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Establishing a children's orthopaedic hospital for Malawi: A review after 10 years
S L Dorman1, S M Graham1, J Paniker1
1Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Insights
BEIT CURE International Hospital (BCIH) significantly improved paediatric orthopaedic care in Malawi over 10 years, treating nearly 10,000 surgical patients and establishing a national clubfoot program. The hospital also trained 87 orthopaedic professionals, enhancing national capacity.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric Orthopaedics
- Global Health
- Surgical Services
Background:
- BEIT CURE International Hospital (BCIH) established in 2002, offering specialized paediatric orthopaedic surgical services in Malawi.
- This study evaluates BCIH's 10-year operational progress, impact on the Malawi National Clubfoot Programme (MNCP), and contribution to orthopaedic training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress of BCIH over its first decade of operation.
- To assess the impact of the Malawi National Clubfoot Programme (MNCP).
- To evaluate BCIH's influence on orthopaedic training in Malawi.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of all operative paediatric procedures performed by BCIH in its 10th year.
- Review of MNCP data for clubfoot clinic locations and patient numbers.
- Examination of BCIH records to quantify healthcare professionals trained.
Main Results:
- BCIH performed 609 surgeries in its 10th year, treating patients from all regions, with a 60% increase from the Southern regions compared to the 5th year.
- Clubfoot, burn contractures, and lower limb deformities were the most common conditions treated; 9,842 patients received surgical care over 10 years.
- The MNCP, established in 2007 and coordinated by BCIH, comprises 29 clinics treating 5,748 patients. BCIH trained 5 orthopaedic surgeons and 82 clinical officers.
Conclusions:
- BCIH has substantially improved paediatric orthopaedic care in Malawi, a country previously lacking dedicated services.
- The hospital provided consistent surgical care to nearly 10,000 patients and managed approximately 6,000 clubfoot cases through the MNCP over a decade.
- BCIH's commitment to training has yielded significant results, with newly trained orthopaedic surgeons now serving the nation, demonstrating the strategic impact of long-term training initiatives.
Background:
BEIT CURE International Hospital (BCIH) opened in 2002 providing orthopaedic surgical services to children in Malawi. This study reviews the hospital's progress 10 years after establishment of operational services. In addition we assess the impact of the hospital's Malawi national clubfoot programme (MNCP) and influence on orthopaedic training.
Methods:
All operative paediatric procedures performed by BCIH services in the 10th operative year were included. Data on clubfoot clinic locations and number of patients treated were obtained from the MNCP. BCIH records were reviewed to identify the number of healthcare professionals who have received training at the BCIH.
Results:
609 new patients were operated on in the 10th year of hospital service. Patients were treated from all regions; however 60% came from Southern regions compared with the 48% in the 5th year. Clubfoot, burn contracture and angular lower limb deformities were the three most common pathologies treated surgically. In total BCIH managed 9,842 patients surgically over a 10-year period. BCIH helped to establish and co-ordinate the MNCP since 2007. At present the program has a total of 29 clinics, which have treated 5748 patients. Furthermore, BCIH has overseen the full or partial training of 5 orthopaedic surgeons and 82 orthopaedic clinical officers in Malawi.
Conclusion:
The BCIH has improved the care of paediatric patients in a country that prior to its establishment had no dedicated paediatric orthopaedic service, treating almost 10,000 patients surgically and 6,000 patients in the MNCP. This service has remained consistent over a 10-year period despite times of global austerity. Whilst the type of training placement offered at BCIH has changed in the last 10 years, the priority placed on training has remained paramount. The strategic impact of long-term training commitments are now being realised, in particular by the addition of Orthopaedic surgeons serving the nation.
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