ZAMBOANGA CITY, JUNE 7,8,9, 2023
Neurotrauma has been identified by the WHO as a public health burden with 50-60 million traumatic brain injuries per year (MC Dewan 2018) but it has only been in recent years that attention has been given towards this not so “silent epidemic”. It has been the leading cause of disability to the young generation due to motor vehicle accidents especially in the low to middle income countries (LMIC).
The Neurotrauma Committee of the Asian Australasian Society of Neurological Surgeons (AASNS) chaired by Dr. Lynne Lourdes N. Lucena, who is also the immediate Vice President of the Academy of Filipino Neurosurgeons (AFNI) endeavored to start educational courses and advocacy awareness about Neurotrauma.
As the First Philippine Neurotrauma Bootcamp was conceptualized and modules were created, the organizing committee in Zamboanga City, Philippines was headed by Dr. Gaudencio Tan Ligutom, a member of the Neurotrauma subcommittee -Philippines. Together with the officers of the AASNS headed by President Kate Drummond, the three- day activity was realized with the support of the AFN fellows and the UERM Neurosurgery Alumni Association and partners from the pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies.
It was a hybrid platform powered by Docquity and was broadcasted nationally and in several countries. The attendees reached 220 and represented the medical, nursing, education, allied medical profession and the military who registered for free and was entitled to the lectures, didactics and also demonstrations aside from enjoying free meals and snacks. The virtual attendees reached a total number of 1052 unique viewers from day 1-3 with most of them coming from Vietnam and the Philippines. The top 6 specialties who attended virtually were GPs, nursing, pediatrics, neurosurgery, general surgery and neurology.
The speakers included the Secretary General of the AASNS Dr. Virendra Sinha and chief consultant neurosurgeon Dr. Nemichand Poonia who both travelled all the way from Jaipur, India to be able to share their knowledge and experience in Neurotrauma. Dr. Yigal Soshan, the chair of the Education Committee of the AASNS gave his lecture virtually and Prof Kate Drummond personally welcomed the attendees through the virtual platform. Lecturers from the Philippine society included Dr. Ligutom, Dr Lucena, Dr. Asis Encarnacion, Dr Mitchel Gonzales, Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, Dr. Khalil Ibaoc, Dr Annabelle Alcarde, Dr Charles Neil Tan, Dr Christopher Concepcion, Dr Nicanor Del Rosario, Dr Elmer Jose Meceda, Dr. Jude Gonzalves, Dr Russell Sasing, and Dr James Soriano, current President of the AFNI. Experts from the medical community and local society in Zamboanga were also speakers.
The participants expressed their utmost appreciation of the whole course and it was reflected in the whole afternoon workshop where the attendees were able to ask questions and express opinions and receive answers from the panel of experts. They are looking forward to the next Neurotrauma bootcamp next year.