“Shaping the future of global surgery together“
8th – 12th October 2024, Essen, Germany
The global burden of disease caused by surgical diseases is greater than that of malaria, TB and HIV combined. It was declared as the “neglected stepchild” of global health by Dr. Jim Y. Kim and Paul Farmer in 2008, due to a lack of scientific study, trained professionals, and concerted action on the part of public health financiers.
The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery defined Global Surgery as the multidisciplinary field aimed at enhancing surgical care as an integrated aspect of a well-organized and “fit for purpose” health care system. Unfortunately, we are very far from achieving this reality. Currently, over two thirds of the world’s population lack access to reasonably priced, secure surgical and anesthetic care and 18 million deaths could be avoided yearly if patients had timely access to safe, high-quality surgical care.
The conference was organized by the European Global Surgery Network and started with 3 days (8-10th of October) of pre-conference hands-on workshops in diverse global surgical subjects such as trauma, acute abdomen, ENT problems, anesthesia, gynaecology, neurosurgery, etc. This course was organized for medical doctors and specialists from either high- or middle and low income countries with interest in global surgical subjects.
Congress: Shaping the Future of Global Surgery Together
Standing: Judith Lindert, Dina Tadros, Lena Landsmann, Cynthia de Carvalho Fischer, Henning Mothes, Laura Klösges, Leo Mothes, Serena Cruz.
Knees: Shanur Shah, Ellen Reuling, Bernward Steinhorst.
The recent global surgery conference, held in Essen from October 10th to 12th, was a resounding success. This gathering of the global surgery community aimed to assess our progress, learn from past experiences, and chart a collaborative path towards achieving the goals outlined by the Lancet Commission on Health.
The conference featured engaging panel discussions with renowned international speakers, in-depth breakout sessions, and presentations of relevant research across various levels – from clinical to socioeconomic and policy. We prioritized interactive sessions to foster networking, showcase innovative work, and encourage knowledge exchange. Young researchers had the opportunity to present their work in a dedicated poster session, with a select few chosen to deliver oral presentations.
The conference attracted a diverse and passionate group of participants, sparking insightful discussions and generating new ideas for future collaborations. The Next Generation Global Surgery Award was bestowed upon two exceptional young healthcare professionals: Dr. Laëlle Mangurat from Haiti and Sandi Gangha from Sierra Leone. Their inspiring work exemplifies the future of global surgery.
The resounding success of the conference inspired Professor Akoko and his colleagues to plan the next global surgery event in Tanzania in 2026.
