Medical Cooperation Between Australia and the Indian Ocean Countries

We are very pleased to see some excellent medical exchanges being generated at a bilateral level. In Mauritius, two highly regarded medical experts have undertaken recent visits. In November 2005, Professor Paddy Dewan, and his colleagues Kr Ken Brownhill and experienced registered nurse, Caron Oakley performed some complex pediatric urological surgery on 43 children in extreme discomfort. They saw 110 patients during this visit, which was Professor Dewan’s sixth visit. The collaboration is highly successful given Professor Dewan’s emphasis on skills transfer and empowerment. It is with particular pleasure that we learnt that Dr Nazeer Hosany was awarded a Paediatric Surgical Fellowship to Australia in 2006. This scholarship, funded by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, is a marvelous step forward.

Another very welcome return visitor has been Professor Paul Zimmet AO, who is one of Australia’s foremost diabetic specialist and has had previous involvement in
researching this serious condition as it impacts on Mauritius. We look forward to hearing of his further collaboration with his Mauritian counterparts in the future.

Finally, we have medical specialists led by veteran surgeon, Dr Graham Forward, who have undertaken some excellent work in Tulear, Madagscar, in conjunction with an Australian company which is undertaking mineral sands exploration on the West Coast of Madagascar.