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This VTT project is for the support of visiting international trainers and Ghanian trainees in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. This is the first of 2 grants, spanning 2 Rotary years, for this project- split up due to a D5340 global DDF funds limit per grant. This grant will cover the first 8 mos. of training out of a total of 12 months. We plan to train the FIRST 3 orthopedic surgeons in the sub-specialty of pediatric orthopedics for all of west Africa, who will run their own permanent future training program. Ghana is a country of 36 million, with only 1 pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Accra. Upon completion of training, the intent is to have the 3 graduates stay together and establish and run their own permanent accredited national/ international training center in Kumasi.
BACKGROUND: In September, 2016 Children's Orthopedic Education for Developing Nations (COEDN), a US-based non- profit NGO, commenced full-time training of 3 orthopedic surgeons at the Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the premier referral and teaching hospital in this country of 63 million people. By November, 2018 an international team of doctors led by COEDN founder, director and Rotarian Dr. Mark Barry completed training of a two year accredited pediatric orthopedics fellowship program for the 3 trainees, now the first children's Orthopedic specialists in the country. This model provided for 11 surgeon-trainers, who are highly experienced senior pediatric orthopedic surgeon volunteer educators from the US, Canada, and Israel to travel sequentially to MOI to train our trainees for 4-6 weeks at a time. This unique intensive training model resulted in the three fellowship trainees passing rigorous written and oral exams to obtain their certification as "Fellow of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA)" (FCS paed-ortho (ECSA)) in December, 2019. By design, the final endpoint goal has always been for MOI to establish the first accredited pediatric orthopedic fellowship training center in the 14 nation East Africa region.
This training included a successful (2nd year) five month exclusively Rotary sponsored VTT global grant: GG1864829. The host club was the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. This grant supported the expenses of sending 5 trainers from the US in the second half of 2019. This grant is complete and the outcome of training has been a great success. Our 3 graduates have now trained 3 pediatric orthopedic fellows of their own! ...and many more anticipated in years to come. These newly (yearly) minted specialist surgeons will populate hospitals throughout Tanzania and beyond.
A near identical fellowship training program supported by VTT grant: GG1988382 was commenced in December of 2019 at CoRSU (Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services of Uganda) Hospital in Entebbe, Uganda.
CoRSU is a not-for-profit charity run hospital. This program provided a unique opportunity for the Rotary Clubs and Districts involved to work with a proven, established VTT template to execute a project that will increase capacity at a very high level at Uganda's leading pediatric orthopedic and plastic-reconstructive surgery center. Three orthopedic surgeons on staff have been recently trained in a similar fashion by our VTT trainers in a COSECSA accredited program. CoRSU has now established a COSECSA accredited "International Center of Training Excellence" in pediatric orthopedic surgery and is training it's first Fellow.
THIS NEW VTT GRANT APPLICATION IS FOR GHANA, a country of 36 million with ONLY 1 current pediatric orthopedic surgeon. By Western standards, Ghana should have 90. Regional studies in the early 2000's have shown that there are an estimated 70,000 children in need of orthopedic surgery in a country the size of Ghana. Dr. Barry has done extensive preliminary work with local academic leaders and plans to travel to Kumasi, Ghana to meet with these leaders who strongly desire the program to train their first 3 pediatric orthopedic surgeons at the main teaching and referral hospital, and establish a permanent international training center. The 1 year Western Africa College of Surgeons (WACS) accredited fellowship training program will commence in January 2026. Planning is on schedule.
OBJECTIVE 1: Provide a full-time, curriculum of didactic education, hands-on surgical skills training and leadership skills training for 3 fellows in complex pediatric orthopedic conditions through on-going trainer visits over a full time 12 month period, followed by future returning (self-funded) visits to further assist.
OBJECTIVE 2: Graduate the local fellows and have them stay together and start a permanent international fellowship training center of their own.
OBJECTIVE 3: Lay the groundwork for a future dedicated Pediatric SPINE Center.
FINANCES: Funds raised are to cover 1. trainers expenses: airfare, accommodations, meal allowance, visa, license, travel insurance and incidentals, and 2. Academic fees and various training program expenses for the trainees. SEE DOCUMENTS for detailed breakdown.
The funding need for phase 1 of this grant is $70,389, of a total of 99,374 for the full term.
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