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The inaugural Pan African
Thoracic Society meeting,
Nairobi 2016
Dr Peter Reid, Associate Director
of Education, Royal College of
Physicians of Edinburgh
African populations bear a
disproportionate burden of the
world’s respiratory morbidity and
mortality, but with few resources.
Pneumonia remains the leading
cause of death in childhood and the
impact of tuberculosis, particularly
when combined with HIV, is at its
greatest in Africa. Important non-
communicable diseases are on the
increase including chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease and asthma.
The Pan African Thoracic Society
(PATS) was formed to create a
representative African respiratory
society for the continent and
to address the high burden of
respiratory illnesses in Africa.
The overall aim of the society is
to promote lung health in Africa
through education, training,
research and advocacy. I was invited
to represent the College at the
inaugural PATS Congress that took
place in Nairobi in April 2016. The
conference was themed ‘Breathing
life into Africa’, and brought together
health professionals from across
Africa and beyond to focus on the
challenges in paediatric and adult
lung health faced by the continent.
During the conference, a mix of
African and other world speakers
concentrated on major respiratory
health issues, with sessions on
the prevention, care and control
of infectious and non-infectious
diseases and the challenges faced
by paediatric and adult practitioners.
An important component of
developing African respiratory
medicine is through encouraging
relevant research. The PATS -
Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical
and Operations Research (PATS-
MECOR) course was initiated by
Professor Stephen Gordon, a Fellow
of the College, and presentations
from selected MECOR fellows
enriched the conference. Numerous
posters and cases were presented by
other enthusiastic young trainees.
In my current role in the College
I am aware of the huge amount
of work that is required to
transform the ideals and ideas of
a symposium or conference into
a reality. Professor Heather Zar,
Dr Joseph Aluoch and the other
members of the scientific committee
are to be warmly congratulated. It
was impressive to see support not
only from the College, but other
august organisations including
the World Health Organization, the
American and European Thoracic
societies and the International
Union Against Tuberculosis and
Lung Diseases. Perhaps even more
impressive was the engagement
of the Government with Dr Cleopa
Mailu, Cabinet Secretary for Health
in Nairobi, opening the conference
and acknowledging the significant
burden of respiratory diseases to
the continent. The dynamic vibrant
atmosphere throughout the meeting
bore testimony to clear leadership
and vision in engaging the younger
generation of African respiratory
trainees and giving them confidence
to improve lung health in Africa.
The College and Jordan in
harmony with education
and training
Professor Sunil Bhandari,
International Director, Royal College
of Physicians of Edinburgh
In May 2016, the President,
Professor Derek Bell and I, along
with eight other College Fellows,
presented talks at the 13th
International Jordanian Conference
of Internal Medicine under the
patronage of Her Royal Highness
Princess Basma Bint Talal.
Professor Mohammad Ghnaimat,
President of the Jordanian Society
of Internal Medicine and Overseas
Regional Advisor for the College,
in collaboration with our Fellow Dr
Kerri Baker, organised an exciting
programme covering the whole
spectrum of medicine with 18
local speakers providing a wealth
of information. Delegates had an
opportunity to quiz the expert panel
on topics such as hyponatraemia,
antimicrobial issues in Jordan,
animal bites and the potential
benefits of sunlight.
The meeting also provided an
opportunity for me and Professor
Bell to meet the Minister for Health
in Jordan and other distinguished
doctors from the military hospital
with a fruitful discussion on plans
to develop, in collaboration with the
College, an international training
program for Jordanian trainees who
hold the medical training program in
such high regard.
Our guests ensured that our stay
was cemented with the opportunity
to experience the traditional food of
Jordan, its music and the wonders
of historical sites. These included
the Dead Sea (the lowest point on
land below sea level) and Petra,
the famous landmark and one of
the new Seven Wonders of the
World. Petra was originally known
as Raqmu to the Nabateans who
carved the huge array of buildings
from sandstone including the
famous Al Khazneh Treasury building
featured in the
Indiana Jones
movie.
In December, the President, Dr Simon
Hart, Professor Rebecca Reynolds
and Professor Jean McEwan and I will
Professor Bell, Her Royal Highness Princess
Basma Bint Talal, Professor Mohammad
Ghnaimat, Dr Nayef Abdallat
