The Leipzig-based Paediatric Surgery Foundation and the Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) in the Ethiopian regional state of Sidama are establishing a paediatric surgery department in Hawassa to improve specialist surgical care for children. \r
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Background: \r
There are currently fewer than 20 paediatric surgeons in Ethiopia, yet the area served by HUCSH in Hawassa alone is home to some 10 million children. Around 12 per cent of deaths in children under five are the result of medical conditions that require surgery. In most cases, children are treated by general surgeons, who are unfamiliar with the particular requirements of paediatric surgery. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more doctors in Ethiopia to specialise in paediatric surgery.\r
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Activities:\r
-\tUp to four teaching visits to Ethiopia by qualified paediatric surgeons from Germany \r
-\tOne-week placements for aspiring Ethiopian specialists at the University of Leipzig Medical Center or the Ain Shams Hospital in Cairo, Egypt\r
-\tTechnical and structural support, including the procurement of medical equipment and specialist literature, and the use of simulation models \r
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Impact: \r
There are also specialist paediatric surgeons working in the Hawassa region, not just in the capital Addis Ababa. They contribute to the provision of better medical care for children in Ethiopia, including those with congenital or acquired deformities, and help to reduce child mortality rates in the region.