The Pediatric Laparoscopic Surgery Training Workshop, held in Nairobi in October 2022, was the first East African hands-on course dedicated to pediatric minimally invasive surgery. The CPD-accredited program offered a structured, competency-based approach to laparoscopic training for pediatric surgeons in the region. Over four intensive days, participants underwent dry lab simulation, laparoscopic equipment and energy device training, didactic lectures, video-based case discussions, wet lab practice, and live surgical demonstrations, including procedures in infants and advanced laparoscopic techniques. The course emphasized safe skill acquisition, practical applicability, and relevance to resource-limited settings.
This pioneering training initiative was conducted courtesy of Professor Ashwin Pimpalwar, whose leadership and expertise were central to the successful delivery of the program and its impact on advancing pediatric laparoscopic capacity in East Africa.