Kenya Needs More Neurosurgeons

Ten years ago, there were seventeen neurosurgeons serving all of 40 million Kenyans. In an article published by Kenyan news source Standard Media in 2014, the neurosurgeon shortage means that the “few available neurosurgeons are forced to work both in public and private hospitals, a situation that is overwhelming” because they’re responsible for patients practically 24/7 every day of the year.

While the situation has improved since 2014, progress has only inched along. Today, 39 neurosurgeons are serving a population of 53 million people. The World Health Organization recommends a ratio of at least 1 neurosurgeon for every 200,000 people. So why is the situation in Kenya so dismal?

Well, firstly, it’s hardly unique to Kenya, an East African country with shoreline on the Indian Ocean. Across East Africa, the average neurosurgeon serves 11 million people. Just a little way away, in South Africa, the average neurosurgeon serves 300,000 people.

Also, Kenya’s infrastructure limits the number of neurosurgeons who can be trained to work. The first Kenyan neurosurgeon was actually trained abroad in the United States- before immigrating to Canada for work since Kenya lacked the medical equipment needed for practice. Even if there were more neurosurgeons, they would have a hard job working in rural regions without access to all the necessary medical equipment. There are very few female neurosurgeons. Dr. Sylvia Shitsama Nyamwea is Kenya’s first female neurosurgeon, and, today, four of the approximately 39 neurosurgeons in Kenya are female.

There’s a lot to learn about global health from the situation in Kenya. Ten years ago, Dr. Peter Gicheru Mwangi, a practicing neurosurgeon at Kenya National Hospital predicted that the nation needed at least 200 neurosurgeons to cater to the population of 40 million at that time. The population of neurosurgeons in the nation has doubled in the last decade, but there are numerous confounding factors and roadblocks that make it really tough for the number of neurosurgeons to increase rapidly.

Training facilities are few and far between; furthermore, it’s incredibly expensive for anyone to afford to study for the approximately 6 years it takes to complete medical training. Doctors also need placements in hospitals to finish residency practice for neurosurgery.

Challenges aren’t ubiquitous to the entire nation, however; disparities reign heavily. Certain urban Kenyan regions have skilled neurosurgeons and the necessary equipment. Other regions don’t have a single neurosurgeon to address emergencies. Small wonder then that with such a shortage of doctors 56% of patients with severe spinal cord or brain injury die within 24 hours.

It’s easy to think these problems of global health don’t exist anymore because medicine has progressed so rapidly in the last ten years. But some regions of the world are still struggling. If we can step in to help or share resources, we should. Lives are at stake! 🧠