REPORT ON THE BURN SYMPOSIUM IN CARTHAGE ORGANIZED BY THE MEDITERRANEAN COUNCIL FOR BURNS AND FIRE DISASTERS (MBC)
The latest Burn Symposium organized by the Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC) was held in Carthage, near Tunis, on 20-22 February 2007. It coincided with the end of the setting up of the "BurNet Project".
This project of the Mediterranean Burn Council for Burns and Fire Disasters, directed by Michele Masellis and William Gunn, extended over a 4-year period and aimed to link Mediterranean burn centres through a computerized network. It proposed to standardize prevention and functional and psychological rehabilitation, to coordinate interaction between burn centres and external hospitals, to improve communication in order to optimize emergency services and to create an international specialized database, together with a teleconsultation system by internet.
In another respect, the vocation of the MBC is to bring together burn specialists from all coasts of the Mediterranean. It is a living example of the Euro-Mediterranean concept, which it strengthens by organizing meetings in the capitals of the various countries around "Mare Nostrum", the Mediterranean, the essential pivot between Europe and the Arab-Muslim world.
So for eighteen months the MBC has been organizing higher courses on various aspects of burn care with five members of the Executive Committee. Meetings have been held in Bucharest in Romania, Amman in Jordan and Asyut in Upper Egypt. The last meeting was planned for the Sultanate of Oman, but due to unforeseen circumstances it was transferred to Carthage at the last minute. We must congratulate our host Dr Messadi, who rapidly enabled us to hold our meeting and ensured ideal technical conditions in a magnificent hotel, the Abou Nawas Palace. We must also mention the considerable assistance in the organization of this event given by Dr Essadam (Tunisian representative in the BurNet Project) and Dr Nefzi, former President of the Tunisian Society of Plastic Surgery.
This course was organized under the patronage of the Tunisian Ministry of Health, represented by its Director-General.
The course was very well attended, with 140 participants from the Maghreb: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, as well as from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, and from European countries: France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
The faculty consisted of Drs Atiyeh, Costagliola, Gunn, Kadry and Masellis, with the participation of the Secretary General of the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI), Dr David Mackie from the Netherlands, who emphasized in his presentation the importance of the relationship of the Society with the MBC.
The course programme comprised an extensive overview of burn care:
Medical treatment of emergencies (M. Masellis)
Emergency treatment of severely burned patients (M. Costagliola)
Anaesthesia and pain in burn victims (D. Mackie)
Local topical treatment (B. Atiyeh)
Emergency treatment of facial burns (M. Costagliola)
Infection and its prevention in the burn patient (D. Mackie)
Sequelae of burns of the trunk (M. Kadry)
Burn sequelae in humanitarian surgery (M. Costagliola,M. Djazar, B. Amadio)
The principles of humanitarian medicine, its specific requirements, and present-day concerns (Gunn).
An entire afternoon was devoted to the experience of our Tunisian friends in epidemiology, the value of MRI in the diagnosis of deep lesions in electrical burns, management of joint sequelae, etc., which enabled us to appreciate the high technical level of our colleagues.
A special session, in conjunction with the dermatologists, was dedicated to the use of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO), commercialized by Julphar Laboratories, in the field of burns and dermatology, and it is important to emphasize the generous aid received from this laboratory (Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries) in organizing this symposium. We particularly wish to thank the managing director, Mr Abdul Razzak Yousef, and Dr Ruwayda Dham, director of the information department. They were also responsible for the quality of the social programme, which was exceptional.
The visit to the National Museum of Carthage on the summit of the hill of Byrsa reminded us of the history of this mythical site: the Punic city, fought over successively by Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, etc. Founded, according to legend, in 800 BC by Dido, the Phoenician princess of Tyre, it was from Carthage that the once victorious armies of Hamilcar, the valorous Carthaginian leader, and his son Hannibal set forth. They made history by their conquest of southern Spain and their crossing of the Pyrenees and the Alps with 70,000 men, 9000 horses and... 39 elephants. This led to the fatal enmity with Rome: Scipio the African, the Roman general, defeated the Carthaginians in Spain, and then in Africa at the battle of Zama. Carthage was finally razed to the ground in 146 BC by Scipio Emilianus following the repeated exhortations of Cato the Elder: "Cartago delenda est". But the Romans rebuilt it and in their turn made it a sumptuous city. Next to the museum is the former cathedral, of Moorish Byzantine style, built in honour of St Louis, who died in Tunis in 1270.
From the esplanade there is a splendid view of the magnificent bay of Tunis, dominated by the two majestic peaks of Bou Kornine, watching over the sea on the one side and the City on the other.
Earlier, with our guide we paused for a short while at the Tophet, the most ancient site of the Punic cult in the city. Flaubert described it in Salammbô as the place where children were sacrificed to the god Baal Hamon on sacred pyres (another interesting legend for burn specialists).
We also visited the fascinating village of Sidi Bou Saïd, its white houses with their grey-blue, rounded, wrought-iron window grills, its little souvenir shops, the jasmine-like perfume of the little orange-trees and the apple-scented tobacco of the shishas or water pipes, a spectacle highlighted by the colourful pink splashes of the bougainvilleas, without forgetting the interlude at the Café des Délices, an exceptional site dominating the gulf, where the tea with pine nuts was not to be missed.
We also greatly enjoyed tasting the refined local cuisine, the fish couscous, the date and honey pastries or makrouts, the méchoui (spit-roasted whole lamb) and briks (Tunisian tuna or egg turnovers).
Lastly, the unforgettable evenings accompanied by oriental music, a belly dancer (who we thought could possibly have benefitted from a little liposuction), and a singer melodiously interpreting all the successes of Oum Kalsoum, the most highly regarded of the Arab world, celebrating love, expectancy and suffering in songs whose words the participants knew by heart.
We sincerely thank our Tunisian hosts who once again enabled us to take part in an extremely well-organized scientific meeting, and to combine science, pleasure and friendship.
We hope that after reading this report, you will want to visit Tunis, even without the excuse of a scientific meeting.
- Costagliola M., Scientific Coordinator of the MBC [Google Scholar]
THE ROMANIAN BURNS SOCIETY NATIONAL CONFERENCE THE ROMANIAN ASSOCIATION OF PLASTIC SURGEONS NATIONAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 24-27, 2007, BUCHAREST AND SINAIA, ROMANIA
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The Romanian Burns Society held its National Conference on October 26 in Sinaia.
The Romanian Burns Society (President – Professor Dan Enescu), as well as the Romanian Association of Plastic Surgeons (President – Professor Ioan Lascar) was honoured by the presence of Professor Michele Masellis (Italy), President of the Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC), WHO Collaborating Centre, NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Professor Michele Masellis presented the Burnet project, a complex pro-ject providing interconnection of the Mediterranean Burns Centres. The Romanian Burns Society is proud to be an Associate Partner of the Burnet Project. Professor Masellis also presented "Personal experience in some aspects of reconstructive surgery".
A future scientific event of the Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters, the Romanian Burns Society and the Romanian Association of Plastic Surgeons was scheduled for May 2008, in Romania.
Professor Michel Costagliola (France), Member of the editorial board of the Journal of Burn Care & Research, presented "Early treatment of deep facial burns", "Surgical treatment of burns sequelae" and Professor Serge Baux's presentation "Skin expansion in burns sequelae". Professor Serge Baux unfortunately had to cancel his participation in the conference due to serious family health problems.
The Conference was attended by approximately 100 plastic surgeons, most of them young residents and specialists, who benefited from all the shared experience of the presenters.
The Romanian Association of Plastic Surgeons held its National Conference between October 24 and 27, 2007 in Bucharest and Sinaia, Romania, and various plastic surgery presentations and workshops were held.
Many important international guests were present: Michele Masellis (Italy), Michel Costagliola (France), Andreas Foustanos (Greece), Hanno Millesi (Austria), David Netscher (USA), Zolt Szabo (Hungary), Oskar Aßmann (Austria), Isabella Palmieri (Italy).
All the presentations and workshops were interesting and enriched knowledge in various fields for all the participants.
- Enescu Dan.
The Mediterranean council for Burns and fire disasters scholarships for physicians, nurses, and relevant health personnel 2008
The Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC) awards ten annual Scholarships for specialization in the prevention, therapy, care and functional recovery in the field of burn pathology. The scholarships are divided between physicians, nurses, and relevant health personnel. The purpose of the awards, in accordance with the terms of the statutes of the MBC, is to promote the interchange of young physicians, nurses, and relevant health personnel from specialized centres in the various countries in the Mediterranean area with the aim of achieving a high standard of care and of stimulating an ever greater spirit of cooperation.
The value of each Scholarship is fixed at the sum of € 2,065. This amount is intended to cover the cost of the return journey and living expenses.
The Scholar has the obligation to attend abroad, for not less than one month, a qualified Centre for the treatment of Burns and their sequelae, situated in one of the countries comprising the Mediterranean Burns Council.
All physicians, nurses, and relevant health personnel from countries belonging to the Mediterranean Burns Council are eligible to compete for the Scholarships.
Applications, written in English or French, must arrive by the deadline of 28th February of each year (no account can be taken of any postal delays), addressed to: Segreteria, Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters "Borsa di Studio", c/o Divisione di Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia delle Ustioni, Ospedale Civico, via C. Lazzaro, 90125 Palermo, Italy.
The candidate must specify in the application which Scholarship he or she is applying for (Physicians, Nurses, Health Personnel) and include the following:
full name, date and place of birth, home address, and telephone number;
the country and the Centre which the applicant intends to visit;
a brief programme describing the aims which the candidate intends to pursue with the support of the Scholarship;
a statement by the candidate of competence in a language (English or French) necessary for carrying out the activity described in the programme;
the candidate's signature legally authenticated.
All candidates must enclose with the application:
curriculum vitae, indicating academic record, professional activity, attendance at seminars etc.;
a declaration of acceptance and training hospitality on the part of the Host Centre which the candidate intends to visit;
recent letters of introduction (in the original or in authenticated copies) from Chiefs of Institutes, Divisions or Services with connected Burns Centre, who are members of the Council, attesting to periods of training confirming the candidate's specific preparation in the field of burn pathology;
list of qualifications;
for physicians, additionally; degree diploma (with marks), in authenticated copy scientific papers, published since graduation certificate of introduction or of guarantee issued by the Chief of the Institute, Division or Service where the candidate is currently working.
The Adjudicating Committee is composed of:
The President of the Mediterranean Council
The Secretary General of the Mediterranean Council
A National Representative drawn by lot in the course of the Annual Assembly from among the representatives of the various countries which have not already received scholarships in previous years. This position is not renewable until, in the course of time, the individual countries have achieved equal representation.
The Scholarships will be awarded not later than 30th June each year.
The winners will be informed that within 30 days they must communicate to the Secretariat of the MBC their acceptance, the address of the bank where they wish to have the scholarship money deposited, the period they have chosen to take up the scholarship, and a declaration by the candidate that he or she does not have a criminal record.
The Scholarship must be taken up by 30th May of the year following the award, at the latest.
The Mediterranean Burns Council will credit in advance two-thirds of the amount by bank transfer, and the remainder on termination of the period chosen, after a declaration of satisfactory attendance issued by the Chief of the Centre where the programme was carried out.
The Scholarship winner must inform the Secretariat of the Mediterranean Council "Borsa di Studio" of the beginning of the period of attendance and of any interruptions.
The Mediterranean Burns Council undertakes to publish the Scholarship winners' name, together with relative motivations, in the "Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters", in which the Club may also publish papers resulting from this study.
Any person interested may request a copy of the official announcement of the Scholarships and other information from the Secretariat of the Mediterranean Burns Council "Borsa di Studio".
- Masellis Michele., The President
Le Conseil Méditerranéen des Brûlures et Desastres d'incendie bourses d'etudes pour medecins, infirmiers et membres du corps medical en rapport 2008
Le Conseil Méditerranéen des Brûlures et de Désastres d'Incendie (MBC) offre dix bourses d'études de spécialisation chaque année pour la prévention, la thérapie, les soins et le recouvrement fonctionnel en matière de pathologie des brûlures.
Les bourses sont réparties entre médecins, infirmiers et membres du corps médical de compétence. Elles ont pour but, selon les termes des statuts du MBC, de promouvoir l'échange de jeunes médecins, infirmiers et personnel du corps médical de compétence des centres spécialisés entre les différents pays du bassin méditerranéen dans le but d'atteindre un haut niveau en matière de soins médicaux et pour favoriser l'esprit de coopération.
Le montant de chaque bourse s'élève a € 2.065. Cette somme permettra de payer le billet de voyage aller-retour et les frais de séjour.
Le boursier devra obligatoirement fréquenter à l'étranger, pendant pas moins d'un mois, un centre spécialisé dans le traitement des brûlures et de leurs séquelles, situé dans l'un des pays appartenant au Conseil Méditerranéen des Brûlures.
Tous les médicins, les infirmiers et le personnel du corps médical de compétence des pays faisant partie du Conseil peuvent poser leur candidature.
Les demandes, écrites en anglais ou en français, doivent parvenir avant le 28 février de chaque année (on ne tiendra pas compte des retards de la poste) et seront adressées à: Conseil Méditerranéen des Brûlures et de Désastres d'Incendie "Borsa di Studio", c/o Divisione di Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia delle Ustioni, Ospedale Civico, via C. Lazzaro, 90125 Palermo, Italy.
Le candidat devra spécifier dans sa demande quelle bourse il-elle sollicite (médecins, infirmiers, personnel sanitaire) et indique ce qui suit:
nom et prénom, date et lieu de naissance, domicile et numéro de téléphone;
le pays et le centre où le candidat désire se rendre;
un bref exposé des projets que le candidate entend réaliser grâce à cette bourse;
déclaration par le candidat de connaître bien la langue (anglais ou français) nécessaire pour la réalisation des activités énoncées dans l'exposé;
la signature du candidat dûment légalisée.
Le candidat devra joindre à la demande:
un curriculum vitae décrivant le cours de ses études, son activité professionelle, sa participation à des séminaires etc;
la déclaration de la part du Centre hospitalier où le candidat désire se rendre que sa demande a été acceptée;
quelques lettres de présentation récentes (documents originaux ou copies authentifiées) de directeurs d'Institut, de Division ou de Services avec des Centres annexes pour les brûlures, qui soient Membres du Conseil, attestant que le candidat a fait des stages dans ces centres pour parfaire sa spécialisation dans la domaine de la pathologie des brûlures;
liste des titres;
les médecins devront ajouter: copie authentifiée du diplôme de doctorat (avec notes) ouvrages scientifiques publiés après le doctorat en médecine attestation de présence du chef d'Institut, de Division ou de Service où le candidat travaille au moment présent.
La Commission-Juge est composée:
du Président du Conseil Méditerranéen
du Secrétaire Général du Conseil Méditerranéen
d'un représentant national tiré au sort au cours de l'Assemblée Générale parmi les représentants des differents pays n'ayant pas encore gagné de bourses d'étude durant les années precédentes.
Chaque pays devant atteindre le même nombre de représentation, celle-ci ne pourra être renouvelée qu'après égalité.
Les bourses seront attribuées pas plus tard que le 30 juin de chaque année.
Les gagnants seront informés qu'ils devront, sous les 30 jours, communiquer au Secrétariat de l'MBC leur acceptation, l'adresse de la banque où ils désirent que soit versé le montant de la bourse, la période qu'ils ont choisie pour retirer cette bourse, et un extrait du casier judiciaire que le candidat n'a commiss aucun délit.
Le gagnant ne pourra plus bénéficier de la bourse après le 30 mai de l'année suivante.
Le Conseil Méditerranéen versera sur le compte bancaire du gagnant les deux tiers du montant de la bourse et le reste à la fin de la période choisie, sous présentation d'un certificat d'assiduité délivré par le Directeur du Centre que le boursier aura fréquenté.
Le boursier devra informer le Secrétariat de la "Borsa di Studio" MBC du début de la période de service et de toute interruption.
Le Conseil Méditerranéen s'engage à publier le nom des boursiers ainsi que leurs motivations dans "Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters", où le Council pourra aussi publier les ouvrages résultant de leurs études.
Toute personne intéressée peut demander une copie de l'avis de concours et toute autre information au Secrétariat de la "Borsa di Studio" du Conseil Méditerranéen.
- Atiyeh Bishara., The secretary general