Africa-Press – Botswana. Investing in hospital equipment, particularly ultrasound machines and video laryngoscope, among others, remains critical in improving patients’ results as well as safety in specialty areas.
This was said by Botswana Society of Anesthetics (BSA) president, Dr Vushe Mafavuneh, at an annual congress and refresher course themed: Leveraging Technology for Safety, in Gaborone recently.
“There is need to improve the lack of equipment such as ultrasound machines, video laryngoscope and modern Anesthesia machines in government’s operating rooms,” Dr Mafavuneh said.
He explained that the BSA executive committee chose the theme because they were aware of the critical need for equipment, particularly in government’s operating rooms.
“The message wants to employ us to go to our hospital managers to get these equipment, because it really does improve safety in our practice. The emphasis of this year’s BSA congress theme is also on ultrasound use in Anestheology for intravenous access, for regional blocks and in pay clinics,” he added.
As such, he encouraged members to show interest in their specialty for it to develop as well as pay their membership fees, saying ‘the fees helped the society to organise the congress, workshops and training sessions, throughout the year.’
Furthermore, he said the congress was meant to meet members who specialised in Anesthesiology to update them about the new developments in the specialty.
Additionally, he said the two-day congress also factored in as a way in which nurses could get their continuous professional development points, which they needed annually with the Nursing Council.
“With this year’s theme of leveraging on technology for safety, we are basically saying that we need to invest more in equipment like ultrasound machines and video laryngoscope, so that we can improve the outcomes of the patients we look after,” he added.
He noted that it had been three years since BSA held its congress due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“When COVID-19 came a lot of us who work in the critical care unit we were worried about our patients’ lives and our lives too. But, I am glad to say as far as I am aware, in Botswana, we did not lose an anesthesiologist or an intensivist,” he said. The first day of the congress involved specialists in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care and on the second day it featured a demonstration of the use of an ultrasound in the operating room in theatre.
Three international anesthesiologists presented on different topics.
Among those who presented was Dr Tadhg Lynch, who is a Pain Specialist and Anesthesiologist from Ireland and presented on the latest updates on pain management. Dr Michael Egan, who is an Airway Specialist and anesthesiologist deliberated on the latest equipment on airway management.
Another presenter was Dr Report Poeschl, who is also an experienced anesthesiologist, from Germany.
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