Browsing by Author "Blair, Geoffrey K."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Pediatric Surgical Camps as one Model of Global Surgical Partnership: A Way Forward
    (Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2014) Blair, Geoffrey K.; Duffy, Damian; Male, Doreen Birabwa; Sekabira, John; Reimer, Eleanor; Koyle, Martin; Hudson, Guy R.; Stanger, Jennifer; Langer, Monica; Eeson, Gareth; Gan, Heng; McLean, Sean; Kanaroglou, Nikki; Kisa, Phyllis; Kakembo, Nasser; Lidstone, Katherine
    A uniquely Ugandan method of holding surgical “camps” has been one means to deal with the volume of patients needing surgery and provides opportunities for global partnership.We describe an evolved partnership between pediatric surgeons in Uganda and Canada wherein Pediatric Surgical Camps were organized by the Ugandans with team participation from Canadians. The camp goals were to provide pediatric surgical and anesthetic service and education and to foster collaboration as a way forward to assist Ugandan health delivery.Three camps were held in Uganda in 2008, 2011, and 2013. A total of 677 children were served through a range of operations from hernia repair to more complex surgery. The educational mandate was achieved through the involvement of 10 Canadian trainees, 20 Ugandan trainees in surgery and anesthesia, and numerous medical students. Formal educational sessions were held. The collaborative mandate was manifest in relationship building, an understanding of Ugandan health care, research projects completed, agreement on future camps, and a proposal for a Canadian–Ugandan pediatric surgery teaching alliance.Pediatric Surgical Camps founded on global partnerships with goals of service, education, and collaboration can be one way forward to improve pediatric surgery access and expertise globally.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Ten Global Surgical Care Statements for Children: examining our commitment to the future
    (Pediatric Surgery International, 2021) Tsang, Vivian W. L.; Luo, Lerly H.; Kisa, Phyllis; Blair, Geoffrey K.
    The lack of access to essential surgery for many of our world’s children is a global health crisis. A third of all deaths in the pediatric population are due to surgical conditions. In low- and middle-income countries, an average of nine in ten children lack access to basic surgical care.This review examines ten commitment statements ratified by numerous global pediatric surgical organizations aimed at addressing existing gaps in global surgical care for children. They are substantiated by a review of literature and represent over-arching principles.They prompt the recognition of childhood surgical disease as a global health priority and advocate for availability to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Calls to action highlight the importance of capacity building in the areas of education, data gathering, workforce, research, and international collaborations.Eventually, there is the hope for widespread approval of the guiding principles they represent and that the statements themselves, as encapsulations of these beliefs, may act as a continued call for advocacy and action for the necessary work, resources, and funding to mitigate global pediatric surgical disparities.