Neurosurgery Residency Training Program Begins in Tanzania

In 2024, our partner site in Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), continued to experience a steady increase in surgical patient volume and hospital referrals. As the demand for specialized neurosurgical care grows, sustainability has become a key focus in ensuring long-term impact.

A major milestone in this effort was achieved in August 2024 when KCMC received accreditation and approval from the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) to establish a neurosurgery residency program. This landmark development will significantly enhance training capacity, expand the neurosurgical workforce, and help meet the pressing health care needs of the region’s population.

The newly approved neurosurgery residency program at KCMC will follow a comprehensive structure, including one full year of dedicated research, aligning with the rigorous training models at Barrow Neurological Institute and other leading Western institutions. Barrow Global and KCMC teams are actively collaborating to refine the program’s curriculum and evaluate potential candidates for the first cohort. The inaugural trainee is expected to commence training in early 2025.

This initiative emulates the “train forward” model with a long-term investment strategy in human capital, ensuring that Tanzanians and other physicians from surrounding regions and countries will have access to local training governed under the COSECSA umbrella. By fostering local expertise and sustainability in neurosurgical education, this program represents a crucial step in advancing neurosurgical care and access in Tanzania and beyond. Barrow Global is proud to support KCMC in this endeavor, reinforcing our commitment to improving neurosurgical education and equitable patient care worldwide