Surgical Mission Support
SOS: Surgeons OverSeas
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) is the flagship program of SIHS. The aim is to provide support to local surgeons, hospitals and ministries of health to assist them in developing long-term surgical capacity. SOS programs concentrate on emergency and essential surgical care - basic and life saving procedures that can easily be undertaken and taught in resource-limited environments. Much of the material is based on the World Health Organization’s Surgical Care at the District Hospital. SOS also provides a forum for surgeons and residents in developed countries to more easily connect with colleagues in developing countries.
The Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) philosophy is one of empowering local surgeons and physicians to safely provide the surgical care that is vitally needed for many of the world’s poorest populations. The aim is not to provide a “Western” standard of care, but to develop local solutions within the constraints of each local situation.
Funding for these projects is from individual private donors, foundations and through creative partnerships with the international business community.
Local Support:
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) programs began in February 2008 in Sierra Leone. Our aim is to expand these programs over the next five years to a minimum of 20 facilities in 15 sub-Saharan African countries to include Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, the Gambia, Zambia, Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Djibouti, Niger, and Mali. We will also be considering facilities outside of Africa, including: India, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia and Nepal.
Support-a-surgeon: This program provides local operating room healthcare workers with salary support. Monetary levels are determined on a facility by facility basis based on consultation with local administrators and ministries of health. A local contact person is necessary to assure equitable distribution of funds. Persons who receive funds confirm their desire to abide by the principles of the society and agree to use universal precautions. We estimate costs to be between US$ 30 – 50 per person per month, with an estimated 20 operating room personnel per facility.
S.H.A.R.P (Surgery and HIV/AIDS Response Program): This program provides local operating room healthcare workers with protective gear to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other blood borne diseases. Eye protection, aprons, rubber boots will be locally procured and provided to government health facilities. Stocks will be assessed at a minimum of once every six months. An advocacy campaign will also address the need for legislation to provide such safety equipment for all healthcare workers. Estimated annual costs are US$ 500 per facility.
E2SC (Emergency and Essential Surgical Care) Workshops: Training workshops based on the World Health Organization’s Integrated Management of Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (IMEESC) will be held on a bi-annual basis. WHO’s Surgical Care at the District Hospital manual will be distributed (when provided by WHO) and incorporated as the standard teaching protocol. Estimated cost per workshop is US$5,000.
Supplies and equipment: Based on assessments performed by SOS and requests by the staff at the hospitals and the Ministry of Health, a list of needs will be developed. These materials will then be sourced and delivered with the assistance of medical recovery organizations such as AFYA (www.afyafoundation.org). Estimated cost per 40’ container is US$ 20,000.
Supplies and equipment: Based on assessments performed by SOS and requests by the staff at the hospitals and the Ministry of Health, a list of needs will be developed. These materials will then be sourced and delivered with the assistance of medical recovery organizations such as AFYA (www.afyafoundation.org). Estimated cost per 40’ container is US$ 20,000.
Malawi Esophageal Cancer Palliative Care Program:
Many patients in Malawi have in-operable obstructing esophageal cancers. Local surgeons have struggled to palliate these patients because of a lack of training and supplies that has prohibited placement of self-expanding metal stents to open up the esophagus so patients could eat and drink. This therapy is one of the most effective palliative treatments that we have and it is the standard of care in developed countries. SOS brought Dr. Russell White, a surgeon from Kenya, to Malawi, and funded workshops to train the Malawian surgeons in how to perform this low-tech procedure and to train nurses to care for these patients. In addition, local funding was obtained by surgeons in Malawi to purchase stents. A research project to help define the underlying cause of esophageal cancer is now on-going. We hope to continue supporting this program in Malawi and expand to other developing countries to improve the lives of patients with cancer. More information is available here.
Missions:
SIHS surgical mission are not aimed at taking away from the programs of other NGOs, but rather to compliment the other SIHS programs and enhance local surgical capability. Aside from providing the information and technical support for surgeons to volunteer individually on missions, we have three different types of funded SIHS surgical missions: IHS, Global Surgery Fellowship, and Educational.
IHS missions: Surgeon members of SIHS will take part in 1-3 month missions at selected facilities. The goal of these missions is to provide experienced manpower and be involved in training and conducting E2SC workshops. These missions will be ongoing in an attempt to provide full coverage for selected locations. Estimated costs for such missions will be US$10,000 per month per participant.
Global Surgery Fellowship missions: Along with University programs, a board eligible (surgeon who completed general surgery training) surgical fellow will be assigned for ten months to selected facilities. This will be the practical component of a fellowship and will be supplemented by an MPH. The fellow will be supervised by SIHS surgical mentors (board certified) who will be present for 1-3 months as part of the IHS missions. The teams will function as a workforce multiplier, assist with training, and conduct research. Estimated costs per year is US$160,000 per fellow.
Educational surgery missions: In collaboration with departments of surgery in the US, PGY-3 or PG-Y 4 residents will rotate through selected facilities. Residents will be accompanied by a surgical mentor (board certified) from their program staff. These missions will be for 4-8 weeks. The teams will function as a workforce extender and be involved in exchange of knowledge and information. Estimated costs are US$ 12,000 per pair.
Research:
Situational analysis: To understand the baseline conditions and to develop our strategy, the first item for each country will be to conduct a surgical situational analysis using the WHOs quick assessment tool. A report will be generated for publication and distribution. A follow up situational analysis will be conducted to measure changes. Estimated costs per situation analysis is US$ 5,000.
Population based survey: To understand the baseline incidence and prevalence of surgically treatable conditions a population based cluster sampling survey is planned for multiple countries.
These surveys will look at
1. Obstetrical (need for c-section, VVF)
2. Trauma
3. Acute abdominal (appendicitis, typhoid perforation, sigmoid volvulus)
4. Non-acute surgical (hernia, breast mass)
5. Cataract.
Estimated cost per survey is US$ 300,000.
SOS: Surgeons OverSeas
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) is the flagship program of SIHS. The aim is to provide support to local surgeons, hospitals and ministries of health to assist them in developing long-term surgical capacity. SOS programs concentrate on emergency and essential surgical care - basic and life saving procedures that can easily be undertaken and taught in resource-limited environments. Much of the material is based on the World Health Organization’s Surgical Care at the District Hospital. SOS also provides a forum for surgeons and residents in developed countries to more easily connect with colleagues in developing countries.
The Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) philosophy is one of empowering local surgeons and physicians to safely provide the surgical care that is vitally needed for many of the world’s poorest populations. The aim is not to provide a “Western” standard of care, but to develop local solutions within the constraints of each local situation.
Funding for these projects is from individual private donors, foundations and through creative partnerships with the international business community.
Local Support:
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) programs began in February 2008 in Sierra Leone. Our aim is to expand these programs over the next five years to a minimum of 20 facilities in 15 sub-Saharan African countries to include Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, the Gambia, Zambia, Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Djibouti, Niger, and Mali. We will also be considering facilities outside of Africa, including: India, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia and Nepal.
Support-a-surgeon: This program provides local operating room healthcare workers with salary support. Monetary levels are determined on a facility by facility basis based on consultation with local administrators and ministries of health. A local contact person is necessary to assure equitable distribution of funds. Persons who receive funds confirm their desire to abide by the principles of the society and agree to use universal precautions. We estimate costs to be between US$ 30 – 50 per person per month, with an estimated 20 operating room personnel per facility.
S.H.A.R.P (Surgery and HIV/AIDS Response Program): This program provides local operating room healthcare workers with protective gear to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other blood borne diseases. Eye protection, aprons, rubber boots will be locally procured and provided to government health facilities. Stocks will be assessed at a minimum of once every six months. An advocacy campaign will also address the need for legislation to provide such safety equipment for all healthcare workers. Estimated annual costs are US$ 500 per facility.
E2SC (Emergency and Essential Surgical Care) Workshops: Training workshops based on the World Health Organization’s Integrated Management of Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (IMEESC) will be held on a bi-annual basis. WHO’s Surgical Care at the District Hospital manual will be distributed (when provided by WHO) and incorporated as the standard teaching protocol. Estimated cost per workshop is US$5,000.
Supplies and equipment: Based on assessments performed by SOS and requests by the staff at the hospitals and the Ministry of Health, a list of needs will be developed. These materials will then be sourced and delivered with the assistance of medical recovery organizations such as AFYA (www.afyafoundation.org). Estimated cost per 40’ container is US$ 20,000.
Supplies and equipment: Based on assessments performed by SOS and requests by the staff at the hospitals and the Ministry of Health, a list of needs will be developed. These materials will then be sourced and delivered with the assistance of medical recovery organizations such as AFYA (www.afyafoundation.org). Estimated cost per 40’ container is US$ 20,000.
Malawi Esophageal Cancer Palliative Care Program:
Many patients in Malawi have in-operable obstructing esophageal cancers. Local surgeons have struggled to palliate these patients because of a lack of training and supplies that has prohibited placement of self-expanding metal stents to open up the esophagus so patients could eat and drink. This therapy is one of the most effective palliative treatments that we have and it is the standard of care in developed countries. SOS brought Dr. Russell White, a surgeon from Kenya, to Malawi, and funded workshops to train the Malawian surgeons in how to perform this low-tech procedure and to train nurses to care for these patients. In addition, local funding was obtained by surgeons in Malawi to purchase stents. A research project to help define the underlying cause of esophageal cancer is now on-going. We hope to continue supporting this program in Malawi and expand to other developing countries to improve the lives of patients with cancer. More information is available here.
Missions:
SIHS surgical mission are not aimed at taking away from the programs of other NGOs, but rather to compliment the other SIHS programs and enhance local surgical capability. Aside from providing the information and technical support for surgeons to volunteer individually on missions, we have three different types of funded SIHS surgical missions: IHS, Global Surgery Fellowship, and Educational.
IHS missions: Surgeon members of SIHS will take part in 1-3 month missions at selected facilities. The goal of these missions is to provide experienced manpower and be involved in training and conducting E2SC workshops. These missions will be ongoing in an attempt to provide full coverage for selected locations. Estimated costs for such missions will be US$10,000 per month per participant.
Global Surgery Fellowship missions: Along with University programs, a board eligible (surgeon who completed general surgery training) surgical fellow will be assigned for ten months to selected facilities. This will be the practical component of a fellowship and will be supplemented by an MPH. The fellow will be supervised by SIHS surgical mentors (board certified) who will be present for 1-3 months as part of the IHS missions. The teams will function as a workforce multiplier, assist with training, and conduct research. Estimated costs per year is US$160,000 per fellow.
Educational surgery missions: In collaboration with departments of surgery in the US, PGY-3 or PG-Y 4 residents will rotate through selected facilities. Residents will be accompanied by a surgical mentor (board certified) from their program staff. These missions will be for 4-8 weeks. The teams will function as a workforce extender and be involved in exchange of knowledge and information. Estimated costs are US$ 12,000 per pair.
Research:
Situational analysis: To understand the baseline conditions and to develop our strategy, the first item for each country will be to conduct a surgical situational analysis using the WHOs quick assessment tool. A report will be generated for publication and distribution. A follow up situational analysis will be conducted to measure changes. Estimated costs per situation analysis is US$ 5,000.
Population based survey: To understand the baseline incidence and prevalence of surgically treatable conditions a population based cluster sampling survey is planned for multiple countries.
These surveys will look at
1. Obstetrical (need for c-section, VVF)
2. Trauma
3. Acute abdominal (appendicitis, typhoid perforation, sigmoid volvulus)
4. Non-acute surgical (hernia, breast mass)
5. Cataract.
Estimated cost per survey is US$ 300,000.
