The Editorial Board of the East and Central African Journal of Surgery (ECAJS) has been expanded and now includes 3 Canadian surgeons, including the coeditors of the Canadian Journal of Surgery (CJS). Professor Jonathan Meakins is surgeon-in-chief at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal and Professor James Waddell is chair, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toronto. Their participation recognizes of the importance of the ECAJS and is a vote of confidence in its potential.
The link of the 2 journals was organized by the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) within the context of its information exchange project.1 The CNIS has been collaborating with surgeons of the Association of Surgeons of East Africa since 1995 through activities such as the Essential Surgical Skills and Injury Prevention projects.1 The lesser known CNIS Information Project has expanded from the unidirectional provision of books and journals to the libraries of partner organizations1 to that of information accessibility and exchange, as exemplified by the CJS–ECAJS link.
Journals from less advantaged environments have an important educational and scientific function. The ECAJS can contribute to scientific advancement on issues of global and local importance. The link with the CJS provides a means of increasing the resources available to the editors of the ECAJS through the input and experience of the coeditors of the CJS.
A small journal is positioned to establish author-friendly policies that are a training platform for authors but at the same time improve the quality of science by insisting on a high standard. This is a role shared by the ECAJS and the CJS in their respective environments. The editors of small journals face the challenge of limited finances and a limited number of scientific contributors and reviewers. They, therefore, have a role to play as regional educators and scientific mentors. This link will provide mutual support for the editors of both journals in this role, and as reviewers for and contributors to both journals.
One objective of the collaboration is international recognition of the ECAJS. The Canadian experience should help the ECAJS attain that status. The editors of the ECAJS have agreed to base the collaboration on 10 minimum requirements of good editorial practice (Table 1).2 These requirements will be used to assess progress and determine areas where support can help. The collaboration will benefit the Canadians who participate with their African colleagues, and the CJS will have an opportunity to widen its international mandate. Joint editorials and exchange of publications will be possible.
Good Editorial Practice: Minimum Requirements2
The Canadians are honoured to participate in the growth and improvement of the ECAJS. This journal is an important contribution to surgery in Africa and we look forward to its continued success as it becomes recognized internationally.