Africa Regional Section Report 2009

The main activity during the year under review was concerned with preparations for the forthcoming All Africa Anaesthesia Congress (AAAC). The congress is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 12^th - 16^th September 2009. This has been a particularly difficult meeting to organise, not least because of the failure of a succession of Professional Congress Organisers failed to deliver as expected. These have thus had to be terminated and their functions taken over by the local organising committee. Despite these setbacks, the organising committee have pulled all stops and a successful meeting is eagerly awaited. International interest has been way beyond expectation, with the scientific committee having to return many abstracts because of lack of space on the programme. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Nairobi and the organising committee has promised a memorable time will be had by all.

As regards other operations, the region remains in a state requiring close and focussed attention. Communication with member countries and societies is particularly poor, making it difficult to assess needs and allocate resources. The ARS has had only one profitable congress since 2001 and this is reflected in the weak balance sheet, the result of which is to curtail legitimate and necessary activities in order to stretch available resources for as long as possible. As a consequence there is almost complete reliance on the Education Committee for sorely needed teaching and training programmes in many of our member countries. We therefore acknowledge gratefully the contribution of individuals and societies in Africa and beyond to training programmes in some of these member countries. In this regard, special mention must be made of the efforts supported by the Tunisian and Egyptian societies.

In relation to the function of the ARS and its Board, the forthcoming Regional Assembly will be asked to consider some fundamental amendments to the constitution, chief among which are proposed changes to the electoral process. It is the view of the current ARS Board that in future office-bearers must be "fit for purpose" and that the electoral process must have a mechanism for identifying candidates with potential for specific portfolios. Another matter to be presented for ratification relates to congress guidelines. The ARS has never had such guidelines up till now and this creates many opportunities for lapses and disagreements between parties in the process of organizing a congress such as the AAAC. With a document in place it will be a lot easier for the Board and organizing committee to pull together when planning any future congress.

Arthur Rantloane
Board Chairman
4^th August 2009