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Establishment of a Pediatric Surgical Unit at a University Hospital in Eastern Africa
Jochen Hubertus1, Gersam Abera2, Abraham Haileamlak2
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital, 80337 Munich, Germany.
Insights
The JimmaChild project successfully established a pediatric surgery department in Jimma, Ethiopia, through international collaboration. This initiative improved surgical care for children and now operates independently, training local specialists.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Surgical Education
- International Collaboration
Background:
- Ethiopia has a large pediatric population with limited access to specialized surgical care.
- Pediatric surgery services were historically concentrated in Addis Ababa.
- The JimmaChild project aimed to address this disparity by establishing a new pediatric surgery center.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a sustainable pediatric surgery department at Jimma University.
- To provide on-site training for Ethiopian surgeons in pediatric surgery.
- To improve surgical outcomes for children in the Jimma region.
Main Methods:
- A collaborative project between Jimma University and Ludwig-Maximilians-University.
- Development of a specialized pediatric surgical curriculum.
- On-site training and mentorship provided by German pediatric surgeons.
Main Results:
- A new pediatric surgery unit with dedicated operating rooms, wards, and staff was established.
- Two fellows completed their pediatric surgery training and examinations.
- Over 850 elective surgeries were performed, with significant German surgical support.
Conclusions:
- Close collaboration ensured successful project integration into existing structures.
- External monitoring identified and resolved program challenges.
- The department achieved independence from external funding and now trains its own fellows.
Introduction:
Ethiopia is a rapidly developing country in Eastern Africa. In total, 43.2% of the population are younger than 15. In contrast, until a few years ago, pediatric surgery was only available in Addis Ababa. Now, Ethiopia is making great efforts to improve the care of children who require surgery. JimmaChild was established to set up a pediatric surgery in Jimma.
Material And Methods:
JimmaChild developed from a scientific collaboration between Jimma University (JU) and Ludwig-Maximilians-University. The project was developed and realized by Ethiopian and German colleagues. A curriculum was written for this purpose. The pediatric surgical training of the fellows was carried out on-site by German pediatric surgeons.
Results:
A new pediatric surgery was established at JU with its own operating room, ward, and staff. After two and a half years, two fellows completed their final examinations as pediatric surgeons. Among others, 850 elective surgeries were performed, 82% assisted by the German colleagues. The German colleagues rated the preparation for the trip, the on-site support, and the professional progress of the fellows mostly as good to very good. Reported problems in the program flow were also recognized and solved in part.
Conclusions:
The best possible integration of the project into existing structures was achieved by close cooperation of Ethiopian and German colleagues during the project development. Problems were identified and addressed early on by external monitoring. As the project responsibility was mainly with the Ethiopian colleagues, a department was created that now exists independently of external funding and trains its own fellows.
