World Health Organization Speech
On the 10th of October at the Southern African Students Surgical Society’s Conference in partnership with the University of Cape Town’s Global Surgery Division themed re-imagining perioperative care in Africa, Director General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Gebhreyesus encouraged delegates to continue finding African solutions to strengthen surgical systems. He highlighted that investment in surgery says lives. 9 out of 10 people in low- and middle-income countries do not have access even to the most basic surgical services, and road traffic accidents are often the main cause of death of avoidable death. In the 72nd world health assembly a resolution was made to ensure safe and timely access to surgical care for all. WHO is committed to supporting countries to strengthen surgical systems.
He urged delegates to understand 3 things
1. How Surgical care fits into health systems
2. That for every life you impact as a clinician you can also impact countless lives by engaging policy makers, and developing evidence for best practice.
3. Even students can act as advocates and researchers, improving surgical health systems and delivery of surgical care.