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Representatives of the Global Initiative for Children's Surgery (GICS), including Professor Kokila Lakhoo from Oxford University Global Surgery Group (OUGSG), were invited to discuss the surveillance, management and diagnosis of birth defects at the 2023 International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World (ICBD). This followed two years of negotiations by Professor Lakhoo and Professor Tahmina Banu, GICS Chair-Elect.

Left photo: Professor Tahmina Banu and Professor Kokila Lakhoo presenting at the conference. Right photo: The surgical team.
Left: Professors Tahmina Banu and Kokila Lakhoo. Right: The surgical team.

The surgical delegation was successful in making their voices heard to this international body so that the surgical care of children with birth defects is included at global policy making platforms.

The delegation included Professor Tahmina Banu (team leader and paediatric surgeon, Bangladesh), Dr Rahman (systems and social scientist, Bangladesh), Professor Kokila Lakhoo (paediatric surgeon, Oxford), Professor Simone Abid (paediatric surgeon, Brazil), Dr Marycarmen Olivio (Paediatric Surgeon, Chile), Dr Lily Saldana (paediatric surgeon, Peru), Dr Marilyn Butler (paediatric surgeon, USA), and Dr Doruk Ozgediz (paediatric surgeon, USA).

Held in Santiago, Chile from 1 to 4 March - to coincide with World Birth Defects Day - the biennial ICBD conference aims to enhance capacity in lower and middle-income countries (LMIC), improve surveillance and diagnosis of birth defects and disabilities, address risk factors related to birth defects and disabilities, and improve outcomes. 

Global Surgery Stories

The ethical impacts of international medical electives on local students and patient care

Magdalena Chmura, a former Student Rep of OUGSG and current Foundation Year doctor shares a paper recently published with Dr Shobhana Nagraj.

Supporting exams and training in Ethiopia

Professor Kokila Lakhoo was recently invited to the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) as an external examiner for the Paediatric Surgery Fellowship Exams. In addition to the exams contribution, Professor Lakhoo and colleagues ran the BAPS HG neonatal skills course and a research seminar for beginners and advance participants. Read the full report below.

Our contribution to the Francophone Africa meeting in Cameroon

Professor Kokila Lakhoo reports on the Francophone Africa meeting in Cameroon from 25 to 30 November 2023, which was represented by 10 central African countries. As well as giving a keynote speech and various talks, Professor Lakhoo and colleagues ran the BAPS HG neonatal skills course, Oxford Global Surgery research seminar and a BAPS-Oxford laparoscopic course.

Children’s Surgical Course for regional hospitals in Tanzania

Professor Kokila Lakhoo reports on her latest visit to Tanzania, the first country in Africa chosen by Oxford University Global Surgery Group to host its new Children's Surgical Course.

Women as a driver to address gaps in the global surgical workforce

Isabella Busa, a medical student at the University of Oxford, shares her recently published article written with Dr Shobhana Nagraj as part of the Global Surgery Special Study Theme.

OUGSG members run OX5 for Oxford Children's Hospital

Two of our Oxford University Global Surgery Group (OUGSG) members, Professor Chris Lavy and Dr Shobhana Nagraj, completed the OX5 Run on Sunday 20 March 2022 for the Children’s Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital.