Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente called for concerted efforts to improve surgical care on the continent.
The African continent is at the epicentre of the global surgical care crisis. By 2030, the continent will face a shortage of 6 million surgical care providers, leaving millions without access to life-saving procedures. In response to this crisis, Operation Smile, in partnership with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, The University of Rwanda, and the Rwanda Surgical Society, have commenced a five-day Pan-African Surgical Conference (PASC2025) from February 24-February 28, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The conference, themed “Building Resilient and Sustainable Surgical Services in Africa: A Surgeon in Every District Hospital”, which was officially opened by Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, brings together surgeons, policy experts, researchers, and other key stakeholders globally to address Africa’s critical shortage of surgical professionals.
In his address, Prime Minister, Dr. Ngirente stressed the importance of this Conference as a platform to discuss the urgent challenges in surgical care, workforce development, and innovation to transform healthcare across Africa.
He shared with participants Rwanda’s efforts in increasing the healthcare workforce including surgeons.
In this regard, he commended the strategic partnership with Operation Smile and IRCAD in advancing plastic and reconstructive surgery as well empowering our workforce in cutting-edge surgical techniques.
Prime Minister also called upon participants to ensure that communities have access to affordable surgical services at their nearest healthcare facility.
Dr. Ngirente also highlighted the importance of expanding surgical training programs to build a resilient workforce as well as improving health equity so that no patient is left behind.
Surgeons and policymakers came together to seek a long-term solution to the challenges the continent faces.
Professor Faustin Ntirenganya, a senior consultant general and onco-plastic surgeon at the University of Rwanda and co-chair of the conference said that the meeting seeks to address the gaps to save Africans who still largely consider seeking surgical services outside the country, rather than their own countries.
“Millions of people lack access to life-saving surgical care – a basic human right. This conference is not just about discussions, it’s a call to action for a shared vision of access to quality healthcare,” Prof. Ntirenganya said.
“If we foster collaboration, equip local providers, and invest in innovation, we can create a future where no patient is left behind and reshape the future of surgical care in Africa and beyond,” he pointed out.
Kathy Magee, co-founder, president, and CEO of Operation Smile, pointed out that over 5 billion people—more than two-thirds of the world’s population—lack access to safe, affordable surgery, and the conference was an opportunity to explore solutions to improve local surgical ecosystems and drive policy innovations to expand access to safe surgical care.
“Real change happens when care is local. That’s why we have evolved our strategy to focus on training and equipping in-country surgeons and medical teams to deliver life-saving procedures in their own communities,” Magee said.
Kathy Magee
The organisation she heads works closely with local medical leaders, health ministries, universities, accrediting institutions, NGOs and international organizations to improve surgical care through in-country professionals, who they support to improve their capacity as well as the conditions they operate in.
Over the next four days, participants will experience a comprehensive program featuring expert panels, interactive sessions, workshops and networking opportunities designed to drive surgical advancements on the continent. It will seek to increase surgical access in Africa by strengthening the local surgical workforces and exploring context-specific solutions to the identified gaps in local surgical ecosystems.
Key discussions will also be centered on innovative solutions in healthcare infrastructure, policy advocacy for surgical access and strategies for enhancing surgical training and research in Africa. Keynote speakers include Dr. Hanna Getachew (Consultant General and Paediatric Surgeon), Dr. Peter Nthumba (Head and Program Director of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery at the AIC Kijabe Hospital) and Prof. Kathryn Chu (Director of the Centre of Global Surgery), among others.
The conference is co-organised with Operation Smile, a global nonprofit bridging the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care, starting with cleft surgery and comprehensive care.
The organisation, which operates in 12 countries, provides medical expertise, training, mentorship, research and care through dedicated staff and volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits and health systems, and supported by our generous donors and corporate partners.
It started in Kenya back in 1987, and in 2025, it is expanding to Tanzania, partnering with COSECSA, CANECSA, the American Heart Association, and the World Federation Society of Anesthesia, to train and equip Africa’s next generation of surgeons and anesthesiologists.
In Rwanda, Operation Smile has helped many to access cleft surgery, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Surgical Society and the University of Rwanda.
“Our impact is real: from two plastic surgeons to nearly two dozen, and from one country to a continent-wide movement. Across Africa, 55 universities and institutions are training the next generation of surgeons, decentralizing care, and cutting costs for patients,” Magee said.
Magee says that through collaborative efforts, similar to what Operation Smile has done with Rwanda, many Africans can access surgical care.
This work is more than surgery—it is system change that will future-proof access to surgery. By strengthening local expertise, reducing reliance on out-of-country medical support, and equipping governments with real-time health data, we’re creating a sustainable future for surgical care in Africa.
At the Pan-African Surgical Conference in Kigali, global experts will come together to push this agenda forward. Because only by bringing safe, reliable surgery closer to home can we deliver hope, affect lasting impact and ensure that no patient is left behind.
