tonight in Hobart as part of ACEM’s Annual Scientific Meeting events.
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the largest scientific and technical international organisation in the Pacific and one of nine Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies.
The Secretariat’s Dr Berlin Kafoa, on behalf of SPC Director General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga sincerely thanks ACEM for developing Emergency Care. “Particularly throughout the Pacific Islands countries and territories (PICTs) during this time of Climate Change when the Pacific is expecting an increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
“Apart from numerous capacity building activities, ACEM’s FACEMs such as Anne Creaton and others on Fiji National University contracts were also instrumental in developing the Postgraduate Masters in Emergency Medicine at the Fiji National University (FNU) which has benefited many Pacific Islands countries and territories.
ACEM President Dr John Bonning says: “This MOU formalises our collaboration, which is an appropriate next step in our partnership with the Pacific Community covering emergency medicine training and education, pre-hospital care and providing expertise on the development of emergency care systems including disaster, mass casualty and disease outbreaks.”
“The MOU recognises the important and vital role that SPC has as the lead regional agency supporting the health and wellbeing of people of the Pacific, across 26 member countries and territories, “he says.
Developing emergency care systems, from the pre-hospital response to skilled Emergency Department staff working to provide acute care, will help build a healthcare response which can improve community healthcare outcomes.
It also marks a further step in the ongoing work of the College to contribute to and support the development of emergency care department staff, to develop sustainable health policies and the development of emergency care standards for physicians, and where appropriate, nurse specialists.
The MOU acknowledges the importance of capacity building and mentoring of Pacific emergency physicians, emergency medicine trainees and junior doctors, nurse specialists and other relevant allied health specialists.
ACEM’s Immediate Past President Dr Simon Judkins, who has just completed a two year term as the College President, has been involved with the work in the Pacific, most recently in Papua New Guinea.
“It’s been a privilege to work together with our friends - emergency physicians and nurses and government health services - throughout the Pacific to train, mentor and support in the life saving work they perform in their respective nations.
“It has been a hugely rewarding relationship for ACEM and our Emergency Physicians,” says Dr Judkins.
This year ACEM in partnership with SPC, Monash University and the Australian Aid Program established the Pacific Region Emergency Care Priorities and Standards for Development. This milestone document reflects a consensus on priorities and standards for Emergency Care across all Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and provides a roadmap for future Emergency Care development activities in the Region.
The Pacific Community (SPC) member nations and territories in the region are: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna. Plus Australia, New Zealand, France and the USA.
ENDS
Background
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
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Images and video available tonight after signing on request.