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Professor Kokila Lakhoo spoke at a side event at the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva on 'Accelerating progress towards surgical equity in Universal Health Coverage through scaling up children’s surgical services and eliminating Neglected Surgical Diseases (NSDs) by 2030.'

Professor Kokila Lakhoo with two colleagues at the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva. © LifeBox Global
Global Surgery and Anaesthesia gain momentum at the World Health Assembly 2019

Representatives from Kenya, Republic of the Philippines, Burundi, The Gambia, The Republic of Haiti, Ireland, Laos, Mexico, Namibia, Perú, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan spoke on stimulating action towards integration of surgical care as a component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and building a legacy of ‘Leaving No One Behind’ for the next generation.

Professor Lakhoo was one of several regional experts speaking on the topic of neglected surgical diseases and collaborative strategies to address these conditions through surgical systems strengthening, alongside Prof. Pankaj Jani, President, College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA), and Professor Serigne Magueye Gueye, President, West African College of Surgeons (WACS).

The event wrapped up with a call to action to Member States and civil society partners to work together to:

  1. Support a Global Partnership to Prevent and Eliminate Neglected Surgical Diseases (NSDs) by 2030 that will be launched in May 2020.
  2. Support the KidsOR-funded plan for national scale-up of children’s surgical services through training and infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa that will be launched in May 2020.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Health Kenya and the Philippines in partnership with Smile Train, KidsOR, Henry Family Advised Fund, College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), The G4 Alliance, and West African College of Surgeons (WACS). 

Read the Report on Global Surgery and Anaesthesia at  WHA2019 from LifeBox Global CEO Kris Torgeson

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.