Responding to the challenges of Global Children Surgery: a unique program in Burkina Faso
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In brief
In brief
This article describes a comprehensive pediatric surgery development program launched in Burkina Faso in 2020, based on Global Initiative for Children's Surgery principles. The program employed a health system-strengthening approach addressing infrastructure, workforce, quality of care, and community awareness, achieving significant milestones in expanding pediatric surgical capacity in this low-middle income country.
- Comprehensive health system strengthening across infrastructure, workforce, and community awareness is essential for sustainable pediatric surgery development
- Partnership-driven approaches addressing all healthcare system levels can successfully expand pediatric surgical capacity in resource-limited settings
- Integration of pediatric surgery into broader global health frameworks is critical for long-term success in low- and middle-income countries
- Multi-domain interventions including research, advocacy, and quality improvement create measurable strengthening of pediatric surgical ecosystems
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Abstract
Purpose
The challenges are immense when it comes to enhancing the development of pediatric surgery in low- and middle-income countries in line with current recommendations for holistic and sustainable approaches. The Pediatric surgery development plan in Burkina Faso was started in 2020. This paper reports on our unique experience, focusing on the main actions and indicators monitored.
Methods
The program was developed based on the core principles of the Global Initiative for Children's Surgery, employing a comprehensive health system-strengthening strategy. Our approach aimed to address the pediatric surgical ecosystem through partnerships, research, and interventions at all levels of the healthcare system.
Results
Significant actions were implemented across various domains, including infrastructure, quality of care, workforce, community awareness, research, and advocacy. These efforts have led to a substantial strengthening of the pediatric surgical ecosystem in the country, achieving major milestones and outcomes in each of these areas.
Conclusion
This program has not only helped to create a major impulse for the expansion of pediatric surgery in Burkina Faso, but also enriched the community of interest with a robust implementation program to confirm the main challenge to succeed: integrating this most essential discipline into the wider framework of global health.
