By 2030, Africa is projected to face over half of the global shortage of surgical care providers, with a shortfall of 6 million professionals.
Currently, Africa has the fewest surgeons and anaethetists per capita worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. For every 10,000 people, there are just two doctors and 11 nurses and midwives, compared to 41 doctors and 113 nurses and midwives in North America.
To address this urgent need, the first Pan-African Surgical Conference will be held from February 24 – 28, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, organised conjointly by Operation Smile, Rwanda Surgical Society, the University of Rwanda and the Rwanda Ministry of Health.
University of Cape Town’s Head of Global Surgery, Professor Salome Maswime, is one of four South African speakers who will join expert panels, interactive sessions and networking opportunities designed to drive surgical advancements on the continent.
A surgeon in every hospital
Under the theme “Building Resilient and Sustainable Surgical Services in Africa: A Surgeon in Every District Hospital,” discussions will also focus on innovative solutions in health care infrastructure, policy advocacy for surgical equity and strategies for enhancing surgical training and research in Africa.
“With the urgent need to address the global challenge of access to surgical care, the conference creates a platform for global leaders in Surgery and future leaders, to discuss pertinent issues, challenges and opportunities to improve access and the quality of surgical care in Africa,” says Prof Maswime.
Conference co-chair and chief medical officer at Operation Smile, Dr. Billy Magee, says the conference represents a key opportunity to address critical issues amid ongoing challenges in health care access across Africa.
“We are focused on delivering actionable results that enhance surgical health in every district. By prioritizing capacity building, infrastructure development and policy advocacy, our goal is to secure access to essential surgical services for all communities.”
Professor Faustin Ntirenganya, a senior consultant general and onco-plastic surgeon at the University of Rwanda and co-chair of the conference, understands the pressing need for more trained surgeons. “By uniting stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, we can make significant strides in addressing health care disparities and improving surgical care delivery across the continent,” he said.
South African Speakers at Pan-African Surgical Conference
Other South African speakers include Prof Kathryn Chu, Director of the Centre of Global Health at Stellenbosch University; Prof Bruce Biccard, Second Chair in the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT, and Dr Rebecca Gray, Paediatric Anaethetist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town.
For registration, speakers, agenda, free workshops, partnership opportunities and more information about the first Pan-African Surgical Conference, visit panafricansurgicalconference.com.