Niger NTD Control Programme Organises Hydrocele Surgical Training for Local Doctors

The Niger NTD Control Programme was recently awarded a generous donation from a private donor to conduct hydrocele surgeries for those individuals with morbidity due to lymphatic filariasis.

The Niger NTD Control Programme was recently awarded a generous donation from a private donor to conduct hydrocele surgeries for those individuals with morbidity due to lymphatic filariasis. A surgical training workshop was organised in order to increase the number of appropriately trained local doctors able to conduct hydrocele surgeries in the field.

The workshop took place from 9-11 June 2008 in the regional capital of Tillabery. A total of nine doctors from nine endemic districts (Doutchi, Dosso, Filingue, Gaya, Loga, Ouallam, Say, Tillaberi, and Tera) were trained by Dr. Gueye, a Senegalese lymphatic filariasis expert. Dr. Gueye, along with a local lymphatic filariasis expert, worked with each participating doctor to ensure they understood the surgical procedure; the techniques and the patient post-operative care in detail. Overall, a total of eleven patients were operated on during the three-day training session.

Following the surgical training workshop in Tillabery, Dr. Gueye and the NTD Control Programme staff organised a second training session for the Urology Department of the Lamordé Teaching Hospital in the capital city of Niamey. A total of nineteen trainee doctors were invited to observe Dr. Gueye’s hydrocele surgical techniques and each was provided with the most current surgical training document.

Post surgery

Patient with morbidity due to lymphatic filariasis post hydrocele surgery.

Before surgery

Patient with morbidity due to lymphatic filariasis before hydrocele surgery.

The objective of the training sessions organised by the NTD Control Programme was to increase the national pool of trained doctors capable of implementing the technique in the field; thus ensuring the reduction of morbidity due to lymphatic filariasis.

All 12 patients that underwent the surgical procedure are recuperating well and should be back to their regular activities in a few weeks time.