Establishment of neurosurgery training in Ethiopia

Lund‐Johansen, Morten; Dahl, Jon Wigum; Eilertsen, Grete Marie; Wester, Knut

doi:10.4045/tidsskr.17.0282

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The Foundation for International Education in Neurosurgery (FIENS) was an active partner in bringing teaching faculty for the program. The program development has been described by Lund-Johansen and colleagues in 2017 [7] and has been evaluated in the African context by Asfaw and colleagues in 2021 [8]. Between 2006 and 2020, neurosurgeon density increased greater than 20-fold from 0.0022 to 0.045 neurosurgeons per 100,000 population.…”

Section: Developing Pediatric Neurosurgery In Ethiopiamentioning

confidence: 99%

A case study of ReachAnother Foundation as a change champion for developing spina bifida neurosurgical care and advocating for primary prevention in Ethiopia

Koning¹,

Koning²,

Kancherla

et al. 2023

Childs Nerv Syst

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Spina bifida is a serious birth defect affecting the central nervous system, characterized by incomplete closure of the neural tube. Ethiopia has a very high prevalence of spina bifida, affecting about 40 cases per 10,000 births. Babies born with spina bifida require early closure surgery, done within the first 2–3 days after birth. Some babies need repeat surgeries to address complications, including hydrocephalus. Without medical care, babies have a high risk of death within the first 5 years of their life. Neurosurgical capacity for spina bifida closure surgery at birth is a relatively new development in Ethiopia. ReachAnother Foundation, a not-for-profit organization based in OR, USA, started work in Ethiopia in 2009 and has been instrumental in training neurosurgeons and improving treatment for spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Along with the development of neurosurgical care, the Foundation has invested in training multi-disciplinary teams to conduct patient aftercare and has launched a platform for improved patient outcomes research. As of year 2022, they support six spina bifida “Centers of Excellence” nationwide and are continuously advocating for primary prevention of spina bifida through mandatory fortification of staple foods in Ethiopia. This paper describes ReachAnother’s efforts in Ethiopia in a short interval of time, benefiting numerous patients and families with spina bifida and anencephaly. We document this as a case study for other countries to model where resources are limited and the prevalence of spina bifida and hydrocephalus is high, especially in Asia and Africa.

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Section: Developing Pediatric Neurosurgery In Ethiopiamentioning

confidence: 99%

A case study of ReachAnother Foundation as a change champion for developing spina bifida neurosurgical care and advocating for primary prevention in Ethiopia

Koning¹,

Koning²,

Kancherla

et al. 2023

Childs Nerv Syst

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“…27 In Ethiopia, the neurosurgery training program has been incredibly successful at increasing the number of neurosurgeons and the number of neurosurgery cases performed and has been supported since 2004 through a partnership between the University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, the Black Lion Specialized Hospital, and a private hospital in Addis Ababa. 37 Task-shifting or training an entry-level provider to do very specific tasks has been widely used throughout global health, and has advocates within global surgery due to its expediency and implications on cost. 9,10,19 Faced with a neurosurgeon ratio gap that is nearly impossible to close expeditiously, the length of time it takes to fully train a neurosurgeon, and the increased incidence of traumatic brain injuries requiring care, 16 global neurosurgery strategies have included task-shifting as a necessary component.…”

Section: Training (Increase the Number Of Neurosurgeons)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Global neurosurgery: innovators, strategies, and the way forward

Haglund

Fuller

2019

Journal of Neurosurgery

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Around the world today, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not benefited from advancements in neurosurgery; most have minimal or even no neurosurgical capacity in their entire country. In this paper, the authors examine in broad strokes the different ways in which individuals, organizations, and universities engage in global neurosurgery to address the global challenges faced in many LMICs. Key strategies include surgical camps, educational programs, training programs, health system strengthening projects, health policy changes/development, and advocacy. Global neurosurgery has begun coalescing with large strides taken to develop a coherent voice for this work. This large-scale collaboration via multilateral, multinational engagement is the only true solution to the issues we face in global neurosurgery. Key players have begun to come together toward this ultimate solution, and the future of global neurosurgery is bright.

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