Surgical Capacity in Zimbabwean Public Hospitals

Anesthesia, Surgery

Global surgery, Surgical capacity, Zimbabwe

This study aimed to understand how ready Zimbabwe's public hospitals are to perform essential surgeries, which are critical for treating a wide range of health issues from emergencies like car accidents to planned procedures such as childbirth by caesarean section. The researchers looked at hospitals across Zimbabwe to see what kind of surgery facilities, equipment, and specialists were available.

Abstract Background: Access to surgical care is an essential component of universal health coverage, but surgical capacity is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries. Surgical capacity in Zimbabwe, a lower-middle income country, is undocumented. The objective of this study was to assess surgical capacity in public hospitals in Zimbabwe. Methods: A national hospital survey was performed in 2019 using a validated surgical situational analysis tool. the investigators included district, provincial and central hospitals in the public sector across all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. Data was collected from key informants using an online survey. information gathered included an inventory of infrastructural components required to perform essential surgical services, a survey of healthcare workers involved in surgical care (the Surgical Anaesthetic and Obstetric workforce); a submission of the number of surgical procedures including bellwether procedures performed over the course of the last year and also surgical sundries and consumables required to perform surgical services.

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Zimbabwe