* previously known as Adopt-a-delegate, and Support-a-delegate. The latter was shortened and became Supadel for short
Supadel has been a very personal journey for me. I first floated the idea of Supadel after the first emergency medicine conference held in South Africa back in 2007. Scores of requests from African delegates for sponsorship in the prelude to the inaugural Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa conference in Cape Town 2007 got me thinking of how we could support these delegates. By the time the second conference was held in 2009 I had a very clear idea of how it would operate. Supadel (or support a delegate) sponsors the attendance of delegates from low and middle-income countries at regional AFEM-affiliated conferences using donations provided by peers from high-income countries. The initiative has been operational since 2009, and in this time has allowed numerous Emergency Care providers without the financial means, to attend high-quality acute care conferences throughout the continent. It operates on a peer-to-peer sponsorship model: conference delegates or other donors financially support their peers from African low- and middle-income countries, either by adding a sponsorship (usually as a proportion of their registration fee) to their conference registration fee or by donating securely online through one of two crowdfunding sites.
I hold a strong view that international conferences should do more to include delegates and speakers from low- and middle income countries in order to ensure balanced reporting, increase advocacy and narrow the global knowledge gap. The sad reality is that this group is consistently ill-represented at international conferences, despite representing emergency care for 84% of the world's population. Although others do a fine job of speaking on behalf of LMIC emergency care providers, the practice creates the impression of a region unable to speak for itself. Much can be done to redress this.
Supadel raised ZAR 1,797,500.00 between 2009 and 2019 to enable 205 delegates from 21 African countries and 5 low- and middle-income, non-African countries to attend one of nine emergency medicine conferences on African soil (including nurses, clinicians, and prehospital staff). Gender ratios were split equally with white delegates making up less than 3% of sponsored delegates. This was intentional, in order to focus the effort on native African delegates.
Many Supadel alumni have used this opportunity to increase their involvement in African emergency care; two joined the executive board of the African Federation for Emergency Medicine this year. A large portion of the supernumerary trainees with the division are Supadel alumni. Supadel uplifts disadvantaged, African, emergency care staff and provides access to education in the form of conferences, but perhaps more importantly accessed the benefit of networking and forming collaborations.
Supadel has also caught the attention of a few other conferences, inspiring similar initiatives. The DevelopingEM conference has offered a peer to peer, delegate support programme since 2015 and acknowledges Supadel as the inspiration. More recently the World Association on Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) started offering a peer to peer delegate support programme for their Congresses. WADEM was introduced to the concept in 2015 at their congress held in Cape Town alongside our own Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa. I also had the opportunity to showcase Supadel in the Academic Emergency Medicine journal during feedback of the 2016 International Conference on Emergency Medicine.
I hold a strong view that international conferences should do more to include delegates and speakers from low- and middle income countries in order to ensure balanced reporting, increase advocacy and narrow the global knowledge gap. The sad reality is that this group is consistently ill-represented at international conferences, despite representing emergency care for 84% of the world's population. Although others do a fine job of speaking on behalf of LMIC emergency care providers, the practice creates the impression of a region unable to speak for itself. Much can be done to redress this.
Supadel raised ZAR 1,797,500.00 between 2009 and 2019 to enable 205 delegates from 21 African countries and 5 low- and middle-income, non-African countries to attend one of nine emergency medicine conferences on African soil (including nurses, clinicians, and prehospital staff). Gender ratios were split equally with white delegates making up less than 3% of sponsored delegates. This was intentional, in order to focus the effort on native African delegates.
Many Supadel alumni have used this opportunity to increase their involvement in African emergency care; two joined the executive board of the African Federation for Emergency Medicine this year. A large portion of the supernumerary trainees with the division are Supadel alumni. Supadel uplifts disadvantaged, African, emergency care staff and provides access to education in the form of conferences, but perhaps more importantly accessed the benefit of networking and forming collaborations.
Supadel has also caught the attention of a few other conferences, inspiring similar initiatives. The DevelopingEM conference has offered a peer to peer, delegate support programme since 2015 and acknowledges Supadel as the inspiration. More recently the World Association on Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WADEM) started offering a peer to peer delegate support programme for their Congresses. WADEM was introduced to the concept in 2015 at their congress held in Cape Town alongside our own Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa. I also had the opportunity to showcase Supadel in the Academic Emergency Medicine journal during feedback of the 2016 International Conference on Emergency Medicine.
- Supadel home: African Federation for Emergency Care Supadel page
- Supadel promoted in Academic Emergency Medicine journal
- Supadel in international press: Supporting African EM Just Got a Lot Easier
- Supadel in international press: The Emergency Physician in Africa
- Joseph Kalanzi's introduction written for the Supadel sponsor pack
- There and back again: Annet Alenyo's personal Supadel testimony
** for UK donors (please add Supadel in the message area)
More Testimonials from Supadel alumni
English Supadels
ICEM 2016, was my first conference ever. It was a dream come true. I learnt a lot from the conference and afterwards I felt empowered to do anything in this world in terms of research. I had people to look up for mentorship. The excitement from the conference propelled me to conduct a research which is yet to be published. The icing on the cake was the formal dinner, I enjoyed every part especially the networking. Supadel is the best thing that ever happened to me and South Africa is a beautiful country. Marie Ntow (Ghana: ICEM 2016) I was very lucky to have that big opportunity to participate in a such scientific conference and help me to meet so many scholar and shared their experiences especially for me since emergency medicine is very young department since established in country help me to learn a lot from them . and was brain stormed on research and different new ideas. And i able got to see and enjoy the most beautiful city in the whole world, cap town!! So i hope this program will help so many young emergency physician in the future, i am also planning to apply for the coming conference. Tigist Zewdu (Ethiopia: ICEM 2016) I'm a medical doctor from the DR Congo currently in my last year of residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Cape Town. I was among the very first to be supported by Supadel to attend the 2009 AFEM/EMSSA conference in Cape Town. It was a great inspiration and the deciding factor which made me join formal post-graduate training in Emergency Medicine. Even as a resident, I already greatly contributed to the development of EM in my home country through advocacy and training. As an EM physician, I will certainly have a greater impact. Not only Supadel kickstarted this endeavor, it sustained it over the years by reinforcing Africa EM networks and experience sharing. A good friend from another specialty recently reminded me how "lucky" we were to have a golden tray like Supadel. We are indeed privileged. Ken Diango (Democratic Republic of Congo: EMSSA 2011, 2013 and AfCEM 2016) Emergency Medicine was just new in Rwanda. We had hard time explaining to other colleagues what was the scope of our speciality....and to be honest even ourselves we ( residents ) were in the dark and felt lonely in our pionneer adventure...till Supadel came and allowed some of to attend AFCEM 2014,then ICEM 2016...connecting with other folks was reassuring...and actually vital for EM in Rwanda. Olivier Felix Umuhire (Rwanda: ICEM and AfCEM 2016) This is my personal testimony and thanks giving to "supadel" conference funding/sponsorship. As an EM Resident from Low income country (Tanzania) would have never afforded to pay for my hotel stay and registration if wasn't supadel sponsorship. This could have made me miss all the good presentations, the new connections and the beauty of team work and togetherness from all EM physicians. Exposure is another crucial item which opens up my eyes on how I will run my ED being the only EM Physician at my hospital in Arusha as well as the whole of Northern Tanzania where as for now no EM specialist exists. Peter Mabula (Tanzania: ICEM and AfCEM 2016) This conference and scholarship came to me when I was in my 3rd year of emergency residency training in Thailand. It really broadened up my perspective about emergency medicine in different background of medical system, culture and ethnicity of patients like South Africa. Also I had a chance to attend many interesting lectures and workshops. Moreover, it was a great opportunity for me to meet emergency physicians from different countries in the world. Sharing experience and knowledge and making new international friends was a wonderful experience for me. Thank you for a generous support from Supadel programs. It helped shaping my way of practice as an emergency physician in a positive way. JoJo Apibunyopas (Thailand: EMSSA 2009) The support I received from Adopt-a-delegate program enabled me to attend this very important conference that showcases the efforts and progress made in Emergency care in Africa.Sustaining this support will also enable many more Emergency care practitioners in resource limited settings in Africa to participate, acquire new knowledge and skills and also share their experiences. Maxwell Osei-Ampofo (Ghana: EMSSA 2009, 2011 and AfCEM 2014) Supadel is a program with significant impact in AFEM Emergency care and training, since delegates will be more motivated and empowered from participation in AFCEM events which strengthens African ED capacities in terms of direct patient care, relation and communication as well as EM education. Desalegn Keney (Ethiopia: AfCEM 2016) Wow, where do I start? As one of the first members of AFEM, the Adopt-a-delegate Sponsorship Program was the key to expanding my career in Emergency Medicine. At first it began with attending conferences and escalated to presenting research work. This set off a cascade of events such as global and regional networks. In the process, it opened up new horizons- Publication Prospects and Nomination to the AFEM Nursing Group Chair. In short, this Sponsorship has taken my career to greater heights through network, knowledge and practice in research and publication. The best part of it is that is has helped me disseminate the latest trends in emergency medicine to developing countries Ivy Muya (Kenya: EMSSA 2011, 2013 and AfCEM 2012 and 2014) Ivy became the secretary for AFEM in April 2016 Thank you very for availing me this unique opportunity to air my appreciations for SupaDel. I was fortunate enough to be sponsored twice by SupaDel but unfortunately could only use it once. It has provided me with unique opportunity to mingle with experts from around the world expanding my horizons in my career. I could not be thankful enough to SupaDel. It will also enhance my knowledge and skills in various areas of my interest in the AfCEM 2016. I look forward to AfCEM 2016 and truly honoured to have a chance for an oral presentation. Thank you SupaDel. Meera Nariadhara (Tanzania, ICEM 2016, AfCEM 2016) Supadel came at the point where I had won the Resource Innovation competition the previous year. For me ICEM2016 was my second Emergency Medicine Conference and it provided a great opportunity to meet and interact with people with like minds. Again Supadel, made it possible for myself and my team of 6 nurses to attend our first international conference, it was indeed an experience worth having. It afforded us the opportunity to refresh old experiences and to also learn new ones. Cape Town was a fantastic place to be. Thumbs up to brains behind Supadel and to the many who have supported Supadel, God Bless you all for making dreams come true. Emmanuel Acheampong (Ghana: ICEM 2016) Improvised cotton wool three-lead ECG electrodes Emergency medicine being a new specialty in Rwanda , attending emergency medicine conferences helped me interact and learn from the already established emergency system across the globe ,i earned about establishing emergency care systems and improving them ,how to conduct research and the new practices in emergency medicine these acquired skills are helping me improve emergency medicine in my country. Gabin Mbanjumucyo (Rwanda: WCDEM 2015, AfCEM 2016) I have a chance to be selected for poster presentations in south Africa Cape town in November 2013 and a pre Hospital, per conference coordinator and trainer for AFEM 2014 IN Addis Ababa.Therefore, attending my first Emergency Medicine Conference In Cape town gave me the chance to interact with people of like-minds-It is such a refreshing feeling!!! I learned a lot about what Emergency Medicine actually means especially in my context, heard about new researches, shared experiences in Emergency Care and what is happening in other countries. I would like to appreciate that. Haimanot Geremew (Ethiopia: EMSSA 2013) My name is Somwe Wa Somwe. I am a general paediatrician working in the emergency paediatric unit at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Emergency medicine is a non-existent discipline in Zambia. The Ministry of Health recently established a directorate of emergency services. We do not have a single home-trained emergency physician. To me, Sudapel has been manna from heaven as it has been the only source of education for me. I have been to Cape Town twice under the auspices of Sudapel and, each time, I have come back home with a wealth of information which I share with colleagues. I think this kind of partnership is what is needed for sub-saharan Africa as our salaries do not allow us to single-handedly pay our way to attend such meetings. I pray that this endeavour continues for young African doctors who may be interested in EM. In the last conference, I enjoyed the talk on how EM developed even in wealthy countries and I was surprised that they did go through a lot of struggles before achieving what they have done so far. So, Sudapel is our first step towards improving emergency services in Africa. Somwe Wa Somwe (Zambia: EMSSA 2011) I was honoured for the opportunity to attend global emergency medicine conference at South Africa. Thanks to supadel for making my dreams come true. The conference offered me the opportunity to meet a well renowned emergency medicine gurus who are well endowed in research. I learned a lot from the conference and it also broaden my knowledge about emergency medicine in Africa. I also had the chance to tour and explore the goodies in the "MOTHER CITY"(cape town). It was a rich experience. Thank you, supadel. Gabriel Ofori Adjei (Ghana: ICEM 2016) I attended the 2009 year conference- as being my first international conference which was only possible after the generous support under the adopt a delegate program. I experience the developments in the emergency topics by the well designed lectures and sessions very practical, through and up to date. My sincere thank to the organizing chairman and committee for allowing me to participate the at this world-class conference in the beautiful city of Capetown ..... thank you very much !! Sandeep Gupta (Nepal: EMSSA 2009) There is no way to full express my gratitude for your support.I learnt a lot in the conference in cairo among the things I leant are how speakers presenting and which is the best way to present,how to prepare easly understandable slides when presenting. When speakers presenting also came up with new research ideas which is the knowledge gap in my country. I managed to get networks from other emergency physician form other African countries like Ethiopia Egypt DRC and Ghana. Apart from learning also had time to visit pyramids which was among my dreams. Supadel funds has made an enormous impact in my future carrier as an emergency physician and researcher to be. I can't thank you enough.Your kindness and genouristy will remain with me forever. Raya Yusuph Mussa (Tanzania: AFCEM 2016) My name is Muller Mundenga, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I was dreaming to be able to attend the African international conference. My dream turned to the reality with Supadel’s support. At the African international conferences, I have the opportunity to update my knowledge through different presentations and discussions with seniors and colleagues, I also have opportunity to present the results of the work I am doing and to meet with friends. Thank you to the Supadel program for the support. Muller Mundenga (Democratic Republic of Congo: AfCEM 2012, 2014 and WCDEM 2015) Muller became the vice-president for AFEM in April 2016 The African conference in Emergency medicine (AfCEM) 2016-Cairo was my first African conference to attend in Emergency medicine under SUPERDEL support. It was awesome time for me as an Emergency Medicine Resident as I had time to learn how other nation have moved step ahead in emergency care as compared to my country(Tanzania). Generally, I learned new concept in various aspect of emergency care which are a going to help me in patient care . Apart from that I meet new friends in whom in the future we hope to continue sharing knowledge for my future career and produce research work as evidence-based practice. Prosper Bashaka (Tanzania: AfCEM 2016) This comes to say I am deeply humbled by the great opportunity that AFEM through SUDADEL had bestowed upon me, allowing me attendance of the 3rd African Conference on Emergency Medicine. It provided me with a great platform to learn and interact with people from different parts of the world and see a varsity of new cultures and history to learn from. As a second year resident in Emergency Medicine this is about the right time for dissertation topics proposal and having attended the ultrasound pre-conference workshop it sparked an idea which has enabled me to work my way around a good research question and hopefully it becomes my dissertation topic. I am looking forward to the coming conference and I cannot wait to be part of the presenters so that I may share my work for the rest of Africa to see. Thanks SUPADEL for this great opportunity. Kilalo Mjema (AfCEM 2016) Dear Dr. Stevan, I hope you are well. Regarding supadel sponsorship experience in Cairo. That was my first ever International conference attendance, it was awesome as I got an opportunity to meet great minds in the EM field. I was inspired and motivated by researchers who presented their work. I got a chance to go around see and learn Egyptian history as well. This would not have been possible if it was not for Supadel. My heartfelt appreciation to the committee for making that possible. Francis Sakita (Tanzania: AfCEM 2016) Dear SUPADEL Organizing team. I am writing to you with my heart full of gratitude for making it possible for many of us particularly me to attend the third African Conference on Emergency Medicine which was held in November 2016 in Cairo, Egypt. During the conference I managed to make professional connection with residents and faculty from different parts of the world. Experience acquired and shared during the workshop and Conference session was an eye opener for what can be accomplished in the field of Emergency Medicine through innovation and research all aiming at provision of good Emergency care It is through Support A Delegate program (SUPADEL), that made it possible for me to attend to this Scientific conference. During the Conference I was elected to be the second president of Doctors in Emergency Leadership and Training in Africa (DELTA), which is an association of Emergency Medicine residents in Africa and a branch of African Federation For Emergency Medicine(AFEM). As it was as for many of attendees the experience of visiting one of wonders of the world i. e Pyramids, through SUPADEL I have had personal experience in curriculum vitae but also career opening way and thus I am grateful for this program. Elly Mulesi (Tanzania: AfCEM 2016) |
Annet Alenyo on Supadel
Annet perfectly summarises why Supadel is so important to developing emergency care whilst addressing the global information gap Supadels Français
Merci beaucoup supandel pour le soutien et formation recu lors de l ' AFCEM. Merci de m 'accepter comme speaker. Grace a notre conference j'ai eu encore d'autres amis en soins d'urgence. Merci d'avoir organise un groupe Francophone. Le workshop de mardi matin sur la facon d'organiser un service de soins d ' urgence m ' a beaucoup appris. Merci pour le logement et la visite dans le muse et le pyramide ; quel jour je pouvais visiter ces endroits. Merci beaucoup et continuer de faire ainsi pour nous, gens de peu de moyen financier. J' espere etre encore avec vous en 2018. Merci. Cito Kasese (Democratic Republic of Congo: AfCEM 2014 and 2016) moi c'est Dr CIBELU ABDUL, je remercie supadel pour tous ceux qu'il a fait concernant la prise en charge des sejours au CAIRE. moi personnellement j'en suis reconnaissant parceque j'ai beneficié de cette prise en charge au moment ou je m'attendais le moins en me restituant par le canal de Dr MULLER,tous ceux que j'avais payé pour frais d'hotel. Cette conference nous a été utile parceque nous a permis de faire connaissance et d'avoir des contacts avec des grandes personnalités qui s'occupent de l'emergence de la médecine d'urgence à travers le monde en général et l'Afrique en particulier. Nous esperons que ces contacts nous seront utile pour l'emergence de la médecine d'urgence en RD CONGO en général et KINSHASA en particulier ou nous assumons la résponsabilité des urgences dans la coordination provinciale de Kinshasa du programme national des urgences et actions humanitaires. Abdul Cibelu (Democratic Republic of Congo: AfCEM 2016) Au Supadel. On est sort jamais d'une formation, d'un séminaire, d'une conférence comme on est entré, merci pour votre assistance nous permettant de participer pour la toute première fois à une rencontre de ce genre, trop édifiant et enrichissant, nous vous resterons reconnaissant. Nous espérons que cela contribuera à l'avancement de la science et surtout à l'amélioration de la prise en charge de nos patients, encore merci. John Maurice (Democratic Republic of Congo: AfCEM 2016) |