Update from Tanzania: The first course inclusive of bonesetters in the East African region
Traditional bonesetters participating in training as part of the inaugural meeting hosted at Shirati KMT Hospital.
Shirati, Tanzania - The Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) is working in collaboration with Shirati KMT Hospital, Shirati Foundation and the AO Alliance to implement the project "Building Bridges for Broken Bones". The project is supported through GSF’s new catalytic fund for surgical care systems, SURGfund. We are pleased to announce that positive impact is already being realised. The result is that trust relationships are already developing between the bonesetters and orthopaedic surgeons.
Ethical approval for collaborative fracture management study
As part of the project, a collaborative fracture management study is planned and recently received ethical approval from the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) of Tanzania. The aim of the collaborative fracture management study is to combine the best elements of both traditional bonesetting and orthopaedic hospital- care. Through this approach, the local bonesetters are able to provide conservative and local treatment when appropriate, but also to refer for surgical treatment at the hospital when needed. In this model, the traditional bonesetters and hospital workers cooperate by triaging fracture patients by pre-defined criteria, creating a collaborative working relationship resulting in better overall patient care.
“In this model, the traditional bonesetters and hospital workers cooperate by triaging fracture patients by pre-defined criteria, creating a collaborative working relationship resulting in better overall patient care”
The project team hosted an inaugural meeting to explain the new guidelines and revised study protocol to both hospital workers and the traditional bonesetters. The traditional bonesetters received training on how to use mobile phones provided by the project, to report on patients treated locally and those referred for more complex care. In addition, a logistical fast-track was implemented at Shirati KMT Hospital to reduce waiting times for referred patients.
New collaboration on the Basics in Trauma Course
As part of the collaboration and team-building between hospital staff and the bonesetters, a specially designed course on the “Basics in Trauma” is being conducted at the Shirati KMT Hospital in collaboration with Shirati Foundation and the AO Alliance. The course is an integral component of the project, with the goal of nurturing a team approach to orthopaedic care, while improving understanding on basic trauma principles and care. This course will include several visiting orthopaedic surgeons from the largest trauma centres in Tanzania.
“This course is intended as a platform for these two groups to meet and find common ground to work from”
The “Basics in Trauma Course” will be the first of its kind in the East African region that includes traditional bonesetters, giving them the opportunity to share their traditional techniques and treatment principles in a special presentation lecture to the orthopedic trauma specialists. This is an example of true collaboration.
Stay up to date!
Learn more about the project here
Read the previous project update
Learn more about SURGfund