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Children's hospital opens surgical skills training centre

The new Surgical Skills Training Centre at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital which officially opened on Wednesday, 22 June 2011, is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa to offer training in paediatric Endoscopic Surgery.

The Children's Hospital Trust fundraises for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and paediatric healthcare in the Western Cape. In just 18 months, the Trust raised the R13.8million needed to build and equip this high technology training centre, which will train surgeons in adult and paediatric Endoscopic (Minimally Invasive) Surgery, general surgery and complimentary specialties.

Previously, the absence of paediatric endoscopic surgical training centres in sub-Saharan Africa, forced African paediatric specialists and surgeons to travel to Europe or the United States for training.

The benefits of having minimally invasive surgery are less operative pain and infection risk, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery with less scarring. Karl Storz Endoscopy, German manufacturers of endoscopic equipment, has donated millions of Rands in equipment needed for this new facility, which houses one master station and eight training stations in the University of Cape Town's Institute of Child Health building, based at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.

This centre will also offer hands-on training courses at various levels in specialties such as anaesthetics, ENT, neurosurgery and urology.

- Press release issued by the Children's Hospital Trust Fundraising for the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Paediatric Healthcare in the Western Cape

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