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Training medical assistants for surgery.
F Vaz1, S Bergström, M da l Vaz
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
|October 12, 1999
Summary
Mozambique successfully trains assistant medical officers for advanced rural surgery, addressing critical needs in remote areas. This program significantly improves surgical access and outcomes for essential procedures.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Surgical Training
- Health Workforce Development
Background:
- Mozambique faced critical shortages of surgical consultants in remote areas.
- Manpower and financial limitations necessitated innovative healthcare solutions.
- Identified priorities included pregnancy, trauma, and emergency inflammatory conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on a successful surgical training program for middle-level health workers in Mozambique.
- To evaluate the performance and outcomes of trained assistant medical officers.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of advanced surgical procedures in resource-limited settings.
Main Methods:
- A three-year training course was developed for medical assistants.
- Training involved two years of hospital-based education and a one-year rural internship.
- Follow-up evaluations and workshops assessed performance and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 20 assistant medical officers trained since 1984, with 46 projected by 1999.
- 14 officers performed 10,258 surgeries, 70% being emergencies.
- Low complication rates and low postoperative mortality (0.4% emergency, 0.1% elective).
Conclusions:
- The training program effectively equips health workers to perform advanced surgery in underserved areas.
- Assistant medical officers demonstrate proficiency and achieve favorable surgical outcomes.
- This model offers a sustainable solution for improving surgical care in resource-constrained environments.