The Role of Nongovernmental Organizations and Faith-Based Organizations in Global Surgery

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) play a major role in decreasing the global burden of surgical disease. NGO and FBO assignments vary by their degree of permanence, cultural integration, locations, and scope of practice. Their efficacy may be impeded by pursuing efforts that are asynchronous with local needs or by developing maladaptive relationships with adjacent organizations, ministries of health, or the communities they serve. Both NGOs and FBOs harbor great potential to improve access to surgical care in low- and middle-income countries by expanding educational programs, technological advances, data accumulation, and the capacity of the public health sector.