Events and Media Coverage

Africa and the Middle East

Egypt

On September 23, 2011, Dr. Ahmed Fawzi El Molla will host a "Summit on Acute Pain Service" in cooperation with the Alexandria Society of Anesthesia. The day's program will include presentations from pain management experts followed by hands-on sessions on patient-controlled anesthesia and ultrasonography. Click here to view a flier for the workshop.

Iran

The Iranian Pain Society created this poster to help spread awareness of the current campaign.

Asia, Australasia, and Oceania

Australia

On June 17, 2011, members of the Acute Pain Service at Mackay Base Hospital in Mackay, Queensland, Australia, held a "Pain Launch" to raise awareness of their services and to promote the Global Year Against Acute Pain campaign. During the event, nursing leaders at the facility and members of the Anaesthetic Department discussed the importance of good pain management and encouraged simple measures such as regular pain assessment on all patients. Attendees received Pain Resource folders to assist acute pain management in their units/wards, and a cake displaying the Global Year campaign logo was enjoyed by all.

Pictured right (l-r): Dr. Nicolae Cruceru (Staff Specialist Anaesthetics), Bethaney Martin, RN (Clinical Nurse), and Dr. William McLellan (Director of Anaesthetics) with the specially-made cake. Click on the photo to view a larger image.

Australia/New Zealand

The Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) distributed a press release [PDF] announcing the 2010-2011 Global Year Against Acute Pain and their commitment to educating doctors about treating acute pain. They also released a poster [PDF] for the campaign, in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand Pain Societies (IASP chapters) and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.

India

The Indian Society for the Study of Pain (ISSP, IASP Chapter), in conjunction with the Brufen Foundation, launched the Global Year Against Acute Pain on Tuesday, October 19, 2010, in New Delhi, India, with a press conference at the Indian Islamic Cultural Center. Approximately 35 journalists attended, with 5 representing television networks. Two lectures on acute pain were delivered, and a set of guidelines about backache were presented. Definite acute pain protocols will be launched in Chandigarh at the ISSP conference in February 2011.

Pictured left: The press panel included (from left to right) Dr. Anil Agarwal, Dr. Geeta Joshi (ISSP Secretary), Dr. P.N. Jain (ISSP President), Dr. K.J. Choudhary, Dr. Kailash Kothari, and Dr. Ashok Saxena. Click on the photo to view a larger image.

On November 20, 2010, the Jaipur City Branch of the Indian Society of Anaesthesia organized a meeting and lecture focused on acute pain management. Indian Society for the Study of Pain (IASP Chapter) President P.N. Jain delivered the keynote address. All speakers received a plaque commemorating the event.

Pictured right: Dr. P.N. Jain receiving his plaque for his participation in the event. Click on the photo to view a larger image.

Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dr. Enra Suljvic (University Clinical Centre – KCUS) in Sarajevo and Dr. Amira Karkin Tais, President of the Bosnia & Herzegovina chapter launched the Global Year Against Acute Pain campaign in Bosnia & Herzegovina by speaking about acute pain during a live television program. The chapter also sent fact sheets to directors and clinicians at surgical centers around BiH.

Croatia

On February 2, 2011, The Croatian Association for the Study of Pain will host a mini-symposium on the topic of acute pain. Professor Višnja Majeric Kogler is scheduled to speak.

Finland

The Finnish Association for the Study of Pain will host a cancer pain and acute pain management multidisciplinary educational event in Tampere, Finland, October 27-28, 2011.

France

On October 18, 2010, the French Chapter organized the Fifth National Day for Pain Prevention. On this day, the pain clinics in France were open to the public in each region; 86 towns participated in this event.

Germany

On September 20, 2011, the German chapter of IASP (Deutsche Gesellschaft zum Studium des Schmerzes e.V.) will hold a satellite meeting, "Acute Pain Management: Yes we can?" in conjunction with the EFIC meeting in Hamburg, Germany. It is an international meeting that is intended to give an update on acute pain mechanisms, pharmacological treatment options, evidence based recommendations, guidelines, management of special acute pain situations and other aspects of acute pain. In addition, it will be a forum to discuss clinical and scientific questions related to acute pain and to meet experts, friends and colleagues interested in the same topic. For more information, please view the satellite meeting website.

Kosovo

The Professional Health Association (PHA) in Kosovo will hold a conference from September 9-11, 2011, in Prizren, Kosovo, for which the core topic will be acute pain. Visit the PHA website for more information: www.pha-ks.com

Spain

The Spanish Society of Pain is performing a study to determine the current status of pain treatment and diagnosis in the hospitals' emergency services. This scientific study is being accomplished in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Emergency. The results will be presented at the World Day Against Pain event in Madrid on October 17, 2011.

The Spanish chapter of the IASP is also hosting a short film contest with the topic: Against Pain. For more information, visit the society website: www.sedolor.es

Latin America and the Caribbean

Brazil

The Sociedade Brasileira de Estudo da Dor (SBED), the Brazilian chapter of IASP, created a poster in honor of the Global Year Against Acute Pain. Click here to view the poster.