Cameroon to host 2016 WACS conference

Over 1,500 surgeons from 17 African countries are expected in Yaounde next February.

Preparations are in high gear for the hosting by Cameroon of the 56th Annual Conference of the West African College of Surgeons, WACS, from February 14-20, 2016. WACS is a learned society that brings together seven surgery faculties or specialties, currently covering 17 West African countries and some nations from Central Africa.

According to Prof. Fru Fobuzshi Angwafor III, the Director General of the Yaounde Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital, a Local Organising Committee has been set up and meets every month.

A media plan for the coverage of the event has already been developed, budget approved, key stakeholders informed and hotel reservations and conference venue confirmed. Similarly, a web site for the conference, wacs-coac yaounde 2016, has been set up.

The 1,500 health professionals intend to discuss the theme, “Global Surgery and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.” Sub-themes will focus on reducing maternal and child deaths, emergency trauma care, financial access to care, especially urgent care, telemedicine and strategies to bring care closer to the urban poor and marginalized rural populations.

On how Cameroon could benefit from the gathering, Prof. Angwafor says WACS is in a pole position to share knowledge and experiences on health issues of our time since cultural, geographic and existential conditions are similar in countries of the sub-region.

Beyond scientific and social intercourse, the college in keeping with tradition will operate needy patients free of charge as part of its humanitarian agenda. The Local Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Public Health are working toward the success of this outreach activity. Cameroon also stands to benefit from training for its specialists, sharing experiences and receiving free consultations and surgery services.

“Welcoming 1,500 professionals is a boom if our tourism, arts and crafts, culinary and transportation operatives work with the LOC to make this a never-to-forget conference. We hope that the dons in communication, advertising and public relations will craft and roll out the promise of our land, the land of glory, Africa in one country!” Prof. Angwafor pointed out.

The West African College of Surgeons has in the past held four similar conferences in Cameroon during the tenure of the late Prof. Victor Anoma Ngu. The idea and eventual birth of the Association of Surgeons of West Africa (ASWA), which later grew into the West African College of Surgeons, WACS, is credited to Victor Anoma Ngu.

He held discussions with the Irish surgeon Charles Bowseman on a return trip by boat from Britain to West Africa in 1959. Subsequently 20 surgeons from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Togo, Britain, Sierra Leone and South Africa founded the association with Sir Samuel Manuwa as the first President and Prof. Victor Anoma Ngu pioneer Secretary.