EMPOWERING FRONTLINE SOTA CARE: A PRACTICAL SURGICAL AND EMERGENCY TRAINING INITIATIVE IN EASTERN DR CONGO wetzigng@gmail.com

PW07-07

EMPOWERING FRONTLINE SOTA CARE: A PRACTICAL SURGICAL AND EMERGENCY TRAINING INITIATIVE IN EASTERN DR CONGO

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John JohnMusubao musubaoj@gmail.com HEAL Africa Hospital Orthopaedics Goma Democratic Republic of Congo

Jean-Pierre Kigayi jpmkigayi@gmail.com HEAL Africa Hospita Anaesthesia Goma Democratic Republic of Congo

Nelson Kambale nelsonkambale@gmail.com ECC Medical Administration Goma Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo

Oral or Poster

Introduction Access to safe surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anaesthesia (SOTA) care remains inadequate in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in North Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With a surgical workforce density of just 0.4 per 100,000, most procedures are performed by general doctors lacking formal practical training, contributing to preventable morbidity and mortality.

To address this gap, the Diploma In SOTA Care (DISC) Course was launched at HEAL Africa Hospital in Goma in April 2023. This two-month, hands-on training program targets general doctors from rural facilities, focusing on essential competencies in safe surgery, trauma, obstetrics, anaesthesia, neonatal care, and applied anatomy. Participants undergo pre- and post-course knowledge and skills testing and confidence self-assessments. Facility-level data were also collected.

Over two years, 45 doctors (39 male, 6 female) participated, each serving a mean population of 80,000. Facilities were severely under-resourced, with limited surgical beds, operating rooms, electricity, water, oxygen, and blood transfusion capacity. IV ketamine was the primary anaesthetic; few had spinal anaesthesia training. Knowledge scores improved from 56% to 75%, and overall confidence rose from 5.4 to 8. Confidence in Bellwether procedures increased significantly: Laparotomy (5→8), Caesarean Section (7.3→9), Open Fracture Management (3.3→7). Confidence in critical emergency procedures increased markedly.

A structured, low-cost, hands-on training model can significantly enhance the clinical capacity of general doctors in conflict-affected rural settings. Dissemination of such initiatives may strengthen SOTA care across Sub-Saharan Africa.