Setting Minimum Standards for Forensic Medicine Practice in Africa-1

Earlier this month, March 2013, a pan-African Forensic Medicine Conference was held at Johannesburg, South Africa, under the auspices of the African Society of Forensic Medicine (ASFM) to evolve minimum standards of practice in four critical aspects of forensic medicine practice: 1. Autopsy Practice, 2. Mortuary Management, 3. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and 4. Management of Sexual Violence. The conference attracted forensic medicine practitioners and interested persons from all over the continent of African and beyond for days of brainstorming sessions in various committees on the subject. The need to have minimum standards of practice below which such services would not be appropriate for our peoples in Africa was evident. A common experience shared by all delegates was the poor attention paid to forensic medicine services by governments and institutions in most of Africa. This has greatly limited the application of forensic medicine practice in protecting public health, supporting the justice system, especially the criminal justice system and in promoting human rights. The civil society and human rights advocates will need to see the connection between public, social justice and forensic medicine in order to press for more investments in this specialty. It is instructive to note that the last conference was fully sponsored by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The Australian government, through the AFP, understands what a stabilizing factor an appropriate forensic medicine practice is on any community and has committed huge resources in promoting the activities of the ASFM since inception. What are African governments doing in their respective jurisdictions in establishing and maintaining forensic medicine practice and services? At our last meeting in South Africa, we resolved, amongst other things, to take our case to African Union (AU) meeting and directly knock at the doors of African leaders for much needed attention in this neglected but vital service area to our peoples in Africa. We hope to be able to make it beyond the gate of AU and ever get close to the doors. Proper death investigation system, appropriate management of dead bodies following disasters (which are frequent in Africa) and disaster victim identification, and management of sexual assault are huge burdens begging for intervention. We need partners and friends to help us break the barriers.