ANZCA Bulletin June 2012 - final.pdf - Australian and New Zealand ...

ANZCA contributionhelps improve patientcare in Papua New GuineaThe Overseas Aid Committee isworking to assist the deliveryand quality of anaestheticservices in Papua New Guinea(PNG), writes Meaghan Shaw.Papua New Guinea has so few anaesthetistsyou can count them. There are only 15consultant anaesthetists working ingovernment hospitals, for a populationof seven million.In addition, there are about 100 nonmedicaltrained anaesthetic scientificofficers providing the rest of the country’sanaesthetic services.Coupled with health spending of about$A50 per person and a paucity of basicanaesthetic equipment and drugs, thecontrast with Australia and New Zealandcouldn’t be starker.For Dr Lisa Akelisi-Yockopua, one ofPNG’s few consultant anaesthetists, arecent visit to Perth’s annual scientificmeeting was an “eye opener”, givingher an insight into the latest anaestheticadvances and exposing her to an array ofnew equipment in the healthcare industryexhibition area.“Obviously we do need a lot ofequipment up in Port Moresby,” she saysat the Perth meeting. “Seeing the displayof different equipment here, it’s like,‘Oh, wow. It’s so different’.”Dr Akelisi-Yockopua is in her secondyear out of training and came to Australiaas a guest of ANZCA’s Overseas AidCommittee. She has been selected for theANZCA International Scholarship and ishoping to pass her English language testsoon so she can come back to Australiaand work with Adelaide anaesthetist,Dr Chris Acott, who specialises in headand neck surgery.She also wants to specialise inanaesthesia for head and neck surgery –an area of need in PNG, which has a highincidence of head and neck cancer dueto betel nut chewing and smoking. PNGalso has other developing country healthproblems such as chronic tuberculosis,leprosy and HIV.The sessions Dr Akelisi-Yockopuaattended at the ASM – including aresuscitation update, difficult airwaysession, updates on opioids and reversaldrugs, and a fibreoptic intubationworkshop – were incredibly useful.“I just can’t express how appreciative Iam,” she says. “This is a great opportunityfor any of us who haven’t been to sucha conference. It will be very nice for myother colleagues who (can learn fromme). I’m very fortunate to come to thisconference where I’m exposed to so manythings which I didn’t expect, and alsomeeting up with the other consultantsfrom overseas.”Since 1993, ANZCA has been involvedwith training in PNG through the effortsof Professor Garry Phillips and a PNGsenior lecturer in anaesthesia, Dr HarryAigeeleng. This has included funding twoeducational visits to PNG each year, at theinvitation of the University of PNG.Dr Michael Stone, from the RoyalPrince Alfred and St Vincent’s hospitals inSydney, went to PNG earlier this year fora week to train the anaesthetic scientificofficers and anaesthetic registrars.The anaesthetic scientific officerstypically start their careers organisingequipment for anaesthetists anddoing general cleaning duties beforeundertaking a one-year diploma inanaesthetic science. Often they have anursing background. They provide thebulk of the anaesthetic services in thecountry, especially in the provincialhospitals.The anaesthetic registrars undertakea four-year masters in medicine course tobecome consultant anaesthetists.Dr Stone provided tutorials andlectures on subjects such as airwayskills, rapid sequence induction, failedintubation, defibrillation, advanced lifesupport, paediatric syndromes and crisismanagement, aided by mannequinsdonated by the College.It’s the second trip to PNG for Dr Stone,who was encouraged to do the teachingvisit by new Overseas Aid Committee28 ANZCA Bulletin June 2012