PE R IOPE RAT IVE PRACT ICE


them down afterwards; I thought I would remember them but find I am lacking. I have had to say, in answer to questions from delegates, that I do not know how to answer the specifics.


I remember particular questions on gas gangrene; on the use and details of formaldehyde gas following infected cases. I remember observing a surgeon deliberately throwing a used gauze swab at the instrument nurse, which was reported to the hospital authorities on the day. HIV/AIDS was rife at that time in the country; that behaviour is never acceptable, but it was particularly vicious in that context.


Inequality


There are many aspects of nursing practice in Africa which I admire. They work incredibly hard in conditions which I would struggle to manage and in a professional position which I believe to be very unequal. There is a lack of respect which I have observed, by doctors, of the work of the nurses alongside them. It may be for cultural reasons that women have a different place; it is made more complex by tribal hierarchies (of which I am largely ignorant) and between nurses and doctors there is huge inequality. I would love to take that element of difficulty away from all the nurses in Africa. Life is hard enough without these


complications. What a shock they must get when they work overseas and find they have a voice. In the leadership programmes we lead, one of the key messages is to ‘find your voice and use it’. I can think of several of the over two thousand nurses we have trained in the twenty years, who have blossomed and now are in leadership positions across the continent.


Conclusion


I hope that once we are able to get back to travelling again to the continent that we will be able to undertake the planned programmes. Meanwhile, we have developed on-line education, which is free to access for


African colleagues, and continue to build on it. Part of the developments in one country are to collaborate with local nurses who will deliver some of the programme together with us and also undertake a clinical audit. We want to go back to the country where we began to see what progress has been made and to train the next generation. Our sister organisation in Canada has been helping us to facilitate courses over the last several years and they celebrate their tenth anniversary this year. We plan a virtual conference later this year as well as a meeting of members and supporters. It is a packed calendar and, COVID-19 willing, we will be able to celebrate our anniversary, in style. It has been a huge privilege to be able to share some knowledge with colleagues over the years and I hope to be able to continue to make a difference to surgical quality care in Africa.


Please celebrate our twentieth


anniversary with us. Further information is available at www.foan.org.uk


CSJ


References 1 Nursing and Midwifery Council June 2019 Benefits of becoming a reflective practitioner. A joint statement from Chief Executives of statutory regulators of health and care professionals. Accessed at https://www.nmc.org.uk/news/press- releases/joint-statement-reflective-practice/


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