New York Times blog examines gap in surgical care in developing world

Aug 10 2012

In this post in the New York Times' "Opinionator" blog, journalist Sarika Bansal reports on a gap in surgical care in developing countries, writing, "It is conservatively estimated that 56 million people in sub-Saharan Africa -- over twice the number living with HIV/AIDS -- need a surgery today," but, "across the developing world, surgical care often does not reach those who need it." She says that a lack of access to surgical facilities and equipment, as well as a lack of trained health care workers, especially in rural areas, contributes to the problem. "Instead of finding ways to lure surgeons to rural areas" to fill this gap, many African countries, including Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Ethiopia, "have started experimenting with 'task shifting' -- that is, training non-physicians to do the basic work of surgeons," she notes. She highlights a medical licentiate program in Zambia that "trains clinical officers in basic surgeries like hernia repairs, bowel obstruction surgery, hysterectomies and more," as well as "the donor-funded FlySpec (Flying Specialist) program, which charters planes to conduct orthopedic surgeries in remote parts of the country" (8/8).