Surgical outreach program in poor rural Nigerian communities
E O Ojo1, E Okoi, A J Umoiyoho
1Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. darekh2005@yahoo.co.uk
Rural and Remote Health
|January 16, 2013
Summary
Surgical outreach programs in rural Nigeria successfully treated 802 patients with diverse conditions, often long-standing. Simple anesthesia options effectively managed these cases, reducing the surgical disease burden.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Surgical Outreach
- Rural Medicine
Background:
- Limited access to basic surgical care affects rural populations globally.
- Approximately 90% of Taraba State's population in North-Eastern Nigeria resides in rural areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate surgical conditions and outcomes in rural North-Eastern Nigeria.
- To assess the feasibility of managing surgical pathologies through outreach programs.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 802 patients undergoing surgery during an outreach program (February 2008 - July 2009).
- Procedures included hernia repair, hydrocelectomy, lump excision, and appendicectomy.
- Anesthesia utilized included local, spinal, and general anesthesia.
Main Results:
- 903 procedures were performed on 802 patients; 12.1% had multiple pathologies.
- Common procedures were hernia repair (44.7%), hydrocelectomy (14.7%), and lump excision (15.8%).
- Low complication rates (5.1% surgical site infection) and no mortality were observed.
Conclusions:
- Surgical conditions in rural settings are often multiple, extensive, and chronic.
- Effective management is achievable with local or spinal anesthesia.
- Surgical outreach programs can significantly reduce the burden of surgical disease in underserved communities.
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