Enhancing Surgical Skills in Conflict Zones
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the surgical skills of doctors working in northwest Syria, the Syrian Board of Medical Specialties (SBOMS) continues to implement a series of advanced training programs in burn and trauma surgery. This program aims to develop the necessary surgical skills for handling deep burn cases, tissue repair, and complex injuries in challenging work environments affected by conflicts, in close collaboration with the David Nott Foundation.
It is worth noting that SBOMS, in cooperation with the David Nott Foundation, has previously organized several similar training programs in northwest Syria and Turkey. These initiatives have aimed at elevating the surgical competence of doctors in areas with critical needs, contributing significantly to improving the quality of healthcare services provided to the local population and enhancing doctors’ ability to respond to increasing medical demands. Furthermore, these efforts included training a group of local doctors to become trainers themselves.
Details of the Recent Training
The last training targeted 22 doctors (males and females), including 6 resident doctors and 16 specialist doctors representing 16 specialized hospitals in northwest Syria. Sixteen trainers, who are among the leading supervising doctors and members and heads of scientific councils at SBOMS, led this training. These trainers possess extensive experience in burn and trauma surgery and have significant expertise in managing complex injuries under exceptional regional conditions. The participation of these trainers is one of the tangible outcomes of the previous trainings organized by the foundation in cooperation with SBOMS, resulting in a qualified generation of local trainers and ensuring the delivery of advanced scientific content that effectively meets the medical needs of the region.
Strategic Partnership to Improve Surgical Skills
This initiative is part of a strategic cooperation agreement between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the David Nott Foundation, coordinated and supervised by the Idlib Health Directorate, aiming to enhance surgical skills in highly challenging work environments. Next year, several specialized surgical courses are planned to be implemented in collaboration with the WHO, covering new areas such as:
• Anesthesia in high-risk environments.
• Obstetric and gynecological surgery in difficult settings.
Continued Commitment to Healthcare Improvement
The Syrian Board of Medical Specialties (SBOMS) reaffirms its continuous commitment to developing doctors’ skills and enhancing the quality of healthcare services in affected areas. SBOMS’s future plans include organizing specialized workshops and launching extensive training programs aimed at resident doctors and supervisors, in addition to strengthening partnerships with international institutions to provide technical, academic support. Through these efforts, SBOMS strives to provide safe and effective healthcare, contributing to the improvement of the quality of life for the population in these areas.