Surgery Open Science · 2 authors, 1 centre
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This narrative commentary discusses an educational partnership in Tanzania that used in-person and later virtual mentoring to build local surgical capacity. The central result is the highlighting of strengths like local peer mentorship and adaptive learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This invited commentary reflects on a surgical mentorship program called Safe Surgery 2020, which partnered with 40 healthcare facilities in Tanzania. The authors describe how mentorship was initially bi-monthly and on-site but was shifted to virtual platforms like Project ECHO and WhatsApp groups due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The commentary praises the program's focus on building local mentor-mentee relationships within the relevant social and geographical context, emphasizing a bidirectional learning model. It also highlights the use of continuous feedback and adaptation to tailor the program to emerging needs. The implications underscore the value of local, peer-to-peer mentoring and cultural humility in strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
