SMP member Dr Barry Klaassen presented IFEM Humanitarian Award

Barry has been a long-term friend and supporter of the SMP: he has been an active part of many of our events, always happy to share his learning and experience with others across many engagements, online, and in Parliament. He is endlessly collaborative, collegial and convivial to work with!

This Scottish Government funded project has the potential to radically improve Malawi’s emergency medicine capabilities, by working with, supporting and being led by colleagues in Malawi. It is very much a partnership-driven endeavor. We very much welcome the positive focus that the award has brought this excellent project and we join others in congratulating Dr Klaasen on his recognition.

Founded in 1989, the International Federation for Emergency Medicine is an association composed of national emergency medicine organisations. Its purpose is to promote access to, and lead the development of, the highest quality of emergency medical care for all people.

Dr Klassen attended the virtually held IFEM conference last week in which he was presented the Humanitarian Award 2020, from the current President Prof Sally McCarthy(Aus).

Dr Klaassen said:

“This award is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication of our NHS Tayside Project team of which I lead, especially Gwen Gordon, Russell Duncan and Linda Imrie, together with the support of the entire Emergency Medicine team in Tayside and the Scottish Clinicians and Nurses who volunteer to help us deliver our goals.

This project would not be possible without the continuing support of Scottish Government International development funds and the ongoing Scotland Malawi Partnership of which we are members.

This award, while the world continues to struggle with the ongoing pandemic, rightly shines a spotlight on the need for global ongoing support from the well resourced, well established health services to the least resourced ones and reminds us access to quality emergency health care is a human right for everyone, not just the few.”