Wonca to Establish Special Interest Group in Travel Medicine
A Special Interest Group (SIG) in travel medicine is being established within the World Organization of Family Doctors. Why a need for a SIG in travel medicine? People are traveling greater distances more frequently. Groups of people are seeking refugee status in other countries. Certain focused groups are tackling challenging adventures in foreign countries with inherent dangers of injury and contracting exotic infectious diseases.
Aircraft are carrying more and more people and fly quicker - there is overcrowding at airports and conveyance of vectors responsible for disease and infectious diseases before they manifest occurs rapidly and easily. Most travelers seek advice from us, the family practitioner. On return from their travels, should they fall ill, we are again consulted. Companies are sending employees to foreign countries; often the spouse and children remain in their home country. This places a huge burden on all parties and frequently results in breakdown of the marriage and a disgruntled employee whose productivity falls dramatically.
It is to us that such families turn for help.

As family physicians, we need to be in a position to provide the appropriate advice for our patients on matters of travel medicine. With the rapid spread of disease, being well informed is critical to supplying the correct advice and medication.
The role of the Special Interest Group would be to:
· Educate and inform
· Define the roles and responsibilities of the family practitioner
· Develop guidelines for ethical and appropriate practice
· Provide resources
· Network with other interested organizations
· Provide the infrastructure for networking amongst family practitioners
· Encourage collaborative research within WONCA, in the field of travel medicine, through member organizations, academic department members; working parties and SIGs.

How do I become involved? All you have to do is to email me at gkb@brink.za.net and I will contact you with further information. The SIG will be launched at the 17th World Congress of Family Doctors to be held in Orlando in October next year - so book your ticket now!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Garth Brink
30 Savell Aves
Glenashley 4051
South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0) 31 562 8505
Facsimile: +27 (0) 31 572 7812
Email: gkb@brink.za.net