Final post from Mary:
Gaston and the conference organizing committee had done such a great job of getting the word out that 250 people registered and the conference had to be moved to a larger venue. Health care professionals from across the nation were present and it was an interprofessional mix. There was a participant from Uganda and our very own Dr. Rediet was there from Ethiopia. Rediet joined our group in Kigali and we have adopted her. Rediet is an amazing young anesthesiologist who works at the main teaching hospital in Addis Ababa and Patty and some of the team will be joining Rediet in Addis to teach the VAST course after this conference. Rediet has boundless energy, a full time anesthesia practice, 3 children and a wonderful vision for improving the management of pain in Ethiopia. Patty and I are already scheming ways to get Rediet to Halifax for a preceptorship. The Anesthesia Department Head at CHUB, Dr. Theogene was one of the speakers and stayed throughout the conference. The Director General of CHUB and a representative from the Ministry of Health were there as well. In other words this conference had the support of decision makers at all levels. The representative from the Ministry stayed for the entire conference!
The participants were very engaged. I was especially impressed when the groups at my workshop on Pain Research 101 came up with 25 excellent research questions within 30 minutes. Our 4 group facilitators Eugene, Joseph, Stephen and Chris, all recruited with little or no notice, did an excellent job. When a sudden downpour made it almost impossible to hear each other the groups just moved in closer, almost touching heads like a rugby scrum. Our goal was to interest participants in sending a pain research team to the next micro-research workshop and there were at least 20 who indicated they would be interested!
Gaston, who had sprained his ankle just this week went from crutches when he met us at Inzozi Nziza on Tuesday afternoon to beautiful Italian shoes with no crutches on Thursday morning and barely a limp. Gaston was the consummate host. It was a delight for me to see the transformation from trainee to inspiring leader, articulate and elegant. I have to say that I had a similar feeling watching Jon who did excellent presentations on chronic post-surgical pain and regional analgesia! Somehow from his small carry-on luggage emerged a perfectly pressed suit and 2 different business shirts. Rwandan men dress for the occasion in beautiful suits, shirts and ties and Jon did us proud. I had the chance to meet many of the participants and in every case they were optimistic and enthusiastic for change and inspired to bring what they had learned back to their own communities.
But I can’t forget the medical students. The medical students were with us for the entire 2 days of the conference. They took who took care of the registration desk and anything else needed. They were so great. The women even wore some traditional dress and all together they were quite sensational (photo below).
The second International Rwandan Pain conference is already being planned and I have no doubt that momentum will continue to build. Congratulations on a wildly successful event to Gaston and all involved !!
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| Patty dealing with technical issues |
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| Rediet, Gaston and Mary |
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| the medical students |
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