Online Reporter
Zimpapers Correspondent
RENOWNED Italian orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Alessandro Lelli, is set to collaborate with local professionals to support public health delivery and share clinical experiences during a working visit at Mpilo Central Hospital next month.
The visit by Dr Lelli to Bulawayo from September 2 – 4, this year is part of the Africa Marathon, an academic initiative facilitated by Meril Healthcare Pvt Ltd.
Dr Lelli, director of the Orthopaedic Department at Villa Regina Hospital in Bologna, Italy, will participate in live surgical sessions, clinical discussions and a scientific symposium, providing a platform for local specialists to exchange experiences and perspectives on contemporary knee arthroplasty (surgical joint replacement or repair).
“For medical professionals, opportunities to learn directly from peers working in different healthcare settings can complement formal education and published scientific literature,” organisers of this mission said.
“Such exchanges allow surgeons to discuss practical experiences, approaches to complex cases and the considerations that influence surgical decision-making in different clinical environments.”
The programme will begin with live knee arthroplasty procedures at Mpilo Central Hospital on September 2 and 3.
The sessions will enable participating surgeons to observe the different stages of knee replacement procedures while engaging in discussions around surgical techniques, patient management and clinical decision-making.
The programme will conclude on September 4 with a Scientific Symposium organised in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Orthopaedic Association.
Dr Lelli is expected to share his clinical experience and scientific work, including perspectives on developments in knee arthroplasty and orthopaedic surgery.
The symposium will also provide an opportunity for Zimbabwean surgeons to discuss cases, experiences and challenges encountered in their day-to-day practice.
For surgeons in Bulawayo, bringing international specialists into the local academic environment can also make professional exchange more accessible, allowing discussions to take place around the realities and requirements of practice in Zimbabwe.
The Africa Marathon, an academic endeavor, is designed around the principle of exchange — bringing together international experience and local clinical knowledge through structured academic interaction.
Meril’s role in the initiative is to facilitate these professional interactions by creating opportunities for local medical practitioners to engage with international specialists.
The focus remains on clinical education, scientific discussion and sharing of professional experience. The approach reflects a wider role that medical education programmes can play in healthcare, creating spaces where practitioners can discuss evolving scientific knowledge, learn from different clinical experiences and contribute their own perspectives.
“Importantly, knowledge exchange is not a one-way process. Zimbabwean surgeons practising within their own healthcare environment bring valuable understanding of local patient needs, clinical realities and challenges,” organisers said.
“Combining these perspectives with international experience can make academic discussions more relevant and constructive.
“The three-day programme in Bulawayo is therefore intended to be more than a series of lectures or demonstrations. Its value lies in creating an environment where surgeons can observe, question, discuss and share experiences with colleagues from different professional backgrounds.”
As medical practice continues to evolve, such interactions can support a culture of continuous professional learning and encourage greater dialogue among specialists across borders.
For Zimbabwe’s orthopaedic community, Dr Lelli’s visit offers an opportunity to engage with an experienced international surgeon while also placing local expertise at the centre of the conversation.
For many decades, several visiting international specialist teams—including cardiac experts and others have collaborated with local professionals in Zimbabwe to perform advanced pediatric and open-heart surgeries among other operations.
