At least 20 Gambian doctors have undergone a three days training on basic surgical training course through support from the West African College of Surgeons. The training was held at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul and it comprises ten (10) senior doctors and ten (10) junior doctors.

 The West African College of Surgeons is primarily focused on the accreditation of training institutions for trainees in all the surgical disciplines in the West Africa sub-region.

 The College also conducts examinations for, and certify specialists in all branches of surgery including Anesthesia, Dental Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, OtoRhinoLaryngology, Radiology and Surgery (including the various sub-specialties).

 The training programs run by the College include prevention, treatment and control of cancer in all these disciplines, which cover all parts of the human body. Speaking at the training, Professor Ousman Nyang, chief medical director of EFSTH, said the course is extremely important in the training of surgeons.

 He said the whole purpose of the training is to ensure that young doctors who are going to be trained as surgeons learn the skills of the trade in a standard manner so that they can practice surgery safely anywhere.

 Professor Nyang highlighted the significance of having the training done in The Gambia. He added that the training will equip the doctors with the requisite skills to do operation in a standard way.

 He further said the training has come at the right time adding that previously doctors will be sent to do the course in other countries. He said there are other theoretical aspects that have to be learned within three to four years before they do the membership exams. “There is another two to three years that they have to do to become fellows of the West African College of Surgeons,” he said.

 Prof Nyang said this is to make sure that doctors don’t learn to do something quickly which is the wrong way and grow up with it adding that is why everything is standardised to make sure whether a surgery in the UK, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal or in The Gambia will be done in the standard way. “Sometimes you find an easy way of learning something without knowing that you are doing it in the wrong way,” he said.

 Dr Kebba Marenah, head of the department of surgery at EFSTH said the recently started residency training program for doctors in The Gambia to become surgeons is very critical.

Dr Marenah highlighted the importance of having the training in The Gambia adding that it will go a long way in helping both the trainers and the trainees in doing their work effectively.

 “One of the requirements for the surgical doctors to move onto the next stage is that they have to undergo a basic surgical skills course exam,” Dr Kebba Marenah said.

 Dr Abdoulie Bah, a third year resident in the development of surgery, said this is the first of its kind to have a basic surgical training course for postgraduate training. “We are lucky to be part of the first badge of Gambians who have been trained in The Gambia in postgraduate studies,” Dr Abdoulie Bah said.

 He added that the training is of paramount importance and every surgical trainee needs to undergo this training course before completing their programs.

 

By Dawda Baldeh