Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) is hosting the 3r international AO Socio Economic Committee (SEC) Operating Room Personnel (ORP) course starting today, July 13, 2011. The participants are drawn from Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi and the majority who are OPR nurses from MTRH, Kenya.

The SEC represents the conscience of the AO Foundation, an international non profit surgeon-driven organization. Its primary goal is to improve the care of the injured in developing countries by conducting or facilitating teaching events-such as this ORP course and programmes as well as supporting the training of individuals involved in the programmes. There is close collaboration with AOTrauma which is linked to AO-SEC ORP education. Through teaching, it disseminates the AO principles and philosophy of fracture management to trauma surgeons and operating room personnel. It coordinates instructional courses all over the world to improve the care of trauma patients.The designed AO courses are well suited to country’s individual ORP requirements.

MTRH’s Orthopaedics and Trauma and Theatre and Critical Care Departments will facilitate the course with others; the third ever in the country. The aim of this particular training is to be able to equip the 36 participants with relevant skills, foster a national and regional network faculty with intention of holding an annual of ORP nurses from the region.

In his opening remarks, the National course Chairperson who is also the Hospital’s Chairman, Division of Surgery; Dr. Neford Ongaro thanked all the MTRH Management for the facilitation of the event. He appreciated the AO SEC for continued support in improving knowledge and shaping attitude of the ORP in Kenya and the neighbouring countries.

ORP Senior Manager AO Trauma and a member of the AO SEC, Switzerland; Ms Susan Baurle took the took the participants through the AO history from 1985 when the organization was started in Switzerland, its evolvement over the years, medical education and the AO Principles of Fracture Management.

The Hospital facilitators include; Consultant-Orthopaedics; Dr. Ongaro, Spine and Knee Specialist; Dr. Elijah Nzeki Muteti, Dr. Barry Ayumba, Nurses (ORP); Mr. Nehemiah Ngetich and Ms Cecilia Chelule.The course which is being held at Medical Education Centre will end on July 15, 2011.