Medics gain surgery skills

Over 40 gynaecologists and general surgeons from various hospitals yesterday began a two-day training in gynaecologic laparoscopy.Laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery) is a modern surgical technique in which operations are performed through small incisions as opposed to the larger incisions in the alternative form of surgery medically known as laporotomy.The objective of this training, according to Dr Eugene Ngoga, the head of Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is to promote minimally invasive surgery in the country.He noted that this kind of treatment and surgery is vital for most of the surgeries carried out on women such as tumours in the uterus, fibroids, ovarian and ectopic pregnancies.“We plan to have a skill lab in the near future so that more of our medics can gain such skills. All Referral hospitals have the ability to carry out this kind of surgery but they now want more gynaecologists and surgeons to also gain the skills,” he said.He stated that the skills gained from the training will have a positive impact on the country’s health and service delivery.Ngonga however noted that the equipment is expensive as the whole set costs around RWF 40 million.He however added that so far King Faisal Hospital, Kigali Central Teaching Hospital (CHUK), Rwanda Military Hospital and the Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) already have the equipment.

National

Medics gain surgery skills