Facts

Photo by The Malawi Project

The quality of emergency and essential surgical care is often constrained by inadequate basic equipment for interventions that are simple but vital, such as resuscitation, giving oxygen, assessing anemia and inserting a chest drain;
Death and disability in the most vulnerable groups (namely, women and children) are easily prevented or corrected by surgery, provided this service is made available in a timely manner;
Most essential and surgical interventions can be delivered at the first referral level health facility (rural or district hospital, health centre, primary healthcare facilities) provided the health care staff possess a few basic skills and some basic equipment;
An estimated 500,000 women die each year from pregnancy related complications requiring surgical interventions;
Road traffic injuries are the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of four to 14;
Almost 50% of the world's injury-related mortality occurs in young people aged between 15-44 years - the most economically productive members of the global population;
The burden of disease related to injuries, particularly road traffic injuries, interpersonal violence, war and self-inflicted injuries is expected to rise dramatically by the year 2020;
It is estimated that more than 100,000 babies are born worldwide each year with congenital clubfoot. 80% of the cases occur in developing countries and most are untreated or poorly treated.

There are fewer than 100 surgeons practicing in Uganda for a population of about 24 million — a surgeon to population ratio of 1:30,000. Almost 95% of these surgeons work in urban areas;
Gambia and Malawi have currently no qualified local anesthesiologists and have to 'import' specialists from other countries in order to provide surgical care to patients;
Although a reliable oxygen supply is important and life-saving in any clinical setting, a survey in one African country (Tanzania) showed that 75% of district hospitals had an oxygen supply for less than 25% of the year;
A study of anesthesia services in Uganda shows that only 23% of anesthetists have the facilities to deliver safe anesthesia to adults, 13% to children, and 6% for a Caesarean section. (Anesthesia. 2007 Jan; 62 (1): 4-11).

Bellagio Essential Surgery Group