South PacificA significant role of the NZSA is encouraging the improvement of anaesthetic services in developing countries. The focus of our efforts is directed at countries in the South Pacific. Financial support is offered towards the organisation of, and the sponsoring of visiting experts to, educational courses for anaesthetists working in the Pacific Islands.
South East AsiaIn 2007 the Society made an additional contribution to the improvement of anaesthetic services overseas by supporting the Global Oximetry project in Vietnam. The Global Oximetry Project is an international initiative of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists with aim of introducing pulse oximetry into remote areas of developing countries. (Pulse oximetry has been a standard of monitoring during anaesthesia in New Zealand since 1988 and pulse oximeters are used throughout New Zealand hospital wards to ensure adequate heart and lung function).
Sponsorship was provided by the NZSA towards a visit by Dr Steuart Henderson to the Binh Dinh Province area of Vietnam where hospitals had been gifted pulse oximeters and staff trained in their use. Dr Henderson visited 12 hospitals and health centres, assessing how anaesthetists and technicians had incorporated pulse oximetry into their practice, providing additional education into their usage and determining whether the pulse oximeters were performing satisfactorily. Dr Henderson also held meetings with the representatives of the Binh Dinh Department of Health and further support to progress the quality and saftey of anaesthesia in Vietnam is anticipated.
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