Smile Train Launches Pan-African Training in Paediatric Anaesthesia

Research in Kenya has demonstrated that the mortality rate following Paediatric surgical procedures can be 100 times higher than in high-income countries. PATA seeks to redefine surgical and anesthesia care in Africa.

LUSAKA, Zambia, Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — To bridge the gap for millions of African children lacking access to safe surgery and anesthesia care, the world’s largest cleft organization, Smile Train has officially launched the Paediatric Anaesthesia Training in Africa (PATA) program in partnership with The ELMA Foundation and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dr. Maryrose Osazuwa (Program Director-PATA Nigeria) teaching pediatric resuscitation to fellows (Dr. Rukayya Abdullahi Sidi and Dr. Chinedu Onyeoji, both of Nigeria).

The PATA Program will be implemented at three African institutions, namely the University of Zambia, National Hospital, Abuja in Nigeria and Makerere University, Kampala in Uganda. The training program, which has been endorsed by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), seeks to increase access to safe surgery and anaesthesia care through intensive, year-long fellowships in Paediatric anaesthesia. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the program will also enable the development of a Paediatric anaesthesia policy.

Speaking during the launch, Smile Train Vice-President and Regional Director for Africa Mrs. Nkeiruka Obi acknowledged that PATA is intended to meet the urgent need to strengthen Paediatric surgical systems in the region and ensure the safety and quality of Paediatric anaesthesia.

“Children in need of surgical treatment, such as those born with clefts or those who are injured, need timely surgery to live a productive life – but access to surgery means nothing if that surgery isn’t safe and high-quality. In many African countries, there is a huge gap in skilled surgical and anesthesia providers, which compromises the quality of surgical services. As part of achieving Universal Health Coverage, PATA seeks to upskill more anesthesia providers in the local community by strengthening the Human Resources for Health,” said Mrs. Obi.

While endorsing the program, Zambia Ministry of Health Director of Clinical Care Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi added: “As part of Zambia’s commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage, we are pleased that the collaboration will strengthen Paediatric anesthesia care in the region. This program is aligned with The Government’s endeavors to implement a National Paediatric Surgical and Anaesthesia Plan.”

Research by the Lancet Commission shows that approximately 143 million surgical procedures are needed yearly in the world which shows a significant burden facing the Paediatric population. In addition, approximately 85 percent of children may require some form of surgery before their 15^th birthday. In Kenya, a recent study titled Paediatric Perioperative Mortality in Kenya revealed that the mortality rate of Paediatric procedures is 100 times higher than in high-income countries.

In her remarks, Melissa Morrison, Director of Health Programs at ELMA Philanthropies noted, “We are proud to partner with Smile Train in launching the Paediatric Anaesthesia Training in Africa (PATA) program. A well-trained workforce is essential to ensuring that children across Africa have access to safe surgery and anesthesia care. The inequities in surgical access and poor outcomes for children in Africa compared to high-income countries is unacceptable, and the PATA graduates represent hope and a future for thousands of children.”

Other institutions collaborating on the implementation of the PATA program include African Mission Healthcare-Kenya, Boston Children’s Hospital, Kids Operating Room, University of Nairobi, Global Institute of Children’s Surgery, African Paediatric Fellowship in Africa, University of Cape Town, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, and Association of Anesthesiologists of Uganda (AAU).

Media Contact:
Smile Train
Emily Manjeru
PR & Communications Manager, Africa
+254724 926 269
emanjeru@smiletrain.org