2020 has been an unusual year and it is no surprise that “pandemic” is the word of the year. COVID-19 has affected everyone and has impacted our activities. The health and safety of our network, employees and consultants has always remained priority number one.
With strict sanitary protocols in place and a dedicated sanitary supervisor, we were able to execute 10 educational events after September 2020 ”“ in smaller groups ”“ since we suspended our face-to-face activities on March 9, 2020. Our local capacity building approach, with no international faculty travel, also bore fruit in the context of the pandemic.
The less hectic schedule allowed us to pivot some traditional activities online and begin a structured digitization of some of our educational assets, such as our nonoperative fracture care management curriculum. This digital platform is part of a three-year program to reach many more healthcare workers, as this virus will be with us for quite some time.
The board chair, current and former board members, were busy all year writing the AO Alliance history book documenting the transition from AO SEC to the AO Alliance and our first five years of activity. We expect publication by end of January 2021 on the AO Alliance website.
Finally, we will take the opportunity in 2021 to mandate external evaluations of our policies and activities. This had originally been planned for 2020.
Even without a crystal ball, we foresee a progressive return to a new “normal”, while maintaining what we do best: supporting local healthcare workers in improving local fracture care in low- and middle-income countries.
We take this opportunity to wish you and your families a mindful holiday period as we all put our heads together to make the best of 2021 and to thank you for your continuous support of the AO Alliance.
Rolf M. Jeker
Board Chair
Claude Martin jr.
Managing Director