The need for improved training and skills development in care of our older patients has been identified as one of the goals of the WONCA Ageing & Health SIG. Globally, within medical schools, training at both undergraduate and postgraduate in geriatrics is significantly lacking due to competing needs with other disciplines. We are happy to inform you that we are now able to offer an internationally accredited and certified e-learning program in geriatrics.

WONCA have entered into an agreement with the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) & Federation of Geriatric Education (FGE) who have for a number of years been offering the e-TRIGGER program. The online “E-TRaining In Gerontology & GERiatrics” https://iagg-fge.org/ is conducted over 12 months. The course is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for CME for 60 CEUs. The Health Professionals Council of South Africa, via the South African Academy of Family Physicians, which is the South African WONCA member organisation has awarded the course 60 hours of CME credits. It is hoped that in other regions of the world, where accredited training is needed to maintain registration, that the credits will be recognised.

Fees for the course as a member of the WONCA Ageing and Health SIG have been substantially discounted with costs ranging from CHF 30  for those of us practicing in low income countries, CHF for those practicing in middle income countries and CHF 120 for those from high income countries. Residents, registrars and trainees will be entitled  to a further 50% discount on these fees and a certain number of scholarships are available. These fees are available to the 1^st 10 applicants from our SIG.

The courses will be developed for 3 main regions of the world, however anyone from anywhere can participate in any course as the content is available for offline learning. WONCA’s association with the IAGG FGE will allow us to provide substantial input into the topics to be presented, for any of us who are experts in a particular field to be presenters and to allow for trainees or early career doctors to present cases.

The first course, which is in the Africa, Middle East & Europe Region will commence on 26 September from 2PM – 5PM Paris time. Below is an outline of the topics to be presented.

To register for the course, please click https://afmee.iagg-fge.org/application-registration/

If you would like to apply for a scholarship or make further enquiries, please send an email to contact_iagg@hset.org or email the Chair of the SIG on Ageing and Health directly lgeffen@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

WONCA Secretariat