Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters - vol. XII - n. 1 - March 1999

MBC NEWS

RESOLUTION
ON THE SAFETY OF BUTANE GAS DISPENSERS IN DOMESTIC USE
THE MEDITERRANEAN CLUB FOR BURNS AND FIRE DISASTERS,
AT ITS
10^TH ANNUAL MEETING IN ATHENS, GREECE, OCTOBER 29-31,1998

Whereas
Butane gas dispensing containers are very common in domestic use in several countries of the Mediterranean Basin,

noting
these implements are a health hazard, as a frequent and major cause of extensive burns among these populations,

and considering that
there is inadequate legislation and insufficient information on their risks and safe use by the consumer,

the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disaslels resolves to
iniliate, study and promote prevention of burns and fire disasters caused by these

and calls upon
Governments, national and local authorities. intergovernmental organizations to initiate and strengthen concerning the manufacture and safe use of these product.

INFORMATIC UPDATE

Informatic Update is a new feature that we shall be publishing regularly in 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 [he clinical field.
At present not many such clinical application 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 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 CAMPAIGNS

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.: + 39 091 6663631 - Fax: + 39 091 596404.

MEDITERRANEAN CLUB FOR BURNS AND FIRE DISASTERS
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND RELEVANT
HEALTH PERSONNEL
1999

The Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters (MBC) awards ten annual Scholarships for specialization in the prevention, therapy, care and functional recovery in the field of burn pathology. The scholarships are divided between physicians, nurses and relevant health personnel. The purpose of the awards, in accordance with the terms of the statutes of the MBC, is to promote the interchange of young physicians, nurses and relevant health personnel from specialized centres in the various countries in the Mediterranean area with the aim of achieving a high standard of care and of stimulating an ever greater spirit of cooperation.
The value of each Scholarship is fixed at the sum of Lit. 4.000.000 (four million Italian lire), less taxes. This amount is intended to cover the cost of the return journey and living expenses.
The Scholar has the obligation to attend abroad, for not less than one month, a qualified Centre for the treatment of Burns and their sequelae, situated in one of the countries comprising the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters.
All physicians, nurses and relevant health personnel from countries belonging to the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters are eligible to compete for the Scholarships.
Applications, written in English or French, must arrive by the deadline of 28th February of each year (no account can be taken of any postal delays), addressed to: Segreteria, Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters "Borsa di Studio", c/o Divisione di Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia delle Ustioni, Ospedale Civico, via C. Lazzaro, 90125 Palermo, Italy.
The candidate must specify in the application which Scholarship he or she is applying for (Physicians, Nurses, Health Personnel) and include the following:

1. full name, date and place of birth, home address and telephone numher;
2. the country and the Centre which the applicant intends to visit; 
3. a brief programme describing the aims which the candidate intends to pursue with the support of the Scholarship;
4. a statement by the candidate of competence in a language (English or French) necessary for carryng out the activity, described in the programme;
5. the candidate's signature legally authenticated.

All candidates must enclose with the application:

1. curriculum vitae, indicating academic record, professional activity, attendance at seminars etc.;
2. a declaration of acceptance and training hospitality on the part of the Host Centre which the candidate intends to visit;
3. recent letters of introduction (in the original or in authenticated copies) from Chiefs of Institutes, Divisions or Services with connected Burns Centre, who are members of the Club, attesting to periods of training confirming the candidate's specific preparation in the field of burn pathology;
4. list of qualifications;
5. for physicians, additionally;
   • degree diploma (with marks), in authenticated copy
   • scientific papers, published since graduation
   • certificate of introduction or of guarantee issued by the Chief of the Institute, Division or Service where the candidate is currently working.

The Adjudicating Committee is composed of:

• The President of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters
• The Secretary General of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters
• A National Representative drawn by lot in the course of the Annual Assembly from among the representatives of the various countries which have not already received scholarships in previous years. This position is not renewable until, in the course of time, the individual countries have achieved equal representation.

The Scholarships will be awarded not later than 30th June each year.
The winners will be informed that within 30 days they must communicate to the Secretariat of the MBC their acceptance, the address of the bank where they wish to have the scholarship money deposited, the period they have chosen to take up the scholarship, and a declaration by the candidate that he or she does not have a criminal record.
The Scholarship must be taken up by 30th May of the year following the award, at the latest.
The Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters will credit in advance two-thirds of the amount by bank transfer, and the remainder on termination of the period chosen, after a declaration of satisfactory attendance issued by the Chief of the Centre where the programme was carried out.
The Scholarship winner must inform the secretariat of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters "Borsa di Studi6' of the beginning of the period of attendance and of any interruptions.
The Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters undertakes to publish the Scholarship winners' names, together with relative motivations, in the "Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters", in which the Club may also publish papers resulting from this study.
Any person interested may request a copy of the official announcement of the Scholarships and other information from the Secretariat of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters "Borsa di Studio".

CLUB MEDITERRANEEN DES BRULURES ET DESASTRES D'INCENDIE.
BOURSES D'ETUDES POUR MEDECINS, INFIRMIERES ET MEMBRES DU CORPS MEDICAL EN RAPPORT 
1999

Le Club Mediterranéen des Brûlures et Désastres d'incendie (MBC) offre dix bourses d'études de spécialisation chaque année pour la prévention, la thérapie, les soins et le recouvrement fonctionnel en matière de pathologie des brûlures.
Les bourses sont réparties entre médecins, infirmiers et membres du corps médical de compétence. Elles ont pour but, selon les termes des statuts du MBC, de promouvoir l'échange de jeunes médecins, infirmiers et personnel du corps médical de compétence des centres spécialisés entre les différents pays du bassin méditerranéen dans le but d'atteindre un haut niveau en matière de soins médicaux et pour favoriser l'esprit de coopération.
Le montant de chaque bourse s'élève a 4.000.000 lires (quatre millions de lires), rémunération brute. Cette somme permettra de payer le billet de voyage aller-retour et les frais de séjour.
Le boursier devra obligatoirement fréquenter à l'étranger, pendant pas moins d'un mois, un centre spécialisé dans le traitement des brûlures et de leurs séquelles, situé dans l'un des pays appartenant au Club Mediterranéen des Brûlures et Désastres d'incendie.
Tous les médicins, les infirrnierès et le personnel du corps médical de compétence des pays faisant partie du Club peuvent poser leur candidature.
Les demandes, écrites en anglais ou en français, doivent par-venir avant le 28 février de chaque année (on ne tiendra pas compte des retards de la poste) et seront adressées à: Segreteria, Club Mediterranéen des Brûlures et Désastres d'incendie "Boisa di Studio", c/o Divisione di Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia delle Ustioni, Ospedale Civico, Via C. Lazzaro, 90125 Palermo, Italy.
Le candidat devra spécifier dans sa demande quelle bourse illelle sollicite (médecins, infirmiers, personnel sanitaire) et indiquer ce qui suit:

1. nom et prénom, date et lieu de naissance, domicile et numéro de téléphone:
2. le pays et le centre où le candidat désire se rendre; 
3. un bref exposé des projets que le candidate entend réaliser grâce à cette bourse;
4. déclaration par le candidat de connaître bien la langue (anglais ou français) nécessaire pour la réalisation des activités énoncées dans l'exposé;
5. la signature du candidat dûment légalisée. 

Le candidat devra joindre à la demande:

1. un curriculum vitae décrivant le cours de ses études, son activité professionelle, sa participation à des séminaires etc;
2. la déclaration de la part du Centre hospitalier où le candidat désire se rendre que sa demande a été acceptée;
3. quelques lettres de présentation récentes (documents originaux ou copies authentifiées) de directeurs d'Institut, de Division ou de Services avec des Centres annexes pour les brûlures, qui soient Membres du Club, attestant que le candidat a fait des stages dans ces centres pour parfaire sa spécialisation dans la domaine de la pathologie des brûlures,
4. liste des titres;
5. les médicins devront ajouter:
   • copie authentifiée du diplôme de doctorat (avec notes)
   • ouvrages scientifiques publiés après le doctorat en médicine
   • attestation de présence du chef d'Institut, de Division ou de Service où le candidat travaille au moment présent. 

La Commission-Juge est composée: 

• du Président du Club Mediterranéen des Brûlures et Désastres d'Incendie 
• du Secrétaire Général du Club Mediterranéen des Brûlures et Désastres d'Incendie 
• d'un représentant national tiré au sort au cours de l'Assemblée générale parmi les représentants des differents pays n'ayant pas encore gagné de bourses d'étude durant les années precédentes. Chaque pays devant atteindre le même nombre de représentation, celle-ci ne pourra être renouvelée qu'après égalité. 

Les bourses seront attribuées pas plus tard que le 30 juin de chaque année. Les gagnants seront informés qu'ils devront, sous les 30 jours, communiquer au Secrétariat de I'MBC leur acceptation, l'adresse de la banque où ils désirent que soit versé le montant de la bourse, la période qu'ils ont choisie pour retirer cette bourse, et un extrait du casier judiciaire que le candidat n'a commis aucun délit. Le gagnant ne pourra plus bénéficier de la bourse après le 30 mai de l'année suivante. Le MBC verserà sur le compte bancaire du gagnant les deux tiers du montant de la bourse et le reste à la fin de la période choisie, sous présentation d'un certificat d'assiduité délivré par le Directeur du Centre que le boursier aura fréquenté. Le boursier devra informer le Secrétariat de la "Borsa di Studio" MBC du début de la période de service et de toute interruption, Le MBC s'engage à publier le nom des boursiers ainsi que leurs motivations dans "Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters", où le Club pourra aussi publier les ouvrages résultant de leurs études. Toute personne intéressée peut demander une copie de l'avis de concours et toute autre information au Secrétariat de la "Borsa di Studio MBC.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Athens 30 October 1998

The General Assembly of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters met in Athens, Greece, on 30 October 1998. The objective of the Assembly was to examine, discuss and approve the Club's activities in 1996 and 1997.

The agenda was as follows:

• Approval of Agenda
• President's report
• Secretary General's report
• Treasurer's report
• Report of Representative Members
• Approval of 1997 financial balance
• Approval of 1999 budget
• Representative Members' report
• Approval of proposal to modify the Statute
• Election of the President
• Election of the Secretary General
• Election of the Treasurer
• Appointment of the Chairmen of Special Committees
• Appointment of the National Representatives
• Appointment of the Regional Representatives
• Appointment of the Editorial Board of Annals
• Appointment of the National Correspondents of Annals
• Appointment of Honorary Members
• Admission of new Members
• Approval of the Club's future activities
• Any other business

The President's Report, 1996-1998

It is my duty and pleasure to report to the General Assembly of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters on the developments and advances of the Club during the period summer 1996 to date, that is, from the Meeting in Tunis to our current Assembly in Athens.
A great deal has happened during that time, all of them being events and activities that have added scientific lustre and organizational importance to the work and status of the MBC. I shall only give brief highlights in this Report, leaving it to our very able Secretary General to expand on details. The details are particularly important this year as Members will be called upon to approve changes that have become necessary through the growth and official standing of the Club.
This period has been most productive, and if  were to summarize the advances made I would say it has been marked by a solid coming of age of the MBC; with considerable scientific expansion, growth of activities, and recognition at the international level; modernization of communications with increasingly computerized facilities; and, above all, the designation by the World Health Organization of the MBC as a WHO Collaborating Centre.

WHO
The MBC is now the WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Burns and Fire Disasters. We are the only organization in the field of thermal science in the world to hold this accolade, which we acknowledge with pleasure and full scientific responsibility. Members will find all the details of this appellation in the Annals, Volume XI, N° 1.
With these closer ties, and to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of WHO, we have established "The WHO Page" in the Annals, to share news of significant health events in the world. Also in this spirit, the MBC took part in the First International Meeting of WHO Collaborating Centres on Emergencies and Humanitarian Action, held in April 1998 in St Petersburg, Russia, under the Co-Chair of the MBC President.

International Relations and Scientific Activities
Besides our close ties with the World Health Organization, mentioned above, the MBC continues to have an increasing and growing array of relations with other organizations within the Mediterranean area and further afield, being invited, solicited, or participating in wider activities.

The International Federation of Surgical Colleges: The MBC is an Affiliated Specialty Member of the IFSC and several MBC members are on the Board of this important Federation. Last month the MBC hosted the Executive Committee meeting of the IFSC in Palermo, where a most interesting Symposium was organized jointly on the theme of "Quality of Life after Major Surgery". We also have close ties with the Federation's scientific monthly journal, the World Journal of Surgery.

The European Union: The CD-ROM educational computerized hypertext on Burns, that we had prepared under the auspices of the EU, has become a valuable teaching tool in thermal pathology, and all member organizations are strongly recommended to have it for their training programmes. Having collaborated in the COMETT Project, the MBC is now preparing further scientific material within the Leonardo Programme of the EU.

World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine: The logical and pioneering extension of MBC's interests from burns as a clinical, individual problem to fire disasters as a societal, emergency management problem has proved a right and necessary move, and MBC officers are on the Board of WADEM and will hold responsible positions in the forthcoming World Congress that will be held in Japan in May 1999.

Pan-Arab Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgeons: The MBC takes some pride in the knowledge that it has been a facilitator in the establishment of several like-minded organizations both at the international and the national levels. The Pan-Arab Society is very active and has collaborated closely with the MBC.

National Societies of burn surgeons and plastic surgeons also have close collaboration with the MBC, as exemplified by the Portuguese Society that will host our next Assembly, the Spanish Society that received us four years ago, the Czech and the Slovak Societies, as also the Oman Conference. One of the aims of the MBC is to strengthen national expertise, and such collaboration is roost welcome.

The European Centre for Disaster Medicine has, from its inception, had close training and organizational ties with the MBC, our President having been one of the co-founders of CEMEC. The MBC contributes the burns and fire protection aspects of the Centre's programmes.

United Nations: Following our ties with WHO, we are now in the process of extending our relations to include the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The Giuseppe Whitaker Foundation has close scientific ties with the MBC, although it is a completely separate and independent institution, It plays a crucial role in the science and education of burns management and its International Burns Prize is the most coveted achievement in the field. We are proud that our Secretary General is its Scientific Secretary.

The MBC is now on the Internet and has its home page, with important information of the Club itself but also on burns surgery literature and scientific activities pertaining to thermal science and civil protection. Members are invited to browse and to keep contact by e-mail.
The extension of the name of our Journal to Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters has certainly expanded the scope of the publication and the extent of experts who consult it. It is the only journal in that specialty to be accessed at the central Library of the World Health Organization. Contacts have been established to have the Annals included in major Lists.

The MBC membership is constantly growing, and more young surgeons and senior specialists are joining the Club from countries outside the Mediterranean. It is proposed that a category of "Associate Member" be established to welcome these colleagues from other countries. (See change of Statute.)

Members will have before them at this Assembly a proposal to modify the Statute, necessitated by the constant growth of the by MBC organization, its added activities, its international status within WHO, and the desirability to encourage greater participation of the Members in the work of their Club. As President, 1 urge Members to implement these welcome modifications.

The MBC is in the enviable position of having a healthy financial balance, as will be evident from the Treasurer's Report. The costs and expenses are expected to rise with the organizational changes. But one thing that is not changing is the constant, generous and continuing support of the Italian Authorities, and particularly of the Sicilian Parliament. Through their understanding, intellectual generosity and financial assistance this Club has grown from a small group of burn specialists to hospital administrators, to fire prevention authorities, disaster managers and now humanitarian practitioners in favour of burn patients and fire victims over a vast area of the globe. For all this, 1 officially present the homage and acknowledgement of the MBC.

William Gunn, MD, MS, FRCSC
President

The Report was unanimously accepted and thanks were expressed to the President.

Secretary General's Report 1996-1998

The Club's activity in the years 1996, 1997 and 1998 has been developed in the following sectors:

a) Sector of Prevention and Public Education
All the material produced up to now by the Club continues to be requested by Ordinary Members of MBC, Associate Members, and International Organizations interested in developing prevention campaigns.
In these last years the requests arrived from Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Morocco, India, Malta and Portugal.
As always, the material is given free of charge on receipt of an official letter of commitment containing the undertaking to conduct

b) Sector of Disaster and Emergency
The action of the Club in the sector of fire disasters has been increasingly appreciated by WHO. In June 1997 the World Health Organization designated the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Burns and Fire Disasters.
In April 1998 in the spirit of the humanitarian action of the WHO the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine (IAHM) was constituted.
In April 1998 the Skin Bank was inaugurated officially in Palermo.
The MED-SKIN-BANK (Mediterranean Skin Bank) is supported

c) Sector of Cultural Exchanges between Member countries
The Club's scholarships were again awarded in 1996 and 1997 to physicians and nurses to enable them to attend Burn Centres and Plastic Surgery Departments in the various countries in the Mediterranean area for the period of one month.
In the last two years 20 scholarships were awarded, respectively 13 to physicians and 7 to nurses.

As a sign of collaboration some of our scholarships are shared jointly as MBC/WHO and MBC/IFSC scholarships.

d) Sector of Cultural Promotion, Study and Research
Every year meetings, conferences and refresher courses are held in rotation in the various countries with the purpose of promoting the integration of the various types of scientific progress in the field of burns and fire disasters:

• 14-15 September 1997: International Course on Burns and Fire Disasters in collaboration with the Syrian Aesthetic Reconstructive Surgery and Burns Association - Aleppo, Syria.

• 21-22 November 1997: Course of CEMEC (Centre Europeen Medicine de Catastrophes) on Burns and Fire Disasters - Rep. San

• 22-23 May 1998: International Training Course on Burns and Fire Disasters in collaboration with the Clinic of Plastic Surgery and Burns of Makarios Hospital - Limassol, Cyprus.

• 23 September 1998: Joint Symposium with the International Federation of Surgical Colleges.

e) Promotion of the Spirit of Cooperation between countries
The Club is a means for enlarging the study of the individual realities and for developing a more incisive programme of cooperation.
In the spirit of WHO a section of 5 beds has been inaugurated for the hospital treatment of patients coming from developing countries at the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Therapy in Palermo Civic Hospital, seat of the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters. Financial support will be provided by Palermo Town Council, the Province of Palermo, and the Sicilian Region, within the concept of Hurnanitar~ian Medicine.

f) Dissemination of the MBC'S activities
The publication of the quarterly journal Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, which is the official journal of the Club, continues regularly.
Efforts continue to improve the quality of the journal, which now has a circulation of over 3,200 copies.
We are convinced that the quality 'of the contents is constantly rising, as demonstrated by the high number of articles submitted for publication by authors in countries beyond the Mediterranean area.

Since Ist December 1996 the Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters has been present in Internet: HYPERLINK http://www.cres.it/mbc/
E-Mail Service is managed by the MBC Secretariat staff from the following e-mail address: Hyperlink mail to: mbcpa@cres.it
In collaboration with CRES (Sicilian Electronic Research Centre), MBC intends to provide its Members and more generally all Internet users with the following packet of information and communication services: Welcoming system, Bibliographic data bank, E-Mail service.
Apparatus and equipment for the collection and storing of clinical bibliographical and didactic data and videomaterial have been purchased and installed at the official scat of the Club.
An electronic editing centre, a graphic Computer centre, and an animation computer centre have been realized.
To permit the creation of a clinical, therapeutic and nursing data bank derived from the various Centres in the countries of the Mediterranean, MBC has created a bibliographical data bank on burns, reconstructive surgery, and fire disasters. The collection and management of all graphic material can be used in the promotion of prevention campaigns, the realization and storing of videomaterial to be used in teaching and in scientific and publishing activities, and the creation of a centre for the distribution via cable system of all data collected.

Michele Masellis MD
Secretary General MBC

The Report was unanimously accepted and thanks were expressed to the Secretary General.

Treasurer's Report 1996 - 1998

The financial situation for the years 1996-1997 is presented.
The 1998 budget will be approved next year. The 1999 budget is also presented.
Although the activities developed by the Club are various and wide-ranging the budget has always been balanced.
Since the Congress in La Coruna in 1994, when the General Assembly decided to hold Congresses every two years, the budget of the intermediate year has been approved by a Select Committee consisting of the President, the Secretary General, and three members elected in the last Assembly. The final balance statement of 1996 was approved by the Select Committee on 11 April 1997.
For 1998 the Sicilian Regional Government, as part of a general policy to cut expenses, has reduced by 25% the annual sum that it grants the Club for its constitutional activities.

Statement of revenue and expenditure at 31.12.1996

REVENUE

EXPENDITURE

The Select Committee approves

Prof. S.W.A. Gunn
Prof M. Masellis
Prof. M. Darghouth
Prof. V. Martelo
Prof. L. Rosenberg

Statement of revenue and expenditure at 31.12.1997

REVENUE

EXPENDITURE

Giuseppe Sferrazza-Papa MD
Treasurer

1999 Budget

The estimated expenditure for the Club's activities is divided as follows:

Giuseppe Sferrazza-Papa MD
Treasurer

The Report was unanimously accepted and thanks were expressed to the Treasurer

Representative Members' Report

G. Belba reported on the health situation in Albania which is beginning to show some slight progress on the organizational and health assistance level. The MBC expressed its willingness to organize a refresher course in Albania and invited the Albanian colleagues to make some operational proposals.

G. Koulennou reported on the results obtained by the International Training Course on Burns and Fire Disasters, held in Limassol in May 1998. The course was successful and well appreciated by the young colleagues and nurses who took part and by the local and State authorities.

A.W. Reda Mabrouk reported on the initiative of translating into Arabic one of the folders on the prevention of burns edited by MBC. This is a very laudable initiative that fully reflects the Club's philosophy.

M. Zaidi proposed that on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the inauguration of the Tripoli Burns Centre there should be an official participation on behalf of the MBC. He also asked that in the year 2002 the Fifth International Conference on Burns and Fire Disasters and the 12th Meeting of the MBC should take place in Tripoli.

Israel

L. Rosenberg proposed the organization of an International Training Course on Burns and Fire Disasters in Israel in 1999.

A. Belmahi proposed that in 1999 a Training Course on Burns and Fire Disasters should be organized in Rabat, supported by the MBC. The MBC declared its support.

M. Costa reported, on behalf of J. Escarduca Diaz, on the preparations for the organization of the Fifth International Conference on Burns and Fire Disasters and the I Ith Meeting of the MBC in Lisbon.

Approval of proposal to modify the Statute

Since 1983, the year of the MBC's foundation, the organization and activity of the Club have considerably expanded. For these reasons, and in consideration of the Club's future action as WHO Collaborating Centre, it has been found necessary to proceed to some modifications of the Statute. During the Assembly the following articles were accordingly modified:

Art. 6 - Membership. The Club Membership comprises the following categories:

6.1 Founder Members
6.2 Ordinary Members
6.3 Honorary Members
6.4 Associate Members

6.1  Founder Members: as defined in Art. 4.

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

6.3  Retired Members and other distinguished personalities who have dedicated part or all of their professional activity to the treatment, research and teaching of burn disease may be appointed Honorary Members.

6.4  Burn Specialists from countries outside the Mediterranean basin can be admitted as Associate Members. Associate Members do not have a vote.

6.5  A new Member must be introduced by two MBC Members.

Art. 7 The Organs of the Club:

7.1 General Assembly
7.2 President
7.3 Secretary General
7.4 Treasurer
7.5 Executive Committee
7.6 Special Committees
7.7 National Representatives
7.8 Regional Representatives

7.1  General Assembly is constituted of Ordinary Honorary Members. It:

1. appoints the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer, who constitute the Bureau of the Club;
2. appoints the National Representatives and the Honorary Members;
3. approves the general activities, as formulated Secretary General;
4. approves the admission of the new Members and determines the membership fees;
5. approves the budget.

The General Assembly meets every two years, coinciding with the Congress of the Club.

7.2  The President is the senior officer of the Club, presides over the General Assembly, and ensures the cohesion, continuity, international standing, scientific integrity, and spirit of the Club. He remains in office for four years and may be re-elected.

7.3  The Secretary General represents the Club for administrative purposes, and therefore provides the presentation of the programmes and collection of contributions supplied by the State, the Regions, local bodies, and in general by any public or private body. He represents the Club before any administrative Authority of the State (including tax offices). He is elected for four years and may be re-elected.

7.4  The Treasurer supervises the finances, collects the dues, and keeps the books of the Club. He is elected for four years and may be re-elected.

7.5  The Executive Committee consists of the Chairmen of the Special Committees, the President, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer. It has also the function of approving the budget in the years when the Assembly does not meet and examines the applications for MBC Scholarships.

7.6  Special Committees. They study and propose operational activity in sectors of particular interest to the Club and to Member countries. These sectors are proposed by the General Assembly.

7.7  National Representatives: these are ordinary Members who are actively engaged in the field of burns and disasters. They are proposed by the Executive Committee and approved at the General Assembly. National Representatives remain in office for four years and may be re-elected. On cessation of activity they may be appointed Honorary Members. National Representatives who are absent from the General Assembly on two consecutive occasions are declared to have ceased office and must be replaced in the same manner as defined above.

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 will nominate one Regional Representative for each of the six geographic Regions of the World Health Organization.

Election of the President, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer

The General Assembly unanimously re-elected:

William Gunn as President
Michele Masellis as Secretary General
Giuseppe Sferrazza-Papa as Treasurer

M. M. Ferrara M.D. (Italy) Prevention and Health Education
G. Magliacani M.D. (Italy) Training and Education
M. Kadry M.D. (Egypt) Emergencies
M. Zaidi M.D. (Libya) Developing Countries
M. Costagliola M.D. (France) - Coordination Scientific Activities
L. Rosenberg M.D. (Israel) - Research
J. loannovich M.D. (Greece) - Inter-organizational Cooperation

O. Khatib M.D. (Ethiopia) for Africa
Basil Pruitt, Jr. M.D., FACS (USA) for the Americas
Wahid A. Alkharusi, M.D., FRCS (Oman) for Asia
Tariq Saeed M,D., FRCS (Bahrain) for the Eastern Mediterranean
Marija Trop M.D. (Austria) for Europe
Takashi Ukai M.D. (Japan) for the Western Pacific

Editorial Board of the Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters:

M. Boukind M.D. (Morocco)
R. Messinger M.D. (Israel)
F. Mazzoleni M.D. (Italy)
M. Sobhi Zaki M.D. (Egypt)
M. Tafalla-Pefia M.D. (Spain)
D. Wasserman M.D. (France)

National Correspondents of theAnnals of Burns and FireDisasters:

The late Professor Giovanni Dogo has been our Honorary Founding President.

The programme for the future activities of the Mediterranean Burns Club, as approved by the General Assembly, includes:

• Sector of Prevention, Education and Training
  Realization of printed, photographic, video, and computerized material for the promotion of Prevention of Burns and Education of the Public in the field of preparedness for fire disasters.
• Sector of Co-operation and Cultural Promotion
  Dissemination of the contents of the Club journal Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, also on the Internet. Organization of training courses preceding the Club's biennial Meetings.
  Official participation of the Club in international meetings.
  Participation of the Club in scientific projects of the European Union with the involvement of Member and Associate countries.
• WHO Collaborating Centre
  The terms of reference of the MBC's action programmes include the following:
  • to train burn specialists and collaborate with firefighting authorities for the improvement of burns therapy and of humanitarian response in fire disaster situations
  • to collaborate with industry for the prevention and mitigation of industrial fires, explosions, toxic accidents, atomic incidents and environmental degradation, for the protection of health and prevention of industrial disasters
  • to collaborate with WHO and its Regional Offices in carrying out emergency humanitarian missions and to manage fire disasters
  • to organize and implement research in essential surgery and appropriate technology for newly independent states, poorly industrialized areas and developing countries
  • to act as Faculty and "specialized arm" to WHO-related institutions and other Collaborating Centres in allied fields and educational endeavours
  • to prepare, in collaboration with affiliates and other institutions, computerized teaching hypertext material and telemedical technology for distant learning and for distant management of disasters
  • to be attentive to developments and evolving needs and to introduce changes and advances accordingly, in unison with the major programmes of WHO
• Humanitarian action in collaboration with the International Society for Humanitarian Medicine

The MBC intends to develop all action of humanitarian medicine both by promoting and providing relief for populations involved in emergency situations caused by fire disasters and by providing specialized teams acting in countries that require them with a network of hospital beds set up in specialist centres in the Member countries to receive patients from developing countries that do not possess specialized facilities. This will be done in collaboration with the other humanitarian organizations that are already operational.

June 1999 Morocco Workshop and Refresher Course
February 2000 Israel Workshop and Refresher Course
Year 2000 Biennial Meeting of MBC in Portugal and Refresher Course
Year 2002 Biennial Meeting of MBC in Libya and Refresher Course

Last resolution of the General Assembly

1. In the discussion of the Treasurer's Report, the President called the Assembly to register its appreciation of the constant moral as well as financial support of the Sicilian Regional Authorities. This ensured the healthy finances and robust activity of the MBC. But this, he felt, should not be taken for granted; a personal contribution, even as a symbolic gesture, would strengthen involvement and would be a positive improvement.
   He thus proposed that a minimal membership fee, say, of $10 or $20, would be appropriate. Those who could not meet such an obligation because of money transfer restrictions would not be penalized. The Assembly agreed unanimously and the Executive will establish an appropriate fee.

2. MBC Resolution on Prevention
   The Mediterranean Club for Burns and Fire Disasters, at its 10th Annual Meeting in Athens, Greece, October 29-31, 1998 voted the following resolution on the safety of butane gas dispensers in domestic use: