Doctors attend medical courses

Papua New Guinea’s Dr Kapua Kapua, physios Hendriella Vilosi and Shadrach Paii were among more than 30 medical match day and support staff from around the Oceania region who attended a number of World Rugby medical courses in Nadi, Fiji, to update their skills and knowledge.
Throughout the course, participants were introduced to aspects of medical care relating to rugby, including planning for emergencies, initial injury assessments and basic life support. The courses included trainer CPD, medical trainer course, immediate care in rugby and a medical educator course ending with a fair (First Aid in Rugby) course.
Kapua, who has accreditation as a World Rugby medical educator, attended the week-long programme to upgrade his qualifications.
“I went to get accredited as a medical trainer and I am now able to teach Level 2 ICIR and Level 3 AICIR. It is a big step for rugby and sports medicine in the country,” Kapua said.
“The Level 1 fair course is open to everybody whether its players, coaches and supporters. Level 2 ICIR is for medics, physios and doctors. Then Level 3 AICIR are for doctors and post grad physios. There is a lot more invasive technics that we go through.”
The two physios were able to attain their ICIR accreditation which allows them to enter the field to attend to injured players during World Rugby-sanctioned international matches as per the new rules.
Vilosi, who is currently accompanying the PNG Pukpuks team to the Sydney and Hamilton Sevens, said: “The knowledge I have gained here will help PNG Rugby Union as a physio managing injuries for the teams and by completing the educator course I will also assist in delivering courses to our unions in PNG.”