Advanced Burn Care (Rehabilitation) in Africa

A very successful training in Advanced Burn Care (Rehabilitation) was held at Korle Bu Hospital, Accra, Ghana in September. 34 participants from 13 countries attended, from: Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana (9), Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi (2), Nigeria (4), Rwanda (2), Sierra Leone (3), Swaziland, Tanzania (3), Uganda (2), Zambia and the United Arab Emirates (3).

ABC (Rehab) is a five-day course focussing on turning knowledge into action through lectures, case studies, small group work and practical sessions. Topics include key concepts such as the patient journey, infection prevention and control, the importance of nutrition and fluids, as well as scar management, splinting and positioning to avoid contractures, and prioritisation. 100% of participants felt that the training was ‘highly useful ‘to their daily work and 94% said they felt very motivated by the training.

ABC(Rehab) is part of Interburns comprehensive approach to improving the quality of burn care in low resource settings. The approach includes operational standards, assessment tools, and training programmes at primary, intermediate and advanced levels for members of the multi-disciplinary burn team. Advanced Burn Care (ABC) modules in Nursing, Surgery and Rehabilitation provide specialist training to key members of the burn team.  

Interburns would like to thank the staff and management of Korle Bu Hospital in particular CEO Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah and Course Lead, Alberta Amissah Rockson, as well as the expert volunteer faculty from Ghana, France, India and the UK: Mercy Agtuahene, Dominique Potokar, Ruth Ann Fanstone, Gaelle Smith, Anant Sharma, Elizabeth Yeboah and Sarfoa Ompong.