Rural surgery in southern Sudan

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Surgical Care Delivery
• Developing Countries

Background:

• Retrospective analysis of a 6-year surgical care program in remote southern Sudan.
• Operated under extremely adverse environmental and resource conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of establishing surgical services in underserved rural areas.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of on-the-job training for local healthcare personnel.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 28 surgical missions with expatriate consultant teams (surgeon, anesthetist, scrub nurse).
• Performed selected elective and emergency surgical procedures.
• Provided on-the-job training to local Sudanese personnel.

Main Results:

• 1642 patients underwent operations, with 77% being elective procedures.
• Hernia, proctologic, and gynecologic surgeries were most common.
• Local personnel achieved proficiency in essential surgery, anesthesia, and nursing care, with two health centers becoming autonomous.

Conclusions:

• Surgical services can be successfully established in rural developing areas using basic facilities and equipment.
• Training local personnel is crucial for sustainable surgical care delivery.
• This model offers a realistic approach to providing surgical access for rural populations in least developed countries.