A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Trauma Committee and Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK) for the import and promulgation of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program for doctors. Prof. Saidi Hassan and Inger Schipper signed the agreement on behalf of SSK and ACS respectively on March, 3rd, 2015.
This followed a day-long meeting March 2, 2015 between the delegation from ACS (Inger Schipper, Andrew Baker), SSK (Saidi Hassan, Russ White, Kirsteen Awori, Daniel Ojuka, Carol Spears, Michael Mwachiro, Kizito Shisanya), Kenya Red Cross (James Kisia, Judith Opondo, Ahmed Idris, Mr. idris, Were Olwa), Innovative Canadians for Change (David Jansen, Abraham Issac, Deng Mapiour), and trainers from Indiana University (Kariuki Murage, Sherri Marley, Michelle Laghlin, Clarion Simons, Gerardo Gomez).
The Director of Medical Services Dr. Nicholas Muraguri was accompanied by Dr. Kibias (head, emergency services and disaster risk management) and Dr. Odongo (head, directorate of curative services) was a special guest at the meeting. A site visit was later conducted to great satisfaction of the entire team.
The MoU provides for SSK to designate a group of individuals to attend introductory courses conducted by ACS in accordance with requirements established by ACS Trauma Committee. Upon successful completion of the initial courses, the trained instructor candidates, educators and course coordinators would form the ATLS Faculty in Kenya who would conduct ATLS Course under auspices of SSK. ACS would further provide guidance on sourcing of course materials, equipment and training aids to be purchased by the SSK.
Under the proposed MoU SSK would be responsible for the organization and conduct of future ATLS Instructor and Student Courses in Kenya in accordance with essential requirements of ACS Committee on Trauma and ensure maintenance of standards for courses. SSK would also submit an annual program progressive report to ACS.
The SSK will work closely with the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Orthopedics Association, other specialty organizations, pre-hospital provider associations, ATLS training institutions, local Universities and hospitals, the International Canadians for Change (ICChange), Indiana University and Johns Hopkins University
