We are very pleased to welcome Professor John Lumley as an honorary patron of storefair.org and the Books and Medical books for Africa projects.
Please see below the Professor's inspiration behind the writing, publishing and self financing of this vital project of compiling this textbook. Storefair.org have the utmost pleasure in supporting both in storage of the textbook but more importantly the financing and logistics of the distribution to Africa, Asia and beyond of this life saving book.
Professor John Lumley
John S P Lumley MS FRCS Professor of Surgery, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Honorary Consultant Surgeon, St. Bartholomew's Hosptial, London. Member of Council, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Past World President, International College of Surgeons.
Development of the Textbook of Tropical Surgery
Why needed
- Surgeons are in short supply across the tropics
- Patients present with advanced and often inoperable disease
- There is great diversity of tropical disease, and it may be unique to specific regions
- This diversity is poorly addressed in the existing tropical literature, which is sparse in nature, with inadequate surgical coverage of many diseases
- The literature that does exist is not readily available to the practitioner
- Tropical Surgery is a neglected speciality
- A comprehensive textbook is thus much needed
How developed
- The text has been the lifetime ambition of the senior editor
- The editors have been planning the text throughout their Presidencies of the International College of Surgeons, and with other bodies, for the last two decades
- They have set up and have been involved with very many, surgical, speciality and scientific meetings on tropical health
- These meetings have usually been multidisciplinary, linked with Surgical and other Societies, and World bodies, such as in the launch of the Textbook, at the Regional Headquarters of the WHO in Cairo
- There have been many other meetings, focus groups and think-tanks to brainstorm the requirements of the text
- The text has been tailored to the needs of the tropical surgeon throughout the world, wherever they are working
- As the project progressed, it became evident that surgery was so closely linked with all aspects of tropical disease, that the text would require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach
- With these aims identified, a world-wide team of authors was approached, each with local and regional expert knowledge of their field
- These authors were encouraged to provide a comprehensive contemporary view of their chosen topic, and have delivered an outstanding set of articles
Content
- The contents of the textbook are outlined in the brochure
- The emphasis is on multidisciplinary care, and the text is a comprehensive encyclopaedia of tropical health
- The contents equate to a collection of textbooks on all aspects of this field
- The main thrust is on infectious disease, with extensive cover of parasitic disease in tropical areas
- Prominence is also given to trauma, disasters and malignancy
- Investigatory techniques cover modern developments, as well as standard and minimal requirements
- In clinical management and peri-operative care, attention is given to both low cost surgery and complex specialist procedures
- Chapters concerned with the quality of life, cover a wide spectrum of topics, including the environment, public health, ageing and ethical concerns
- The historical section highlights the important contribution from the tropics in the development of medicine
- A large collection of tables covers the differential diagnosis of common symptoms and signs, and the classification of tropical disease
- Case histories, and hints and tips highlight specific areas of interest
Future
- The authors are aware that the text is only the first step in a long-term educational programme
- There is a need for a rolling textbook, with built-in assessment programmes and the tools for personal evaluation
- Practical training is required for all those undertaking tropical surgery, regardless of their previous knowledge and skills
- The authors of the Textbook have been incorporated into a network to promote this educational activity
- The Global Academy of Tropical Health has been set up with these factors in mind, and its aims include the establishment of mechanisms for helping populations to help themselves, as well as educating their surgeons
- The mission statement of the Academy outlines its dreams and aspirations
Textbook of Tropical Surgery
Mission
Quality and Equity in Health
Today we share with you a dream, of escaping from a world of endemic and epidemic disease and, for those who are victims of ignorance and victims of uncertainty, emerging from poverty, misery and oppression, to live with fulfillment and dignity.
Our main objective is to combat disease, ignorance and poverty – the three enemies of man that hinder his development.
Our solution is to plant a single seed that grows like the Banyan tree, to form a network of clinicians, carers and sufferers of tropical disease, to promote the delivery of health care and to research into all aspects of this field.
Our mission is quality and equity in health, and our method, the development of a “Global Academy of Tropical Surgery”, a multidisciplinary organization for education and research, the activities of which are unfettered by cultural differences or national boundaries.
The seed is information that will ignite the desire for education and the thirst for knowledge. The acquisition of knowledge leads to the achievement of wisdom, and out of wisdom come the development of health, social justice and peace.
Peace is consequent on development and our dream is that today’s seed of health information will blossom, and contribute a branch towards world peace and unity.
Information – Knowledge – Wisdom – Development – Peace
