Middle level capacity building: Ensuring viable alternatives for under-resourced settings-a case in focus

DR. IFEOLU JOSEPH FALEGAN*; ECWA EVANGEL HOSPITAL, JOS, NIGERIA

Background- The developing world faces the daunting task of training and retaining manpower. There is a dearth of healthcare professionals. For instance, the projected immediate need of surgical specialists in Nigeria is 5756 but only 1256 are at post leaving a shortfall of 4500. The West African College of Surgeons is at the forefront of ensuring middle level surgical manpower development in Africa. There exist at the moment several programs in various African countries that seek to achieve this same objective. We consider one such case: the example of Evangel Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Method- We examine this hospital, founded in 1959; the different departments; the nationally acclaimed vigorous residency training program in Family Medicine; the dedicated local and foreign experts who facilitate this training and the impact this hospital has had on developing Nigeria’s middle level manpower.
Lessons Learnt- Evangel Hospital complements the effort of the West African College of Surgeons to develop middle level surgical manpower.
Conclusion- To achieve sustainable healthcare development, we must collaborate to discover evidence-based best practices that will ensure viable alternatives and allow for middle level capacity building.
Keywords- Manpower, Under-resourced settings

*Presenter

Submitted for presentation at the 46th Annual Scientific Conference of the West African College of Surgeons.