{"title":"Emerging Optimism in Paediatric Surgery in Africa","authors":"Soham Bandyopadhyay, Kokila Lakhoo","doi":"10.4103/ajps.ajps_127_23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ajps.ajps_127_23","url":null,"abstract":"Historically, hundreds of thousands of children worldwide with surgical conditions would go untreated due to a lack of access to appropriate care. In particular, the burden of paediatric surgical conditions in Africa was vast and the healthcare professionals with the skills to treat them were severely limited. However, the 21st century has seen substantial improvements in paediatric surgical care across the African continent. With the rise of dedicated associations, a focus on education, infrastructure development and local research, the face of paediatric surgery in Africa is transforming. This article sheds light on these significant advancements and organisations driving this progress. Associations and societies have been pivotal in the advancements of paediatric surgery within Africa. Notably, the Pan African Paediatric Surgery Association and the West African College of Surgeons have spearheaded the improvement of surgical care for children in resource-limited settings. These organisations have provided a much-needed platform to unite paediatric surgeons from across the continent.[1] Together with national paediatric surgery associations, this has fostered an environment of knowledge sharing, collaboration and advocacy, which ultimately have improved surgical standards and patient care. The enhanced focus on education and training has been a key driver in improving paediatric surgical care. In the past, sending trainees from low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) to high-income countries (HICs) was the primary model used to address the shortage of trained paediatric surgeons. However, over time, this approach has evolved into locally driven accreditation and training programmes. For example, in 2007, BethanyKids became the first site in East Africa to provide training in paediatric surgery accredited by the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa.[2] These local programmes have been pivotal in equipping aspiring paediatric surgeons with the necessary skills and knowledge for this specialised field contextualised to local needs. The inclusion of paediatric surgery in medical school curricula and the introduction of Master of Medicine programmes in paediatric surgery at African Universities have also played crucial roles in helping develop local expertise, reducing dependency on foreign-trained professionals and ensuring sustainable development of paediatric surgical care contextualised to different African countries’ needs. The adoption of digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic also shows potential for long-term supplementation of traditional educational methodologies, particularly as internet access in Africa proliferates. The momentum garnered through these educational initiatives and associations has translated into the development of robust infrastructure and a skilled workforce in paediatric surgery. Non-governmental organisations such as Kids Operating Room, Smile Train and Operation Smile have significantly con","PeriodicalId":7519,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Paediatric Surgery","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135784276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial Changes and Charges","authors":"Adesoji Oludotun Ademuyiwa","doi":"10.4103/ajps.ajps_128_23","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ajps.ajps_128_23","url":null,"abstract":"As the saying goes: ‘The only constant thing in life is change’. In line with this mantra, there are bound to be changes in the structure and processes of the African Journal of Paediatric Surgery (AJPS). In order to keep up with the surging in flow of articles and to ensure the quality assurance processes of editorial oversight and peer-review process, the Editorial Board has now decided to have assistant editors to man different subspecialties of paediatric surgery for greater editorial efficiency. At the moment, specialties such as gastroenterology, urology, cardiothoracic surgery, oncology and hepatobiliary will be covered. These changes will be reflected in the Editorial Board composition in subsequent issues. In a similar vein, and due to prevailing economic realities chiefly due to the high cost of publishing and the dwindling value of the Nigerian currency, the board has come to the painful but necessary decision to adjust the article processing charges upwards starting from 1st January 2024. Articles accepted before this date will be charged according to the current charges. Consequently, from 1st January 2024, the article processing charges after acceptance of manuscript will now be $250.00. Similarly, the authors are to determine if they want their articles published in colour for the print versions of the journal. Such services will now be offered at a rate of $50.00/page. These charges must be paid before article can be moved to production. In this last edition of AJPS for this volume, Bandyopadhyay and Lakhoo[1] in an invited Editorial give a bird’s eye view of the evolution of paediatric surgery on the African continent and how efforts of paediatric surgeons and their associations are impacting positively on the outcome of children who require surgery. There are also other reviews, original articles and case reports in this issue that forms an interesting reading to our audience.","PeriodicalId":7519,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Paediatric Surgery","volume":"136 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135611011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Associated specialties","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198798699.003.0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198798699.003.0012","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter covers other specialties that can overlap with paediatric surgery. It covers, therefore, gynaecology, cleft lip and palate surgery, otorhinolaryngology, orthopaedics, cardiology, neurosurgery, and vascular malformations. Among the specific subjects within are labial adhesions and ovarian cysts; choanal atresia, dermoid cysts, obstructive sleep apnoea, tonsillitis, laryngomalacia, airway foreign bodies and tracheostomy; the ‘limping child’, developmental dysplasia of the hip and slipped capital femoral epiphysis; cardiac failure and arrhythmias in children, and endocarditis; ventricular shunts, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, brain tumours and abscesses; and finally haemangiomas and vascular tumours. The sections are written by specialists in the field with the non-specialist in mind.","PeriodicalId":7519,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Paediatric Surgery","volume":"79 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83928186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tropical and overseas surgery","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198798699.003.0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198798699.003.0013","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter looks at a new aspect of paediatric surgery: that of global paediatric surgery and the provision of surgical services in constrained settings, with a focus on populations that are ordinarily neglected and vulnerable. It outlines challenges that give rise to disparities in outcome, such as lack of human resources, infrastructure, and equipment, as well as potential solutions. We have included individual sections from areas falling under the umbrella term global paediatric surgery to highlight variation and contrast different needs and requirements. So, specifics of paediatric surgery in regions, such as West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, and India are highlighted.","PeriodicalId":7519,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Paediatric Surgery","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80253360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Common operations","authors":"R. Corbridge, N. Steventon","doi":"10.1093/med/9780199699476.003.0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199699476.003.0021","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter describes and illustrates key common operations in the paediatric patient. These include circumcision, the drainage of soft tissue abscesses, common nerve injuries, open and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, orchidopexy and scrotal exploration, laparotomy, minimally invasive access, pyloromyotomy, laparoscopic fundoplication, appendicectomy, intestinal anastomosis and stomas, and thoracotomy and thoracoscopy. The aim was to include a structured approach to guide the junior trainee in their performance—given that all operations no matter how complex they appear initially are simply a series of steps which when taken together lead to a logical whole. Though obviously not common, the principles behind robotic surgery are described.","PeriodicalId":7519,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Paediatric Surgery","volume":"121 1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89402198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"General considerations","authors":"Kate E. Huntley","doi":"10.7312/hunt91144-004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7312/hunt91144-004","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter covers the general considerations in safely and effectively performing paediatric surgery. It starts with the ethical and legal requirements, including withdrawal of treatment, treating children in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, and safeguarding. It then outlines evidence-based medicine, including meta-analysis, statistics, and reporting trials. Transport of the sick child, anaesthesia, analgesia, intensive care, sepsis, and the use of antibiotics in children are all covered. Day-case surgery, from its history to indications, pre- and postoperative care, and proper documentation, is described. Pre-assessment, care of the neurologically impaired child, basics of vascular access and radiology, and nutrition in the surgical patient are all covered.","PeriodicalId":7519,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Paediatric Surgery","volume":"105 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1931-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78750387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}