The AO Alliance hosted the Faculty of Orthopaedics Symposium during the conference on musculoskeletal infections in trauma and orthopedics. Chaired by Dr O. Popoola, President of the T&O Faculty and co-chaired by Prof. A. Hans-Moevi, an international panel of speakers provided insights on this serious and costly complication of fracture related surgery. Prof. Mario Morgenstern from Switzerland, and Mr. William Harrison from the UK shared their expertise on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Prof. T. O. Alonge talked about the role of local antibiotics. Dr Kebba Marenah concluded with musculoskeletal infections in children.
WACS and the AO Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the two organizations to collaborate on advancing care of the injured in sub-Saharan Africa. On hand for the official signing ceremony were Prof. Peter Donkor, WACS President, Dr Claude Martin jr., AO Alliance Managing Director, and Dr Temiloluwa Olufemi who, as the Nigeria core lead for the West Africa Trauma Education Program, served as the active liaison for the AO Alliance/WACS collaboration.
The AO Alliance delegation led by Dr Wilfred Addo (Ghana), and Dr Ernest Muvunandinda (Liberia) met with the Honorable Dr Wilhelmina Jallah, Minister of Health of Liberia. The silent epidemic of injuries was highlighted to her. She is aware of the disease burden on the nation’s people. With a system’s approach to solving the growing number of injuries, partners like AO Alliance, the WHO, and WACS can be effective.
Pictured above:
Signatories: Prof. Peter Donkor (WACS President) and Dr Claude Martin Jr (AO Alliance Managing Director)
Back row: Prof. Philip M Mshelbwala (WACS Secretary General, Executive Committee Member), Dr Temiloluwa Olufemi (Nigeria), and Dr Olawumi Popoola (Faculty Chair/Orthopedics, Council Member)