adminSifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
Surgical experts from East, Central and Southern Africa will be meeting at a major conference in Harare this week to discuss recent advances in the field of surgery and map out strategies to strengthen surgical practice on the continent.
Veteran Zimbabwe surgeon Mr Christopher Samkange told The Herald that the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe will be hosting the annual meeting of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa, incorporating the Association of Surgeons of East Africa from Wednesday to Friday.
“The conference will provide a unique opportunity for local, regional and international surgical experts to share their experiences and discuss how advances and techniques in the field of surgery could be used to make a real difference to patients in our countries,” said Mr Samkange who is the director of the Institute of Continuing Health Education at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences.
He is also the president of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa.
“We are extremely proud to be hosting such a high profile conference which underlines our country’s international reach and desire to share expert knowledge,” said Mr Samkange.
“Hosting the conference is a great coup for Zimbabwe and a reward for our collaborative efforts to secure the event and network with our brothers and sisters in the surgical field on the continent.”
The conference will start with the re-accreditation of COSECSA training hospitals in Zimbabwe — United Bulawayo Hospital Mpilo, Parirenyatwa and Harare Central Hospitals.
COSECSA would accredit new hospitals to its programmes that include Mutare general and Chitungwiza central hospitals.
Pre-conference workshops on surgical procedures and training would overlap with COSECSA Council meetings while examinations would be held leading to the award of membership and fellowship of the College.
In addition, a series of first-rate examination seminars and training of examiners would be held including hospital visits to see patients.
Keynote speakers include Prof Richard David Rosin, head of the Academic Surgical Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies in Barbados, Prof Thandinkosi Madiba head of the Department of Surgery at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Prof Sherry Wren a professor of Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and Prof Godfrey Muguti, an affiliated clinical professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine in the US.
The speakers are expected to share their visionary leadership and offer mentorship on how to become a master surgeon and educator.
COSECSA is an independent body that fosters postgraduate education in surgery and provides surgical training throughout the region of East, Central and Southern Africa.
It operates in 10 countries namely Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It is responsible for training and certifying surgical specialists in surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, urology, plastic and re-constructive surgery and paediatric surgery.
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