By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
Residents of Kono District have gained access to cutting-edge surgical care with the successful completion of a medical outreach led by Dr. Mustapha Kabba, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Clinical). The initiative provided free minimally invasive lung surgeries, specifically Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), to local patients.
This groundbreaking effort was made possible through a partnership with the prestigious Diego Gonzalez Rivas Foundation, which is committed to promoting minimally invasive thoracic surgery in resource-constrained environments around the globe.
VATS enables surgeons to perform procedures on the lungs and chest cavity using small incisions and a video camera, substantially decreasing recovery times, post-operative complications, and hospital stays compared to traditional open-chest surgery. Such advanced surgical options have been scarce in Sierra Leone, particularly in rural areas like Kono.
In addition to treating patients, the collaboration aims to build local medical capacity, ensuring sustainable access to specialized surgical care in the future. The Diego Gonzalez Rivas Foundation, named after the Spanish surgeon who pioneered single-port VATS, has conducted similar humanitarian missions throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its work in Sierra Leone represents a significant advancement in thoracic care for West Africa.
For more information, contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com.
