The College of Surgeons of East, Central, & Southern Africa (COSECSA)
Member profile
The College of Surgeons of East, Central, & Southern Africa (COSECSA) is an independent body whose aim is to foster postgraduate education in Surgery and to harmonize Surgical Training throughout the region of East, Central and Southern Africa. In order to improve the health of people in the developing world, it is important that researchers there have access to the peer-reviewed medical literature originating in the developed world, as well as to the journals and texts originating all over the developing world. The Ptolemy library will designate COSECSA Candidates as research affiliates of the University of Toronto (third largest library in the world).
Main activities
COSECSA aims to:
- promote the honour and dignity of the surgical and allied health professions and to ensure that the highest ethical standards in the practice of surgery are maintained throughout the region;
- organize a common training programme in recognised institutions and to organize examinations of candidates for admission to the College in the various disciplines of surgery;
- promote and encourage postgraduate education and research in surgery which is relevant to the region; and
- organize workshops, seminars, lectures, and conferences which bring together Members and Fellows of the College regularly in order to advance the science and practice of surgery in the region.
Links to the health workforce crisis
COSECSA has adopted a plan of action that aims to:
- set up Surgical Specialty Training in Urology, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Surgery, and Plastic Surgery;
- establish a Surgical Skills Centre in each constituent country;
- exchange Surgical Trainees with the United Kingdom and South Africa; and
- offer Scholarships for limited time Specialist Training outwith the ECSA region.
COSECSA joined the Alliance in 2008 as an implementing Partner.
