TP8.2.23 Surgical education in low resource settings

Abstract

Abstract Aims To help build medical capacity in low resource settings. Methods I researched and worked with two organisations, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Mercy Ships. I worked with Mercy Ships in collaboration with ASGBI Results MSF is a humanitarian organisation. Although MSF works in low resource settings, it is not developmental and therefore education was not part of its brief. I completed 2x 2 month missions with MSF, in Central African Republic and Chad. Mercy Ships is a developmental organisation. I worked with Mercy Ships, in four countries, to help deliver a total of 10 skills courses and 5 Training the Trainers courses which had been set up in collaboration with ASGBI. The first time was with a UK surgical trainee under this scheme. French was the working language in each setting. Conclusions There is a real and pressing need for basic surgical education in most low resource settings. Teaching with Mercy Ships is a good vehicle for teaching essential surgical skills locally and training local trainers to continue the process. It is also a good opportunity for providing a supervised introduction to working in a low resource setting for those trainees who wish to become involved in humanitarian work.