Development of Emergency Medicine in Botswana

摘要

African relevance Botswana is a southern African country, which faces similar burden of disease and resource constraints to it’s Southern African neighbours. Outline of major causes of morbidity and mortality and current status of emergency medical care provision in Botswana. The development of post-graduate Specialty training in Emergency Medicine in Botswana can serve as a model and/or useful reference for other Emergency Medicine programmes within Africa. Challenges and limitations of the Botswana Health System as relevant to Emergency Medicine training are relevant to other African countries facing similar constraints. Other recent developments in Emergency Medicine in Botswana may serve as benchmarks for other African countries where Emergency Medicine is in the early stages of development. Abstract Botswana faces a high burden of disease requiring emergency care, including infective complications of HIV, road traffic trauma and atherosclerotic disease. Currently emergency care is provided by health professionals with little formal training in emergency care, many of whom are expatriates. In January 2011, the University of Botswana School of Medicine introduced a Master of Medicine programme in Emergency Medicine [M Med(EM)]. The first cohort of four Emergency Medicine residents commenced the M Med (EM) programme in January 2011, with a forecasted annual intake of 4–6 residents. Emergency Medicine has recently been recognized as a specialty by the Botswana Health Professions Council. Other initiatives at various stages of development include: establishment of the Botswana Society for Emergency Care; development of the University of Botswana Trauma Research Centre; and creation of the University of Botswana Resuscitation Training Centre. However, significant issues in the health system must be addressed in order to ensure that the training of emergency physicians is translated into better outcomes for patients.