The EFORT Invited Nation Programme aims at raising awareness and recognition towards the contribution made to the management of musculo-skeletal diseases worldwide and to strengthen ties with colleagues around the globe. In this sense we are delighted to announce that at the 17^th EFORT Annual Congress in Geneva, EFORT honored the South African Orthopaedic Association (SAOA). The SAOA presented themselves with a booth in the exhibition area (B3-17).

The South African Orthopaedic Association (SAOA) is a professional association for Orthopaedic Surgeons in South Africa with the objective of the advancement of the Science, Art and Practice of Orthopaedic surgery for the benefit of the public. Our main aim is to bring relief to patients of all ages suffering from the effects of injury or disorders of the musculo-skeletal system.

The current membership of the SAOA is 784. Some of our members are located internationally and in the rest of Africa.

The SAOA arranges annual congresses that is usually held in the first week of September. The congress venue rotates throughout the major centres in South Africa. The congresses are well attended by both local and international delegates.

The SAOA comprises many special interest groups that run their own instructional courses and congresses on a regular basis. The SAOA assists members in obtaining continuing professional development points that is a requirement to remain registered as a Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon in South Africa. A quarterly journal, The South African Orthopaedic Journal is published. The journal is distributed to all SAOA members at no cost. In addition, the SAOA publishes a regular bulletin updating the membership on local events. The SAOA provides financial support for Orthopaedic research and education.

The SAOA is honoured to be the invited nation at EFORT 2016 held in Geneva in June 2016.

With kind regards,
Drs Pradeep Makan and Adriaan van Zyl
SAOA