Interface is helping to train surgeons in East Africa in a number of ways, with a Trainee Programme at CoRSU Hospital, and helping with course fees and equipment.
Trainee Programme at CoRSU Hospital
After q
uite a few years of planning, a University approved training program in Plastic Surgery started in January 2012 at CoRSU Hospital in Kampala. This postgraduate training program is the only one of its kind in the whole vast East and Southern Africa Region.
The trainee medics are based at CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, and working in partnership with CBM who is funding the training program and Mbarara University which is the academic institution where the training is based. Ultimately, the aim of the program is to develop a new department of Plastic Surgery in Mbarara and after 5 years the training program will be centred in the University.
2 keen students, Martin and Darius started in January 2012, and are the first graduates from the scheme, both passing their exams in 2015. There are now 7 more trainees – Linda (started in 2014), Cornelius and Naomi (both started in 2015), Richard, Joseph, Obady and Irene (all started in 2016).
It is a tough program with a huge amount to learn in the 3 years. Interface Uganda has been able to support the program by assisting with some equipment, providing scholarships to enable the students to gain experience in other centres and by assisting in the travel costs of volunteer surgeons who will visit CoRSU to teach the students.
To see news stories and reports of how Interface has helped the trainees, click here.
Other help for Surgical Trainees
As well as the surgical trainee programme, Interface is also helping with the training for a surgeon based in Sudan to develop the first plastic and reconstructive surgery unit there. Mohammed Abdelrahman has been training at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. Interface has helped by funding his accommodation and living expenses whilst there, as otherwise, he would not have been able to complete his training.
For news stories and reports from Mohammed, click here.