Practical challenges and perspectives for the development of Neurosurgery in a peripheral East African hospital during a one volunteer mid-term mission.

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Practical challenges and perspectives for the development of Neurosurgery in a peripheral East African hospital during a one volunteer mid-term mission.

World Neurosurg. 2017 Dec 30;:

Authors: Spanu F, Piquer J, Panciani PP, Qureshi MM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: several strategies have been proposed to develop and spread surgical specialties in Sub-Saharan East Africa. Regarding Neurosurgery, improvements are coming from the cooperation between Western and African Institutes by means of WFNS and independent organizations but, far from big cities and more equipped hospitals, shortcomings in the delivery of services persist.
METHODS: through the application of one formally trained neurosurgeon volunteer, FIENS and NED coordinated a two-month neurosurgical project at Mathari Consolata Hospital in Nyeri (Kenya), designed to analyze critical points and to find suggestions to start and develop a Neurosurgical Service, providing in the meantime clinical and surgical assistance for patients.
RESULTS: During the mission, general and local issues limiting the neurosurgical activities at the hospital have been studied. They were being discussed with the hospital board and the project supervisors, thereby ensuring short and medium-term solutions and a possible future cooperation with the hospital. Simultaneously, the volunteer has carried out clinical and surgical for neuro cases and neurosurgical training for nurses and doctors.
CONCLUSIONS: the model proposed should be considered a preliminary and immersive "survey" to evaluate a decentralized EAC hospital's eligibility to interface with neurosurgical activities, through the support of experienced Local Institutes and Western organizations. Host hospitals would have also the chance to enhance clinical services currently lacking while training its personnel at low cost. Finally, it may represent a personal and professional highly rewarding opportunity for young trained neurosurgeons, matching as a result, the contemporary shortage of local specialists.

PMID: 29294401 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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