A pre-conference workshop on Neonatal Surgical Skills was attended by 25 participants and held on 5th June at Travellers Beach Hotel, Mombasa. The workshop was designed to strengthen core neonatal surgical competencies through focused teaching and practical demonstrations.
Participants were then taken through general surgical principles, with emphasis on familiarity with surgical instruments, fine tissue handling, and appropriate suture materials in paediatric surgery.
Hands-on teaching and demonstrations were conducted on paediatric bowel anastomosis, focusing on key principles and operative techniques: duodenal atresia (Kimura duodeno-duodenostomy, windsock deformity, and extrinsic obstruction considerations.)
jejuno-ileal atresia( resection enteroplasty, tapering enteroplasty, and plication enteroplasty) and on esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula, highlighting fistula ligation, esophageal anastomosis, and management of long-gap esophageal atresia.
The workshop objective was to enhance neonatal surgical skills and capacity building among paediatric surgical trainees and practitioners.