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East and Central African Journal of Surgery, Vol. 7, No. 1, August, 2002 pp. 3 East and Central African Journal of Surgery: The Canadian Connection Ronald Lett MD MSc. FRCSC President and International Director, Canadian Network for International Surgery Code Number: js02001 The Editorial Board of the East and Central African Journal of Surgery (ECAJS) has been expanded and now includes 3 Canadian Surgeons, among them the co-editors of the Canadian journal of Surgery (CJS), Jonathan Meakins, Edward W Archibald Professor and Chair Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal and James Waddell the AJ Latner Professor and Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toronto. Their participation recognises the importance of the ECAJS, and is a vote of confidence in its potential. The linkage of the two journals was organized by the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) within the context of its information project.1 The CNIS has been collaborating with surgeons of the Association of Surgeons of East Africa in surgical skills training and injury control since 1995. A lesser known activity of the CNIS is its information project which includes support of surgical libraries and undergraduate and post graduate injury research scholarships. The vision of the CNIS information project has expanded from the unidirectional provision of books and journals from Canada to that of equitable information accessibility and exchange between Africa and Canada. Within that context this journal linkage has been established. Journals published in less advantaged environments have an important educational and scientific function which warrant support. The ECAJS can contribute to scientific advancement on issues of both global and regional importance. This journal linkage is a means of increasing the personnel resources available to the editors of the ECAJS who face these constraints. A small journal is positioned to establish author friendly policies that are an important training platform, but at the same time will improve the quality of science by maintaining high standards. This is a role shared by the ECAJS and the CJS in their respective environments. The editors of small journals face the challenge of limited finances, scientific contributors, and reviewers. The editors of small journals have the role as regional educators and scientific mentors. Support for the the editors' as educators of the authors, reviewers and other contributors of both journals is one objective of this linkage. Another objective is international recognition of the ECAJS. The CJS experience in this regard should help the ECAJS attain that status. The editors have agreed on 10 minimum requirements of good editorial practice (see Table 1)2 as the terms of reference for the linkage. These requirements will be used to assess progress and determine what support would be most efficacious. The Canadian expectation is that they will be better editors and will also be better able to serve the CJS readership in its mandate to the wider surgical community as a result of this co-operation. The CJS receives regular contributions from Asia and the Middle East but to date does not receive submissions from Africa. Editorial contributions from the ECAJS would be welcome and original article's from its African readership are encouraged by the CJS editors. We Canadians are honored to participate in the growth and improvement of the East and Central African Journal of Surgery. This journal is an important contribution to surgery in Africa and we look forward to its progress towards international recognition. Ronald Lett MD MSc. FRCSC President and International Director, Canadian Network for International Surgery Acknowledgment: The author would like to thank Professors Meakins and WaddeD for their critique of this editorial. Copyright 2002 - East and Central African Journal of Surgery |
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