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Professor Tumwine deserves our congratulations for his achievement as
contained in the News report by Gavin Yamey in the BMJ of 11th October
2003. Those of us in the same field can appreciate how hard he must have
worked to overcome the obstacles that has so far prevented the indexation
of most medical and health publications from Africa. The BMJ should also
be applauded for once again leading by example in supporting the training
programme in Addis Ababa for the 19 African medical editors who attended
the meeting of FAME ( Forum for African Medical Editors).
However, we hope that when Professor Tumwine is quoted as saying 'I
am not interested in becoming BMJ East Africa' he did not mean to
discourage other colleagues in that region from taking an interest and
benefitting from the many advantages of a local edition of the BMJ in that
part of Africa. The local edition of the BMJ in West Africa ( one of 12
around the world) which was started in 1996 has brought to the sub-region
hitherto unavailable and unaffordable current , first rate, peer reviewed
research papers.
In addition to providing this high quality health
information to practitioners and policy makers, the local edition has
stimulated local writing for international comsumption too (1,2). The
format for local editions of the BMJ positively encourages coverage of
local materials, while providing a forum for enlightened debate amongst
health professionals in which ever locality it is published. At present
there are pilot schemes in the West Africa and Southeast Asia local
editions to set up local peer review committees for those original papers
that emanate from those local edition territories before the locally
accepted papers reach London. Even though the original papers must still
receive the final approval to publish from the London head office, so as
to maintain the acknowledged high reputation of The BMJ, local peer review
will address some of the problems that spurred Prof. Tumwine to start his
African journal.
We believe that even with the advent of WHO-HINARI
project that ensures free access of on-line health journals to health
professionals in the 100 poorest countries on earth (3), local editions of
the BMJ will still have a very useful place in Africa's hospitals, clinics
and health libraries because they are collections of locally relevant
information, for locally common conditions, selected by a local editorial
board. In addition they carry locally commissioned editorials,
commentaries and news.
The matter of indexation of local editions is being
addressed. Already BMJ(USA) can be accessed in full by hyperlink to the
BMJ website (www.bmj.com site). We hope that all other local editions will
be so linked in the future.
I am sure that even Prof Tumwine will agree that it will take his journal
and most others in Africa a very long time to attain the clout and then to
attract the type of papers , in terms of quality and numbers, that
journals like The BMJ carry. The BMJ receives over 6,000 submissions each
year and publishes about 500 after rigorous peer review (lecture
communication- Richard Smith).
As we salute Prof Tumwine for his achievement, we also want to make
the point that Africa needs not only locally produced journals, but if
health care in the continent is to make progress in this 21st century,
then doctors and health professionals in Africa must be interested in the
older, more established, more reputable international journals, including
setting up their local editions where possible. We must not be ashamed as
Africans to accept that, in most cases, the health institutions in our
continent are not yet ready to support the health professionals in doing
world class research and publications, even for those conditions that are
more prevalent in our continent. The human, economic and social resources
necessary for such activities are in very short supply. Local editions of
successful international journals are vital to circulate side by side
African journals.
References :
1)BMJWA 2003; 6(1):202-208
2)BMJWA 2003; 6(1):209-214
3)BMJ 2002; 324:380
Competing interests:
Joseph Ana is managing editor of BMJ West Africa edition. The post is voluntary and attracts no salary but he is passionately committed to the success of this local edition of the BMJ in the sub-region.
A 'BMJ East Africa edition' will increase choice and opportunity
Professor Tumwine deserves our congratulations for his achievement as
contained in the News report by Gavin Yamey in the BMJ of 11th October
2003. Those of us in the same field can appreciate how hard he must have
worked to overcome the obstacles that has so far prevented the indexation
of most medical and health publications from Africa. The BMJ should also
be applauded for once again leading by example in supporting the training
programme in Addis Ababa for the 19 African medical editors who attended
the meeting of FAME ( Forum for African Medical Editors).
However, we hope that when Professor Tumwine is quoted as saying 'I
am not interested in becoming BMJ East Africa' he did not mean to
discourage other colleagues in that region from taking an interest and
benefitting from the many advantages of a local edition of the BMJ in that
part of Africa. The local edition of the BMJ in West Africa ( one of 12
around the world) which was started in 1996 has brought to the sub-region
hitherto unavailable and unaffordable current , first rate, peer reviewed
research papers.
In addition to providing this high quality health
information to practitioners and policy makers, the local edition has
stimulated local writing for international comsumption too (1,2). The
format for local editions of the BMJ positively encourages coverage of
local materials, while providing a forum for enlightened debate amongst
health professionals in which ever locality it is published. At present
there are pilot schemes in the West Africa and Southeast Asia local
editions to set up local peer review committees for those original papers
that emanate from those local edition territories before the locally
accepted papers reach London. Even though the original papers must still
receive the final approval to publish from the London head office, so as
to maintain the acknowledged high reputation of The BMJ, local peer review
will address some of the problems that spurred Prof. Tumwine to start his
African journal.
We believe that even with the advent of WHO-HINARI
project that ensures free access of on-line health journals to health
professionals in the 100 poorest countries on earth (3), local editions of
the BMJ will still have a very useful place in Africa's hospitals, clinics
and health libraries because they are collections of locally relevant
information, for locally common conditions, selected by a local editorial
board. In addition they carry locally commissioned editorials,
commentaries and news.
The matter of indexation of local editions is being
addressed. Already BMJ(USA) can be accessed in full by hyperlink to the
BMJ website (www.bmj.com site). We hope that all other local editions will
be so linked in the future.
I am sure that even Prof Tumwine will agree that it will take his journal
and most others in Africa a very long time to attain the clout and then to
attract the type of papers , in terms of quality and numbers, that
journals like The BMJ carry. The BMJ receives over 6,000 submissions each
year and publishes about 500 after rigorous peer review (lecture
communication- Richard Smith).
As we salute Prof Tumwine for his achievement, we also want to make
the point that Africa needs not only locally produced journals, but if
health care in the continent is to make progress in this 21st century,
then doctors and health professionals in Africa must be interested in the
older, more established, more reputable international journals, including
setting up their local editions where possible. We must not be ashamed as
Africans to accept that, in most cases, the health institutions in our
continent are not yet ready to support the health professionals in doing
world class research and publications, even for those conditions that are
more prevalent in our continent. The human, economic and social resources
necessary for such activities are in very short supply. Local editions of
successful international journals are vital to circulate side by side
African journals.
References :
1)BMJWA 2003; 6(1):202-208
2)BMJWA 2003; 6(1):209-214
3)BMJ 2002; 324:380
Competing interests:
Joseph Ana is managing editor of BMJ West Africa edition. The post is voluntary and attracts no salary but he is passionately committed to the success of this local edition of the BMJ in the sub-region.
Competing interests: No competing interests