12 October 2011
A senior surgeon from Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals has returned from a mission to Malawi which aimed to improve the way patients with hernias are operated on in what is one of the world's least economically developed countries.
Consultant general surgeon Mr Paul Thomas, along with registrar Ms Caris Grimes, spent two and a half weeks stationed primarily at Thyolo District Hospital in the south of the country. Their principle task was to help train and educate their Malawian colleagues, though both Mr Thomas and Ms Grimes performed operations during their stay.
Speaking on his return, Mr Thomas said: "In general, the district hospitals in Malawi are extremely under-resourced. Surgery is routinely performed by individuals with no medical training as we would recognise it in the developed world.
"I was very impressed with their technical skills, but they are not helped by the lack of modern diagnostic equipment.
"However, modern internet technology means that, potentially, patients can access diagnostic tests they need remotely. It also has exciting possibilities for training, with doctors and medics able to take part in education and training online that might otherwise be completely inaccessible."
Although Mr Thomas and Ms Grimes paid for travel and accommodation themselves, medical charity Operation Hernia are footing the cost of the hernia programme at the hospital, and a campaign to raise awareness of the condition amongst the local population.
Mr Thomas continued: "Looking to the future, it would be great if consultants in other specialties, especially gynaecology and urology - expertise in which is desperately needed - were also to travel to Malawi.
"It would be fantastic to develop the links and relationships we've now established even further. It was a life-changing experience."
