Dr Martin Persson was invited to speak to the European Parliament on 27 February 2018. The breakfast event, hosted by MEP Sean Kelly and attended by a diverse audience of other MEPs and policy makers, was an opportunity to get clefts and craniofacial anomalies on the Parliament’s agenda. The aim is to start pressing the European Commission for specific resources for cleft and craniofacial care in order to reduce the huge inequalities across Europe, enabling equal access to good quality lifelong cleft care. Also with a speech at the event, ECO Executive Director Gareth Davies, stated ‘access to good cleft care is a basic human right and everyone born with a cleft and craniofacial anomaly should have the opportunity of realizing their full potential. There are a million people in Europe with clefts – equivalent to a city the size of Brussels. This in not a marginal concern and needs addressing urgently”
Early care training project discussed family’s needs of provision of care
The project team met in Vilnius, Lithuania in late February to discuss parent/patient information needs in each country. From our initial findings in each country, it was clear that both groups – patients and health care professionals – needed further information and education about how to care for children with clefts and craniofacial anomalies. The pedagogical report was presented. The importance of course structure and design were emphasised with the key message being that the overall impact of our training was the measure of success. Change in clinical practice was the aim of the learning process and course design should have this as the ultimate goal. A summary of the EQF framework was presented; this course was pitched at level EQF 4 which would be sufficient to fill all the gaps highlighted in the national reports and patient needs.
Next meetings were set to
- 28 -29 September, Bucharest
- 15 February 2018, Plovdiv
CUTTING EDGE TRAINING project meeting in Bergen, Norway
The Cutting Edge Training project had the second project meeting in Bergen, Norway at Haukeland University Hospital on the 16th of February 2018. The purpose of the meeting was to agree upon the training materials and content of training which will take place in October in Bucharest. The pedagogical report done by HKR and Triskelion is the foundation for the EQF level 4 training materials that will be developed. Nichola Rhumsey from Triskelion presented the suggested framework of the training modules.
Cost Action gathering in Zagreb
The 20 countries that participate in the Cost Action “European Cleft and Craniofacial Initiative for Equality in Care” met in Croatia on Thursday 25th – Friday 26th January 2018 at The University of Zagreb School of Dental Medicine. The main aim of the action is to ensure that every child born with a cleft or craniofacial condition in Europe must have the opportunity of realising their full potential. It is acknowledged at European level that health professional does not have enough resources and/or training to deliver the same provision of care. Thomas Nilsen from Triskelion was representative from Norway and is heading Work Group 5, dealing with dissemination. The different work groups started their assessment of the work that needs to be done and will meet next time for a big conference in Niš, Serbia – September 2018.
Correct IT Kickoff in Stavanger
The Correct IT project had kickoff in Stavanger on the 23 of September 2017. The project timeline and structure was discussed and a detailed work plan agreed upon. Each team presented how they have organised for the project implementation internally. The kickoff ended with a transnational team building dinner. Next steps of the intellectual outputs was agreed upon.
Cutting edge training kickoff in Kristianstad
The Cutting Edge Training project had kickoff in Kristianstad early November 2017. The project team consist of Haukeland Sykehus in Bergen, ALA association from Bulgaria, Clinica Cittàgiardino from Italy, Høgskolan Kristanstad from Sweden and European Cleft Association from Netherlands. The focus will be to develop training and train healthcare professionals working with patients undergoing appearance altering performances.
Article in Swedish newspaper: News article1 News article 2
Correct it Facebook and web page up and running
The Correct it project has launched a Facebook site and a web page.
They can be found here:
WEB SITE
World food day 16th October and Correct it Project
Today on the 16th of October is the world food day. Food and Agriculture organization of the united nations organize this event in 150 countries around the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. See link to website about the day;
Cost action CA16234 kicks off in Brussels
The Cost action CA16234 had kickoff in Brussels 5th of October 2017, and with 20 countries involved and several more on the way in, it will be a major force to recon with in the harmonisation of European cleft care. Gareth Davies of European Cleft Organisation was voted in as chairman of the action, while Triskelion’s Thomas Nilsen will be responsible for dissemination together with work group 5.
Article in Swedish newspaper: News article
First meeting today of new EU Erasmus+ funded project, developing a training programme for the early care of babies born with clefts. Partners from Latvia, Norway, Bulgaria, Greece, Netherlands and Romania meet in Rijswijk, The Hague. This is an exciting time for European Cleft Organisation and Triskelion!
Project number : 2017-1-NL01-KA202-035195