Paediatric surgical outreach improving access and reducing burden on families
1
Monitoring & Evaluation, Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Access to pediatrics surgical care remains limited in remote regions of Botswana. As such introduction of pediatric surgery program aims to improve access to pediatric surgical services, minimize the need for long-distance travel, and reduce the financial and emotional burden on families. This study aims to evaluate the implementation, service coverage, and early outcomes of the pediatric surgical outreach program in Ghanzi, with a focus on types of procedures performed.
METHODS:
A retrospective review was conducted on pediatric surgical outreach activities carried out in Ghanzi between July 2024 and March 2025. During this period, four outreach visits were undertaken. All pediatric patients were assessed for surgical management and evaluated for suitability to carry out day-case procedures. Selected minor surgeries were performed on-site, while patients requiring complex interventions, specialized equipment, or peri-operative support were referred to tertiary centres in the capital.
RESULTS:
A total of 41 pediatric patients were evaluated during the outreach visits, comprising of 30 males and 11 females. The age distribution included 10 infants, 10 children aged 1–5 years, 18 aged 6–10 years, and 3 over 11 years. 19 surgical procedures were successfully performed locally as day cases, including umbilical hernia repairs (5), orchidopexies for undescended testes (3), excisional biopsies for soft tissue lumps (4), circumcisions (3), ligation of a patent processes vaginalis (1), amputation of extra digits (2), and polypectomy (1) (figure 1). Most procedures were performed in children aged 6–10 years (n=12), followed by those aged 1–5 years (n=6), and over 11 years (n=1).
CONCLUSIONS:
The pediatric surgery outreach program has significantly improved pediatric surgical service delivery in Ghanzi and advancing universal health coverage in Botswana. By providing on-site diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, it helped reduce the need for frequent long-distance travel, lowering associated costs and stress for families.
Access to pediatrics surgical care remains limited in remote regions of Botswana. As such introduction of pediatric surgery program aims to improve access to pediatric surgical services, minimize the need for long-distance travel, and reduce the financial and emotional burden on families. This study aims to evaluate the implementation, service coverage, and early outcomes of the pediatric surgical outreach program in Ghanzi, with a focus on types of procedures performed.
METHODS:
A retrospective review was conducted on pediatric surgical outreach activities carried out in Ghanzi between July 2024 and March 2025. During this period, four outreach visits were undertaken. All pediatric patients were assessed for surgical management and evaluated for suitability to carry out day-case procedures. Selected minor surgeries were performed on-site, while patients requiring complex interventions, specialized equipment, or peri-operative support were referred to tertiary centres in the capital.
RESULTS:
A total of 41 pediatric patients were evaluated during the outreach visits, comprising of 30 males and 11 females. The age distribution included 10 infants, 10 children aged 1–5 years, 18 aged 6–10 years, and 3 over 11 years. 19 surgical procedures were successfully performed locally as day cases, including umbilical hernia repairs (5), orchidopexies for undescended testes (3), excisional biopsies for soft tissue lumps (4), circumcisions (3), ligation of a patent processes vaginalis (1), amputation of extra digits (2), and polypectomy (1) (figure 1). Most procedures were performed in children aged 6–10 years (n=12), followed by those aged 1–5 years (n=6), and over 11 years (n=1).
CONCLUSIONS:
The pediatric surgery outreach program has significantly improved pediatric surgical service delivery in Ghanzi and advancing universal health coverage in Botswana. By providing on-site diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, it helped reduce the need for frequent long-distance travel, lowering associated costs and stress for families.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
