Brazzaville, 23 August 2013 -- The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, has underscored the need for functional emergency, surgical and anesthesia services to reduce the number of people dying through surgery in the African Region.

Speaking at the end of a Regional Workshop on Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (ESSC) in Brazzaville (Congo), the Regional Director noted that investment in surgical services has been inadequate despite demonstrated cost effectiveness of surgery compared to other interventions. He pointed out that common perception that surgical care is merely a luxury in poor countries must be reconsidered, and its essential role in global public health acknowledged.

The 3-day workshop was attended by senior surgeons and anesthesiologists drawn from 16 countries. The workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of countries to improve emergency and surgical care systems within the national health system.

In a speech read on his behalf by Dr Bocar Toure, Director of the Health System Cluster at the WHO Regional Office, Dr Sambo called on participants to join efforts in advocating with national governments, engaging in training, research and health service management to address the challenges at hand. 

He added that a lot can be done for the health of the people within available resources. It is a matter of engagement and dedication. He stressed the importance of improving pre-hospital care, patient management, removing of financial barriers and putting mechanisms in place to monitor the quality of care provided.

Each year, 1.3 million people lose their lives because of road traffic accidents, and more than 300.000 women die from pregnancy related complications. In addition to injuries and pregnancy related complications, perinatal and congenital conditions, cataracts and glaucoma require surgical interventions. In the absence of adequate care, they can lead to acute life-threatening complications and life-long disabilities that make productive employment impossible and impose dependency on family members and society.

The three day workshop ended with the adoption of a series of recommendations urging countries to:

• Incorporate plans, into National Health Plans, with timeline and costs considering the Millennium Development Goals; universal health coverage and health systems strengthening;
• Establish a task force, involving all stakeholders with Ministries of Health, to champion the ESSC cause and toolkit;
• Implement best practices protocols through incidental funding
• Share experiences within global and local networks
• Strengthen partnership for EESC program with academia and training institutions
• Monitor, evaluate and follow up EESC program; and provide feedback to WHO

Dr Sambo reiterated WHO commitment to supporting Member States in strengthening their Emergency and Essential Surgical care Systems to meet surgical needs of the population, and mitigate preventable disability arising from gaps in provision of surgical care.

(*)     Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

For additional information, please contact:
-    Technical Contact: Dr Coulibaly Sheick Oumar - + 47 241 39238 - coulibalysh [at] who.int (coulibalysh[at]who[dot]int)

-    Media Contact: Collins Boakye-Agyemang - + 47 241 39420 - boakyeagyemangc [at] who.int (boakyeagyemangc[at]who[dot]int)