AORTIC: Global surgery
The use of technology has been discussed in
many sessions in AORTIC. Internet access
is not comprehensive but the majority of people in Africa have a cell
phone. The problem with cell phone
communication is that it is expensive.
1.
Many patients get lost to
follow up. The reasons are multifactorial. If a clinic has a contact number for a
patient, they can be kept in the system.
There are several projects that have shown the successful use of cell phone
communication with patients.
2.
Health information can be
disseminated via phone. In Zambia, in a
project run by pinkribbon:redribbon,, they have partnered with Vodacom and have
sponsored SMSes sending out health advice
In Tanzania, mobile
technology has been used to tell women where to go to get health care. (Vodacom also sponsored the transport for
women to get to the appropriate clinic).
3.
In the radiotherapy session, a
whole presentation was devoted to the use of smart phones in radiotherapy.
The most interesting session I attended was
called “An African Surgical Network”.
The speakers were all excellent: Dr Anderson , Dr Ousadden, Prof Gueye
and Prof Smith. The concept of global surgery
was discussed. Somehow, surgery has
fallen down the list of global health priorities and as a result;
5 billion
people do not have access to safe surgery.
143m
more surgical procedures need to be performed in LMIC annually if health standards are to be
optimized.
Less 5% of all cancer
research is about surgical management.
There is a paucity of specialists in Africa for example, there is 1 urologist in Nigeria per
3 m people.
What can be done? What is being done?
There was a general consensus that there is
a need for appropriate training to be done in centres of excellence in
Africa. It is not ideal for surgeon to
have to go out of the continent for training.
Prof Gueye from Senegal discussed the plan for training centres in West
Africa and gave examples of what has been achieved. Technology can be integrated into
the process of training. He lamented the
brain flight from Africa and said that Senegalese doctors end up working as
nurses in Europe.
Research from LMIC must be published. There was a general plea for international
journals to accept studies from low income countries. (As an aside, even at
AORTIC, which is an African cancer organization, only 36% of the keynote speakers of those in the
plenary session were from Africa).
The relevant government departments must be
lobbied. They must ensure visa requirements are appropriate for trainees. (Travelling
with an African passport can be problematic even to neighboring countries.) The DoH has a responsibility to provide the
necessary environment for a specialist to be able to practice the skills that
have been learnt. A trained surgeon will
leave for greener pastures if they have to constantly contend with shortages,
poor administration and inadequate basic facilities. (We heard many stories of
no electricity, toilets that don’t work, no paper to write notes).
Training programmes should be combined with
service delivery projects. For example,
if a surgeon goes for an out reach programme, the opportunity to train local
medical personal must not be missed.
Conversely, a training programme should be used to provide a service to
the local community.
It was a refreshing and important session. Many
thanks to the organisers for including it in the programme.
Lastly, the Breast Course for Nurses would like to thank Well Woman Diagnostics
for sponsoring my travel.
Technology can be integrated into the process of training. He lamented the brain flight from Africa and said that Senegalese doctors end up working as nurses in Europe. Walgreens photo prices 2019
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