IASP African Pain Camp
Nairobi, Kenya
23 – 26 February 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 14 AUGUST
Apply Here >
IASP will host its first African Pain Camp to develop pain management knowledge, skills, and attitude in a range of domains focusing on the multidimensional nature of pain. All participants in the African Pain Camp will have completed the Essential Pain Management training, thus starting the camp having achieved the primary outcomes of:
- Understanding the basics of pain physiology.
- Assessment of pain: how to assess pain comprehensively, including the use of appropriate tools and techniques for evaluating pain intensity, location, quality, and impact on the patient's life.
- Multimodal pain management strategies: principles of various pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for pain management, including medications, nerve blocks, physical therapy, psychological interventions, and complementary therapies.
- Recognition and management of acute pain (postoperative pain, trauma-related pain, and pain associated with medical conditions or procedures).
- Recognition and management of chronic pain including assessment, diagnosis, and management over the long term, with a focus on improving function and quality of life.
- Safe use of opioid medications for pain management, including strategies to minimize the risk of opioid-related harm, such as opioid misuse, dependence, and overdose.
- Understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration in pain management.
Building on this fundamental knowledge, the curriculum of the IASP African Pain Camp training will include interdisciplinary training to improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Pain Camp graduates will develop knowledge in:
- The multidimensional nature of pain.
- Holistic pain assessment relevant to an African context.
- Pharmacological management of pain including safe prescribing of medications available in Africa.
- Non-pharmacological management of pain including lifestyle changes, exercise, mindfulness approaches and psychological approaches relevant to an African context.
- The principles of managing conditions with a high prevalence in the region including:
- Low back pain (acute and chronic).
- Pain in sickle cell disease.
- HIV-related pain.
- Burn related pain.
- Headaches and migraine pain.
- Caesarean section pain.
- Pain in trauma and polytrauma.
- Cancer-related pain and visceral pain.
Pain Camp graduates will develop skills in:
- Safe prescribing of opioids.
- Safe prescribing of analgesics and adjuvant drugs including central acting anti-depressants and anticonvulsants, NSAIDs, simple analgesics, and
- Communication skills to develop therapeutic relationships and holistic treatment plans.
- Nonpharmacological treatment skills of breathing, magic glove, graded motor imagery, sleep hygiene, distraction, relaxation/mindfulness, activity scheduling.
- Clinical reasoning for pain.
Pain Camp graduates will demonstrate a shift:
- From a biomedical to a biopsychosocial understanding of pain.
- From a biomedical to a biopsychosocial approach to pain assessment and management.
- Towards person-centered care.
- Towards working in interdisciplinary teams.
Who Should Apply:
- Healthcare professionals working in Sub-Saharan Africa and who have excellent English skills.
Applicants Must:
- Be a current member of IASP.
- Have at least 2 years’ experience in their healthcare career.
- Work as a healthcare professional at any level of a governmental or university hospital or clinic in their country.
- Be currently or previously involved in organizing a local pain education activity or has plan to start a pain service or working in pain and related fields.
- Not have received an IASP award in the last 3 years.
- Commit to attending the full Camp in person.