Children are one of the world’s protected populations. Indeed, they are the very make up of our future as a race. They bring new life, ideas, and opportunities we can only dream of. Unfortunately, not all children around the world have equal opportunities to contribute to this future. In 2019 alone, more than 5 million children under 5 years died from preventable and treatable causes – many of which are due to lack of surgical access. While there are many initiatives to help combat these alarming findings, many projects are condition specific (e.g. clubfoot, cleft palate, etc.) or have teams that work in silos from other parties that may benefit. They lack a “we” or “us” mentality and rather an “I” phenomenon. To help address this issue, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery developed The Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS) in 2016. Join us today as we talk with Professor Kokila Lakhoo, paediatric surgeon in Oxford, as she shares with us her insights into global collaboration as past president of GICS. We also explore the importance of trainee programs, advocacy, and training true doctors that have no borders.
Professor Kokila Lakhoo: Professor of Paediatric Surgery, Past President of Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery, and Director of Oxford Global Surgery Course
SOUTH AFRICA
“Training Paediatric Surgeons of the Future, Resource Requirements in Paediatric Operating Theatres, and Turning ‘I’ Into ‘We'”
Professor Kokila Lakhoo is a consultant paediatric surgeon at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford and the University of Oxford. Recently she received an honorary professorship from University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa and Muhimbili University, Tanzania.
Her research profile in paediatric surgery is extensive. She is director of a global surgery course for Oxford University and represents Oxford University Global Surgery. She is the Chair of the International Forum for the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons and is personally developing paediatric surgery through a link in Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa. She is the past president of Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS) that has followed on from the Lancet Commission. She is editor of 4 books including a recent joint venture with her African colleague as editor to a textbook, namely “Paediatric Surgery: a comprehensive text for Africa.” She has to date contributed to over 85 chapters to paediatric surgical textbooks and has over 300 peer reviewed publications.