International

View Full Screen

ATLS in Chile 

Remains Strong

ATLS–France Holds 

Inaugural Course

France Is Now Part 

of the ATLS Family!

ATLS–Nigeria Holds 

Inaugural Course

Site Visit Takes 

Place in Accra

ATLS Coordinator Meeting 

to Take Place in October

RetuRn to Map

About our orgAniz Ation And ContAC t inform Ation

Previous Page

Ne x t Page

---

AT

LS

®

 

INTERNATIONAL

August 2010

AtLs–Nigeria Holds Inaugural Course

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, 

held initial ATLS Student and Instructor 

courses July 10–14, 2010. The inaugural 

ATLS courses were held at the Garki 

Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital, 

which is a planned city constructed in the 

heart of the country. It was designated in 

the 1970s, with most of the construction 

having occurred since 1980. Abuja’s center 

features a number of memorable buildings, 

including the Abuja National Mosque 

and the National Ecumenical Center. The 

tropical landscape is dominated by Zuma 

Rock, a large monolith 725 meters in 

height and 3.1 kilometers in diameter. 

The Nigerian Orthopedic Association 

and the Nigerian Emergency Response 

Service hosted the ATLS Program. Nnamdi 

Nwauwa, MD, FACS, led the initiative, and 

Bob Yellowe, MD, FACS, served as the initial 

Course Director. The Nigerian faculty had 

previously completed training in Fujairah, 

United Arab Emirates, with the support of 

the ATLS–Middle East group, in October 

2009. The course in Nigeria had strong 

representation from orthopedic surgeons. 

The instructor candidates included Dr. 

Bob Yellowe and Dr. Nnamdi Nwauwa, as 

well as Philip Eyimina, MD; Giwa Suleiman, 

MD; Odunubi Olurotimi, MD; and Nkele 

Chinyere, MD. International faculty included 

Claus Falck Larsen (Denmark), MD, FACS; 

Dr. John kortbeek (Canada); Saud Al 

Turki, MD, FACS (Saudi Arabia); Subash 

Gautam, MD, FACS (UAE); Andrew Baker, 

MD (South Africa); Ayoola Ali, MBBS, FACS 

(U.S.); and Mr. WiIl Chapleau (U.S.) and Ms. 

Diane Chetty (UAE). The initial educator 

candidate was Chineze Nwauwa, MD. 

Opening ceremonies were attended by a 

number of Nigerian dignitaries, including 

professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, the honorable 

Nigerian Minister of Health. With nearly 155 

million inhabitants, Nigeria possesses one 

of the continent’s most rapidly growing 

economies. Injury rates are rising in Nigeria, 

and lifetime risk of death due to injury now 

exceeds 10 percent. The introduction of 

ATLS is one of several initiatives underway 

to address this serious health issue.

The students attending the course 

represented districts from across the country 

and participated with much enthusiasm 

and energy. The course was enhanced by 

a fantastic social program, which included 

traditional Nigerian dance and cuisine, as 

well as an entertaining evening watching 

the World Cup together. The American 

College of Surgeons is pleased to welcome 

Nigeria to the ATLS family. The next 

course will be held in November 2010.

by Dr. John Kortbeek 

ATLS International Course Director

C L I C k   O N 

I C O N S  T O 

S E E   P H O T O S