ICES Publication Announcement for the ISS, World Journal of Surgery

ICES, International Collaboration for Essential Surgery is proud to announce the publication of “Cost-effectiveness of Surgery in Low- and Middle-income Countries:  A Systematic Review”, in the World Journal of Surgery, Official Journal of the International Society of Surgery/Societe Internationale de Chirurgie, published online on October 8, 2013. Co-Authored by Michael Cotton, MA, ICES Founder and Chair, Dr. Caris E. Grimes, Dr. Jaymie Ang Henry, Founders & Executive Board, and Dr. Nyengo C. Mkandawire, Executive Board; this collaborative effort produced a paper that outlines the provision of essential surgical care as a part of public health policy in low- and middle-income countries.

Examined are the cost-effectiveness of simple surgical interventions which could be made available at any district hospital and are compared to standard public health interventions that have been shown to prevent death and disability.  Suitable articles with both cost and effectiveness data were identified and, where possible, data was extrapolated to enable comparison across studies.

The paper is an excellent representation of the ICES goals in bringing cost effective Essential Surgery to developing countries with the need for data and information that must be disseminated to further build the infrastructure that must be put in place to affect changes.

In conclusion, the authors recommend that further studies be carried out to assess the impact on death and disability rendered by simple surgical procedures in low resource settings.

The Outcome:

“We recommend an investment in surgical care and its integration with other public health measures at the district hospital level, rather than investment in single disease strategies”.

The final publication can be found at:  Cost-effectiveness of Surgery in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review  or http://www.link.springer.com.

This article available will soon be made available in .pdf format in ICES digital library at www.essentialsurgery.com

The Right to Heal Film Premiere

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"The Right to Heal", a film about essential surgery, made its United States Premiere at the Inaugural Bay Area Global Health Film Festival at Public Works in San Francisco, California on July 12, 2013. The first year festival was co-organized by Amber Caldwell, Director of Development at Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology (IGOT), Jaymie Ang Henry, M.D., M.P.H., Founder & Executive Board Member, International Collaboration for Essential Surgery (ICES), and Zak Armitage, Marketing Manager at LIM Innovations. The festival attracted an audience of over 300.

Amber Caldwell kicked off the event with a warm welcome and introduction to guest speaker, Dr. Thomas Weiser from the Department of Trauma Surgery & Surgical Critical Care at Stanford University, who delivered a global health message focused on a new paradigm in bringing surgery to the world stage.  Dr. Jaymie Ang Henry spoke of how the film 'The Right to Heal' aims to shed light on the neglected issues in surgical care globally and the need for concerned individuals and organizations to unite in bringing international attention to issues in providing essential surgery to poorly-served areas of the world.

'The Right to Heal' gave us an intimate look at the lives of individuals in need of essential surgery and their incredibly inspiring and innovative providers who are looking for solutions and change in global surgical care.

Dr. Jaymie Ang Henry, co-producer and Director, along with James Carroll and Alemberg Ang, brought us compelling storytelling and beautiful images of people affected by disabilities that are easily treatable, such as cleft lip and clubfoot, and women affected by the consequences of not having timely, safe, and appropriate cesarean section resulting in fistulas, the appalling life they are submitted to, physically and socially, and those who are disabled for life as a result of little or no access to essential surgical care.

Filmed thus far in developing rural areas in the Philippines, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, and Bangladesh, they will grow their film by adding stories from their upcoming filming in Ecuador, Cambodia and Mongolia.  www.therighttoheal.org.

Brought to us by San Francisco filmmaker, director and writer Mike Seely, “The Most Distant Places” follows Dr. Edgar Rodas and his team to the far reaches of Ecuador, interweaving intimate portrayals of the challenges of providing health care for impoverished people located far from adequate medical facilities. www.themostdinstantplaces.com

Also screened at the event was "Losing a LIMb-Life without your Own 2 Feet" by Ray and Andy Burson.  The filmmakers are brothers and surgeons whose mission is to empower, educate, and train communities about prevention, management, and the consequences of diabetes and amputation. www.own2feet.org

Global Health Organizations partnered for the event were:  IGOT Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, ICES International Collaboration for Essential Surgery, Own2Feet, A little4alot, LIM Innovations, UCSF Global Health Sciences, Samahope, ReSurge, and LifeBox.  To connect please visit: http://bayareaghff.org/about/partners/

The event created exposure for 'The Right to Heal' to the surgical and global health care community and highlighted the need for global essential surgery which has resulted in invitations for screenings at festivals and organizations throughout the US and abroad in the coming weeks and months which will serve to promote the filmmakers message to increase awareness. Please visit the film's website at www.therighttoheal.org for upcoming events/screenings.