The case for surgical skills centres in Sub Saharan Africa: The benefits and the challenges.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the educational and practice utilities of establishing Surgical Skills Centres. The paper also defines significant obstacles to the establishment of such centres in Sub- Saharan Africa. In 1996, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada responded to the evolving roles and obligations of medical specialists by implementing a framework of core competencies called the “CanMEDS Roles” which define surgeons as medical experts, communicators, collaborators, managers, health advocates, scholars and professionals. A key competency expected of the medical expert is the demonstration of proficiency in procedural skills².