Mongolia is located in the heart of central Asia with a total population of just over 3 million (WHO,2016), living sparsely over the territory of 1,566,500 square kilometres. It is the least densely populated country in the world with an overall population. Sparsely distributed population makes it challenging to deliver health care services to rural and remote areas, especially to herders who lead a nomadic lifestyle. Mongolia’s life expectancy is 66 years for males and 74 years for females (WHO,2016), and in infant mortality rate of 16 of 1000 live births (WHO,2018).
Until recently, Interplast’s program in Mongolia focused on anaesthetic training.
In 2008, anaesthetists from the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) approached Interplast to support them with the implementation of a project to increase the number and improve the quality of anaesthetists in Mongolia through the establishment of a safe anaesthetic training program. Developed in cooperation and collaboration with the Mongolian Society of Anaesthetists (MSA) the program’s goal was to improve residency training and the continuing education of anaesthesia specialists.
The first intake of 16 trainees into the new training program began in September 2009 and graduated in March 2011. Since this time, the program has continued to support the MSA to successfully deliver the new training program. Australian anaesthetists attended the annual MSA scientific meeting (MSA ASC) to provide professional development to current Mongolian anaesthetists and trainees, as well as to train the trainers. The MSA will also expand their reach by delivering training to provincial health workers in the form of practical workshops and educational lectures in remote areas of Mongolia.
Interplast was also approached by Bright Blue, the Western Australian Police Commissioner’s Fund for Sick Kids. Bright Blue was eager to support Interplast to expand its programs into surgical support to Mongolia, and so Interplast worked with local partners to deliver a burns mentoring program and needs assessment to see where Interplast’s resources could best assist local priorities. This marked an exciting development for Interplast’s Mongolia program. Interplast has now delivered 3 programs to Murun, in the outer-Eastern provinces of Mongolia, and continues to work with local partners to improve access to plastic and reconstructive surgery.
In the 2019/2020 financial year, Interplast has continued to support the Mongolian Society of Anaesthetist’s training and education programs, to, in turn, continue to build the capacity of anaesthesia in Mongolia.
Interplast has also delivered surgical mentoring, focusing on burns reconstruction to Dalanzadgad, in Southern Mongolia, as well as supporting burns rehabilitation (hand) therapy in Ulaanbaatar.
For more details, keep an eye on our Calendar of Program Activities, or get in touch with us.