Dear Colleagues and Supporters,
I requested an update from our long- time partners, SurgicaLife, who are arranging surgical training in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the poorest and most medically understaffed countries in the world. This is part of the response I received from ..
Dr Neil R Wetzig AO, MBBS, FRACS, FRCS(Eng), FCS(ECSA)
Consultant & Advisor of Surgical Training Programs,
HEAL Africa Hospital, Goma, DRC 28 May 2025
“The COSECSA surgical training process continues to build capacity into the surgical services at HEAL Africa Hospital and will ultimately strengthen the health system in North Kivu Province as these trainees return to DRC & train others – hence creating sustainable change. There remain only 0.4 surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia specialists per 100,000 population, compared to the recommended 20/100,000 – so specialist training like this program is essential. This would not be possible without the generous contribution of ‘Twice the Doctor’.”
When you contribute to TTD I hope you truly feel and appreciate the importance of the contribution you are making and the way that it is amplifying your personal medical effect on patients on our planet….including some of the least medically resourced patients in the world. I hope you “meditate on this” regularly and so on some of the more challenging days in the surgery, clinic or hospital you recall and reflect on this and in doing so it helps to lighten the mental load.
Your colleagues have contributed about $65,000 for this years ‘Doctors’ Day in May’ drive. There is still time for you to contribute (if you have not already done so) prior to the EOFY. Remember all donations are fully tax- deductible and very much appreciated by the recipients.
Regards to all
Robert Baume
On behalf of the Directors of the Twice the Doctor Foundation