Gabon

Children dying from preventable diseases

Gabon’s per capita income is four times greater than other sub-Saharan countries. Unfortunately, the resources are not shared evenly and a small percentage of the population controls the majority of the country’s wealth.

Most of the population lives in poverty, lacking access to clean water, proper food and health care. In Gabon, 1 in 10 children born will die from malnutrition or other preventable diseases before they reach their fifth birthday.

In much of Africa the ratio of fully trained general surgeons to the population is between one for every a million people. Most surgeons are concentrated in the major cities caring for the upper classes. Training African surgeons in Africa enhances the likelihood that they will serve out their years in this neediest of all the continents and it will provide desperately needed surgeons for a continent that is annually losing more surgeons to the West than it is training.

Through a partnership with the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS), our volunteers provide training to surgical residents of multiple hospitals throughout Africa. The goal of PAACS is to train African surgeons who can then serve at Christian hospitals throughout Africa in a way that honors God and provides quality surgical services to the poor.

Our Work

Since 2003, Medical Teams International has sent 9 surgical training teams to Bongolo Hospital through the  PAACS.

We plan to send two specialized surgeons to Gabon this year. The surgeons will present lectures and perform hands-on training with the residents in conjunction with our partner, Bongolo Hospital. 

Physicians with specialties in anesthesiology, general surgery, OB/GYN, orthopedics, urology, ENT, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery and endoscopy are still needed for these teams.

Our Partners

Christian & Missionary Alliance
Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons
Bongolo Hospital

Please donate or volunteer to help save lives in Gabon.