Teaching emergency and essential surgical care in Sierra Leone: a model for low income countries
Jeffrey J Leow1, Reinou S Groen, Thaim B Kamara
1Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, New York, USA.
Background:
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), a New York-based organization with a mission to save lives in developing countries, conducted a surgical needs assessment in Sierra Leone in 2008 which identified a large gap in surgical knowledge. We hypothesized that knowledge transfer could be improved by conducting workshops with significant local faculty participation.
Design:
Description of emergency and essential surgical care workshops (EESC) workshops and follow-up.
Setting:
Freetown and Bo, Sierra Leone.
Participants:
International and local health providers in Sierra Leone.
Methods:
SOS organized EESC workshops in collaboration with significant local surgeons' support. Data on subsequent workshops were recorded.
Results:
Fifteen instructors were identified and assisted with teaching. Nine of the instructors were specialists from Sierra Leone. Each workshop lasted 3 days. Feedback was gathered after these workshops Subsequent to the SOS workshops, 8 other workshops were undertaken by local surgeons in Sierra Leone, 5 of which were organized and taught solely by local surgeons working for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Three other workshops were organized with external support.
Conclusions:
EESC workshops organized with significant local input are useful for knowledge transfer and empower local surgeons to conduct subsequent workshops on their own.
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