UCT's Professor Heinz Rode, head of paediatric surgery at Red Cross Children's Hospital, has been elected to the executive committee of the World Federation of Associations of Paediatric Surgeons (Wofaps). The federation is the parent body to some 76 associations across the globe, representing thousands of paediatric surgeons. Among its tasks, Wofaps draws up international policies that its members abide by, and sets standards that affiliated bodies, especially those in developing countries, can strive to. It also recently produced a Declaration of Paediatric Surgery that stresses that "infants and children deserve the very best medical care available". His appointment to Wofaps will strengthen paediatric surgery in Africa, says Rode, who is president of the Association of South African Paediatric Surgeons. It also puts more strain on his crammed diary. But it's important work, says the surgeon. "Paediatric surgeons can now talk with one voice about major paediatric surgical problems that need to be aired on international forums."

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