Primary surgery in rural areas of southern Sudan.

Background: We report through a retrospective analysis our experience of providing surgical care and on-the-job training through mobile surgical missions in southern Sudan during the post conflict period between 2005 and 2009.

Methods: Three surgical teams conducted 23 missions in 5 primary health care centers sited in remote areas of southern Sudan. King's analytical framework for surgical care in developing countries is adopted to evaluate the appropriateness of services rendered.

Rural surgery in southern Sudan.

Introduction: This article reports a retrospective analysis of a 6-year experience of providing surgical care in remote areas of southern Sudan under extremely adverse conditions.

Methods: Teams of expatriate consultants (surgeon, anesthetist, scrub nurse) carried out 28 "surgical missions" with the aims of treating surgical cases previously selected and of training local personnel in basic surgery on the job.

Results: A total of 1642 patients (71% males, 30% under the age of 16) have undergone an operation.