IFHE NEWS Plans for an African IFHE ‘chapter’ revealed


IFHE has worked hard over many years to support healthcare engineering professionals from the African continent, and is now considering how to ramp up member services to colleagues in this part of the world, reports the Federation’s March 2023 Newsletter. A story in the section, ‘Member News’


explains: “Just as groups have been developed in Europe and the Americas, the idea is to create a pan-African ‘chapter’ of IFHE. Membership of IFHE- Africa for constituents in the new group would be very affordable, with support provided to low-economy countries. All healthcare engineering teams across the continent would be eligible, with meetings and professional development opportunities provided virtually. Recorded content would be available for asynchronous viewing by members, whilst also being made available on the IFHE website for any IFHE member. Opportunity exists to sponsor suitable candidates from ‘IFHE- Africa’ to attend the 2024 International IFHE Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2024, Kevin Poggenpoel of SAFHE (pictured) will take on the IFHE Presidency, and is enthusiastic about promoting IFHE in the region.


“To support these


initiatives, assistance is being sought from the global IFHE community. Content is essential for the sharing of knowledge, and material is needed, together with volunteers to present and facilitate this. The needs of healthcare engineering


in Africa are as widely divergent as in any region, while there are also local complexities to address not experienced


in more affluent areas. This creates some unique challenges. Importantly, we are seeking contacts from all of the healthcare engineering sectors, including IFHE members across the Continent who might be interested in these initiatives. “If you have interest in supporting this


exciting and important IFHE activity, see the story headed ‘Consideration being given to creating an IFHE-Africa Group’ in the March 2023 IFHE Newsletter online, where there is a link to register your interest.”


Papers needed on topical subjects for the 2024 IFHE Digest


A call for papers has been circulated to all ‘A Member’ contacts of the IFHE seeking articles for the 2024 issue of the IFHE Digest. Commissioning editor, Andy


Wavell IEng, FIHEEM, said: “You all have very different experience of working within the healthcare environment, and it this that we need to share with your colleagues around the world. After all, it is your learned technical publication, and it relies on contributions made by you all. “With the ever-increasing concerns about climate change, we know from those who entered the Energy Challenge at the International Congress held in Toronto that much is being done to reduce energy consumption and head towards Net Zero. The effects of COVID are still


recycled materials, and those that do not use large amounts of fossil fuel to produce.


“Good and effective training of


being felt, and much of hospital design is changing to accommodate future pandemics, particularly around air- conditioning. A new area of concern is indoor air quality. Are you doing anything to monitor this? Another area being expanded is building design using


future healthcare professionals is most important, of course, as they are the ones who will need to cope with rapidly changing technology. There is also now much debate about the benefits or otherwise of the evolving use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). What are your experiences of using it, and the benefits? The above are just a few of the subjects allied to healthcare. We know that there are many more subjects you are involved with, and just one of these is sure to be of interest to your international colleagues. We look forward to receiving your synopses as soon as possible, which can be sent to mattseex@ifhedigest.com”


May 2023 Health Estate Journal 17


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