Founded in 2008, the Spine Africa Project initiative was created to bring treatment for the degenerative spine injuries and deformities for the people of Africa—injuries due to the laborious working conditions of the people—men, women and children. Providing spine surgeries, bringing education to local health care providers and improving the quality of local health care facilities, hygiene, clean water and backup electricity are the goals and work of SAP.
To perform spine surgery procedures safely, we need up-to-date medical equipment and facilities in good working order. In fact, the entire medical community will benefit from the implementation of proper sterilization and safety methods, improvements for a safe water system, reliable electricity, and capable communication systems. With finances to help meet these needs, we can provide expanded and expert medical care to the African people.
The Spine Africa Project’s educational training program for spine surgery began in 2008 at the medical school that is attached to the Panzi Hospital. Current planning with Cisco to establish a tele-presence that will allow physicians around the world to present medical lectures to students and doctors projects the equipment to be in place by late 2013. Our longer term plans include creating virtual training, which will teach surgical skills in artificial environments that should lead to improved surgical outcomes.
The Spine Africa initiative is a major undertaking, in terms of time and resources. Patients travel hundreds of kilometers over several days to have their spine injuries examined. A surgeon could see 50-70 patients on each trip and operate on patients every day. Expanding the number of surgeons and using the latest and most effective technologies, Minimally Invasive Spine Intervention (MISI), will provide access to care for even more patients. They will recover more quickly and return to the work force as rapidly as possible.
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