Scientific writing for publication workshop in Juba
The South Sudan Medical Journal (SSMJ) organized a one-day scientific writing for publication workshop on Saturday, April 25 2015 at the Juba Grand Hotel in Juba, South Sudan. The workshop was attended by 26 medical professionals.
The objective of the workshop was to equip participants with the knowledge of how to prepare and produce articles for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals by:
- Stimulating the interest of medical professionals in publishing their work, and
- Increasing the quality of articles submitted to the SSMJ.
At the end of the workshop, the participants were expected to:
- Understand the components of a scientific paper
- Understand different types of publications
- Learn how to structure their papers
- Overcome barriers to effective writing
- Learn how to draft scientific papers, and
- Understand the peer- review process.
The key presentations made during the workshop were:
- Introduction and background of SSMJ
- Components of a scientific paper and authorship
- Writing the abstract and methodology, and
- Writing the results, discussions and references.
Some of the challenges faced by SSMJ which were discussed in the workshop include:
- Staff are volunteers – there is a need for permanent staffing to manage day-to-day activities
- Limited contributions from South Sudan for publication
- Limited funds for printing, and
- Distribution / circulation within the country is very difficult.
The participants recommended the following after the workshop:
- Regular case presentations and discussions on relevant topics, which can be published.
- Organize training for medical professionals on research development and writing, implementation and reporting
- Establish a research body to conduct relevant research in the country and publish its findings, and
- Support medical professionals in developing their manuscripts for publication.
The facilitators of the workshop were Dr. Edward Eremugo Luka, Dr. Oromo Francis Seriano and Dr. Kenneth Lado Lino.
By Dr. Edward Eremugo Luka
SSMJ Editor in Chief
