Improving Surgical Capacity in Tanzania

Project HOPE’s first group of volunteers– all top surgeons in their respective areas – made up the first rotation of technical experts to travel to Tanzania to train surgeons in their advanced techniques at the Muhimbili National Hospital and the Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute in Dar Es Salaam.  The first group of volunteers was composed of Dr. Robert Baxt – General and Vascular Surgery, Dr. Sharon Weintraub – General Surgery and Critical Care, Dr. Venko Filipche – Neurosurgery and Dr. Adam Fox – Trauma Surgery and Critical Care.

The first rotation, occurring in mid-March 2014, is taking place only three months after the initial assessment of surgical services, which was completed at the end of November 2013.

The surgical team is on the ground and working with the local Tanzanian surgeons to further support the development of skills, techniques and knowledge, thereby enhancing the quality of provided surgical services at the two institutions.

Here are a few photos from the first week of the team’s work.

Dr. Adam Fox doing informal teaching in the OT before the case starts.

In this laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, the patient had had a previous repair as well as three additional operations for recurrences.  So the laparoscopic approach holds the best chance of providing an effective repair. Surgical faculty at MNH is new to this procedure and are “walked through the case” by Dr. Robert Baxt.