Annals oj'Burns and Fire Disasters - vol. XI - n. 1 - March 1998

MBC NEWS

INFORMATIC UPDATE

Informatic Update is a new feature that we shall be publishing regularly as from this issue of Annals. Our aim is to create a space where we can inform our readers about new developments in information technology and review any new products which they may wish to submit to our attention.
Information science has taken on an ever more important role in the medical field in the last few years and the computer is now an irreplaceable work tool, especially for data storing and processing. However, our years of experience with computerization at the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns Therapy in Palermo have led us to believe that the computer can also be applied more specifically in the clinical field.
At present not many such clinical applications exist, mainly because medical software can only be developed by persons who are competent in the two fields of medical and information science.
Another purpose of this new feature is to stimulate collaboration among all those who - like us - believe in the future development of the clinical application of the computer and to attract the attention of people who are not yet fully aware of the computer's potential. Relevant articles and actual applications can be sent to the address below:
Annals of Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC)
Informatic News
Divisione di Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia delle Ustioni.
Ospedale Civico, Via Carmelo Lazzaro, 90127 Palermo, Italy
E-Mail: mbcpa@cres.it

MBC - PREVENTION CAMPAIGN

The MBC, in the context of the activities laid down in its Statute and intended to promote burn prevention campaigns, has produced the following videotapes:

• The Prevention of Burns in Children
• The Prevention of Electrical Burns in Everyday Life
• The Prevention of Electrical Burns at Work
• The Prevention of Industrial Disasters
• How to Defend ourselves from Fire
• How to Defend ourselves from Forest Fire

The tapes have been dubbed in English, French, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Turkish and come in two versions, U-MATIC and VHS.
All the tapes are available entirely free of charge to MBC Members who apply in writing to receive them explaining their reasons and undertaking to use them exclusively to promote a burn prevention campaign in their respective countries.
For non-members of MBC the tapes are available at a cost of US$ 25 each, including postal charge.

Please address requests to: Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, Divisione di Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia delle Ustioni, Ospedale Civico, Via C. Lazzaro, 90127 Palermo, Italy, Tel.: + 39 91 6663631 - Fax: + 39 91 596404.

THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SURGICAL COLLEGES
INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR 1998 TRAVEL GRANTS AND SURGICAL SCHOLARSHIPS

One of the principal aims of the International Federation of Surgical Colleges is to provide international educational opportunities and training programs for promising surgeom especially from the developing countries. 'I lie Fcderation offers four Travel Grants annually through its own funds, and provides other Scholarships through its Affiliates. A) Travcl Grants are open only to young medical graduates and surgical residents from the developing world who have completed local training programs. The Grant is pininuily for the purpose of promoting worthwhile contacts and scientific exchanges by attending a major surgical meeting of the candidate's choice (see list below), but it is hoped that the grantee will also take the opportunity of visiting other surgical centers in the country where the scientific meeting is being held. Each Grant will not cxceed t)S$ 4,000, seen mainly as a contribution towards travel, hotel and living costs during the meeting. It is to be noted that the Grant does not guarantee total coverage of the~c costs and any excess iriust be met by the grantee. On his/her return home the successful candidate will be expected to make a written report to the IFSC. Application forms can be obtained from the address below. They must be completed in full and returned, together with the required letters of sponsorship, to the IFSC, to arrivc not later March 31, 1998. Surgical scientific meetings taking place in 1998 are: 1. Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, May 1998;
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Clinical and Scientific Meeting, May 1998;
Mcditerranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters and IFSC Meeting, September 1998, Italy; 1. American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress, October 1998, USA. B) Thc Federation is also proud of being in a position to offer Scholarships through the generosity of its affiliated Member organizations. For details please consult the IFSC News or write to the Federation's office, as below. Such scholarship are available in conjunction with the: 1. American College of Surgeons; 2. DeLliNche GeselIschaft far Chirurgie; ~. Mediterianean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters. Write ot fax now to: Hie Secretary General, International Federation of Surgical Colleges, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Surgery - 4 Silverstein, 1400 Spince Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, Tel.: + 215 662-2024 - Fax: + 215 349-5849 - E-Mail: muldoon@mail.med.upenn.edu Yhis is a service to deserving surgeons in the developing countries. The Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters is a Member of the International Federation of Surgical Colleges.

10^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MEDITERRANEAN CLUB
FOR BURNS AND FIRE DISASTERS (MBC)
30^th OCTOBER 1998 - ATHENS

PROPOSALS TO MODIFY THE MBC STATUTES

The MBC was founded in 1983, since when it has been growing in structure and functions. Considering the new organizational structure of the Club, new activities developed in these past years, and future action as WHO Collaborating Centre, it is necessary to consider some modifications in the Club Statutes. The proposals made below will be presented at the General Assembly at the next Meeting of the MBC in Athens.

Present Statute

Art. 6 Ordinary Members of the Club, who include the Founder Members, are appointed among specialists in burns pathology and in fire disasters from all the Mediterranean Countries

Art. 7 The Assembly appoints the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer who remain in office for three years and may be re-appointed; approves the general direction of the Club's activities, as formulated by the President and the Secretary General; approves the admission of new Members and determines the Membership fees; and approves the budget. For the approval of the budget in years when the Assembly will be unable to meet, the Assembly appoints beforehand, in its last meeting, a Committee that will have the function of approving the budget. The Committee will remain in office until the next Assembly and will be composed of at least five Members. The President and the Secretary General are Members by right of the Committee.
The Secretary General will represent the Club for administrative purposes, and will therefore provide for the presentation of the annual programme and collection of contributions supplied by the State, the Regions, local Bodies and in general by any public or private body, and represent the Club before any administrative Authority of the State (including tax offices).
If the Assembly in proceeding to appoint the Secretary General should nominate for this office a Member not residing in Palermo, the above-mentioned administrative functions will be assigned to the Treasurer for the entire period during which the Secretary General not residing in Palermo remains in office.

Proposed modification

Art. 6 Membership of the Club Membershipcomprises the following categories:

7.8 Regional Representatives: as the Club is designated a WHO Collaborating Centre, its action and presence extend beyond the countries of the Mediterranean. To reflect this global importance the Bureau nominates one Regional Representative for each of the six geographic Regions of the World Health Organization.

Explanatory Notes:

1. Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 remain unchanged.

2. Articles 6 and 7 have been modified in order to further clarify the organizational structure of the Club.

3. The extension of the mandates of the officers to four years is due to the fact that the General Assembly meets every two years. (Points 7.2, 7.3, 7.4)

4. Administrative Committee: to obtain the statutory financial support and make required financial reports it is necessary to present to the legislative Authorities yearly budget proposals and financial statements. (7.5)

5. The revision concerning the election of the National Representatives is in order to ensure that the Member is an active contributor to the Club. The Executive Committee is aware of this activity thanks to the role it plays on the international level, so that it is possible to appoint Members who have particularly distinguished themselves by their contribution. (7.8)
   The National Representative loses office in the event of:

   • retirement from service. This is because, unless institutionally recognized activities continue to be exercised, it is thought that only persons in contact with their own national institutions, and therefore supported by them, are able to offer the Club their active collaboration. It also guarantees the arrival of new support;

   • absence from two consecutive meetings. This is because the National Representatives must constantly guarantee their active function (particularly as regards the initiatives and activities of the country they represent), contacts with the Club, and presence at Meetings.

6. The World Health Organization has divided the World into six Regional Offices. The MBC is now privileged to be its scientific Collaborating Center worldwide on burns and fire disasters. To reflect this distinctive recognition it is desirable that the Club has one person to represent the MBC in each of the six WHO regions outside the Mediterranean membership. The Regional Representatives will have no vote.

7. Transitional rules
   On the occasion of the Athens Meeting, when the modifications are approved by the General Assembly, all official positions will cease, and their renewal decided in the same session, in order to permit application of the new rules.