What’s the need?
Zimbabwe is a low income country with huge economic and health challenges. A previously robust health system has been downgraded by hyper-inflation, mismanagement, loss of personnel and collapse of State health systems, especially at the secondary/tertiary level. Trauma and burn services are therefore under huge pressure with limited resources and staff. The capital Harare has a University teaching hospital as does the second city Bulawayo, previously missions have provided lectures and teaching at this level too.
BFirst trips will hopefully be able to resume sometime in the future to provide teaching and training opportunities.
Previous Visits
BFirst have only sponsored a single trip in 2018 with surgeons Wee Lam, Adam Reid, Jason Wong (and Drew Fleming – self-sponsored) and hand therapists Megan Blakeway and Annie McGregor.. This followed on from a number of visits by AF in the preceding years either by himself or with assorted colleagues from St Georges Hospital. We undertook cadaver dissection teaching sessions, clinics, nerve and tendon workshops, operating sessions and didactic lectures.
During this process we assisted a number of local Plastic Surgery trainees to prepare for their COSECSA exit exam in Plastic Surgery. A total of 5 surgeons completed their exit exam during this time period of whom 3 are still based in Zimbabwe. One colleague also spent a year with us at St Georges hospital. Prior to our visits there were no plastic surgeons in Zimbabwe.
Further trips have not been possible due to a combination of near total collapse of the State health system and Covid.
Future Plans
I have been in contact with the local team who are very keen for visits to resume as soon as local factors permit. In addition AF has been approached by the Cure International Children’s Orthopaedic hospital in Bulawayo to undertake a training trip there perhaps towards the end of 2022. Colleagues from Harare would be invited to join us for this mission.
Sarah Tucker
BFIRST Chair
2020 - 2022