Report From the Field: Local Surgical Outreach Program
When: 23 - 24 February 2021
What: AHA, in partnership with WAM, conducted a local surgical outreach program
Where: Kabudula Community Hospital (KAB)
Visiting experts: surgeon and theater nurse from Lilongwe
Why: provide hands-on training for Kab staff while treating patients
Context: Kab has a large rural catchment area where patients are otherwise unable to access general surgical services.
Impact:
The visiting surgeon trained the clinical officer in-charge on 18 general surgical procedures
The visiting surgeon offered supervision on 6 minor procedures done by Kabudula staff
The theater nurse trained 3 nurses and 3 attendants on theater nursing, cleaning, sterilization, and management.
24 patients underwent successful operations
2 pediatric cases, hernia repair and polypectomy (remove polyps from the inside of the colon)
9 scalp/face mass cases
Plurality of adult cases were hydrocelectomy (remove or repair fluid-filled sac that surrounds testicle) and thyroidectomy (remove all or parts of the thyroid)
4 patients were treated with medication only
4 patients were referred for treatment at a larger facility,
Of those operated, while adult cases included hydrocelectomy and thyroidectomy. There were also 9 scalp/face mass cases, and the other operations were minor procedures.
