Medical Student Presents at International Symposium

BY: .

Fifth-year Medical student, Mr Kapil Narain, was selected to present his research at the Incision Global Surgery Symposium (IGSS) 2019 held in Kigali, Rwanda. The symposium attracted more than 300 participants from 26 countries. Narain was also selected as one of 10 full scholarship recipients.

‘I am ecstatic to have presented my study Perioperative Blood Transfusion in a Sample of South African Primary Hip Arthroplasty Patients: Incidence and Associated Factors to an international audience comprising surgeons, global surgery experts, registrars and fellow medical students. This study found that age greater than or equal to 70 years and extended surgery were statistically significant factors associated with higher incidence of transfusion.

‘This information can assist surgeons and policy makers in avoiding unnecessary transfusion, thereby reducing the risk of transfusion-related complications and improving perioperative blood-product and patient management. It also has significant implications for communicating to patients and their families, as part of the informed consent process, the potential increased risk of blood transfusion in these patients. I thank Dr Yoshan Moodley for supervising me,’ said Narain.

The IGSS focused on surgery as an essential component of universal health coverage; the role of international organisations in global surgery care; international partnerships; health systems strengthening; advocacy in global surgery; women in surgery and human resources for health. Speakers included representatives from Harvard University, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders), Operation Smile, the Ministry of Health of Rwanda, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Rwanda.

Narain also enjoyed the cultural experience in Rwanda. He remarked, ‘It was also a sobering experience visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which commemorates the tragedy of the 1994 Rwandan genocide where over a million Rwandans lost their lives. Today, Rwanda has been cited as the gold standard for universal health coverage on the African continent and one of the few countries in the world to achieve this. According to the United Nations, it is also the cleanest city on the planet. One is utterly mesmerised by the metamorphosis of this nation. It is testament to the power of the human spirit, determination, dedication and political will. The sheer natural beauty coupled with Rwandese hospitality made every day a joy.’

Dr Dominique Vervoort, Chair of Incision and fellow of the Program in Global Surgery and Social Change at Harvard Medical School said, ‘IGSS2019 was a historical meeting, with over 300 students from 16 African countries, showcasing the motivation and eagerness of Medical students to push forward the field of global surgery on the African continent - and their ability to do so. It was a tremendous pleasure to have Kapil Narain with us as one of the 10 funded Travel Scholars, and we are excited to see the great work he will bring about in his home country through InciSioN.’

Narain’s study was recently selected to be presented at the World Congress of Surgery in Krakow, Poland and he was selected to be part of the Future of Surgery Program at this Congress.

Words: MaryAnn Francis