Our work in Sierra Leone continues to progress. Lesley and Jen visited in November / December 2024 with Lesley returning in May this year. Much of the work is collaborative, with links to the formally established CapaCare programme, the SCHO Association of Sierra Leone and the ACPGBI Cololink group. Basic and more advanced* surgical skills training has been the focus (*such as bowel anastomosis). There are some challenges, with inconsistencies in historical training and practical difficulties in trying to capture all the relevant local clinicians.
However, the ‘Leonean’ branch of the AMHSI workstream is progressing well. We have three established centres, with two particularly flourishing. Over 200 hernias have now been repaired in programme, with excellent results and no major complications. We have restocked those centres with mesh and are making progress towards further centre expansion, but mindful of ensuring minimum centre requirements* are in place to ensure success, rather than taking unnecessary risks (*integrity of sterility, overall centre capability).