Assessment of History and Challenges Ahead for General Surgery Training in East Africa

Abstract

This review highlights the history of the commencement of surgical training in East Africa. The challenges faced in setting up a recognised training curriculum in General Surgery are outlined. The supply of health professionals with surgical skills is disproportionate to the world burden of surgical disease. The disproportion between the burden of surgical disease and the low numbers of trained personnel is more pronounced in developing low income countries. General surgery is being left in referral hospitals with few staff as surgical subspecialisation is gaining momentum. The provision of essential general surgery management is therefore below par which is the responsibility of the General Surgeon. The surgical procedure as an emergency may not necessarily be done by the surgeon. In order to bridge the discrepancy, training of more general surgeons is required. Specialist surgeons should also be trained first as general surgeons as it will give them the ability to respond to a general surgical emergency when practising as specialists and will provide them with a good overall understanding of the needs in general surgery.