Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery: A Model of Global Collaboration to Advance the Surgical Care of Children
Authors:   Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery, Wright Naomi , Jensen Guy , St‐Louis Etienne , Grabski David , Yousef Yasmine , Kaseje Neema , Goodman Laura , Anderson Jamie , Ameh Emmanuel , Banu Tahmina , Bickler Stephen , Butler Marilyn , Cooper Michael , Gathuya Zipporah , Kamalo Patrick , Ki Bertille , Kumar Rashmi , Madhuri Vrisha , Oldham Keith , Ozgediz Doruk , Poenaru Dan , Sekabira John , Saldaña Gallo Lily , Siddiqui Sabina , Yapo Benjamin , Abantanga Francis A. , Abdelmalak Mohamed , Abdulraheem Nurudeen , Ade‐Ajayi Niyi , Ismail Edna Adan , Ademuyiwa Adesoji , Ahmed Eltayeb , Ajike Sunday , Akintububo Olugbemi Benedict , Alakaloko Felix , Allen Brendan , Amado Vanda , Anbuselvan Shanthi , Anyomih Theophilus Teddy Kojo , Asakpa Leopold , Assegie Gudeta , Axt Jason , Ayala Ruben , Ayele Frehun , Bal Harshjeet Singh , Bankole Rouma , Beacon Tim , Bokhari Zaitun , Borah Hiranya Kumar , Borgstein Eric , Boyd Nick , Brill Jason , Budde‐Schwartzman Britta , Bulamba Fred , Bvulani Bruce , Cairo Sarah , Campos Rodezno Juan Francisco , Caputo Massimo , Chitnis Milind , Cheung Maija , Cigliano Bruno , Clarke Damian , Concepcion Tessa , Corlew Scott , Cunningham David , D’Agostino Sergio , Dahir Shukri , Deal Bailey , Derbew Miliard , Dhungel Sushil , Drake David , Drum Elizabeth , Edem Bassey , Eguma Stella , Elebute Olumide , Espineda Beda R. , Espinoza Samuel , Evans Faye , Faboya Omolara , Fadhili Bake Jacques , Fazecas Tatiana , Fazli Mohammad Rafi , Fieggen Graham , Figaji Anthony , Fils Jean Louis , Fitzgerald Tamara , Flick Randall , Fossi Gacelle , Galiwango George , Ganey Mike , Adel Maryam Ghavami , Sabagh Vafa Ghorban , Gibikote Sridhar , Gohil Hetal , Greenberg Sarah , Gruen Russell , Hagander Lars , Hamid Rahimullah , Hansen Erik , Harkness William , Herrera Mauricio , Hisham Intisar , Hodges Andrew , Hodges Sarah , Holterman Ai Xuan , Howard Andrew , Ignacio Romeo , Ireland Dawn , Ismail Enas , Jacob Rebecca , Jacobsen Anette , Jaffry Zahra , James Deeptiman , James Ebor Jacob , Jamiyanjav Adiyasuren , Jenkins Kathy , Jimenez Maria , Jacob Tarun John K , Johnson Walter , Joselyn Anita , Kakembo Nasser , Kisa Phyllis , Kim Peter , Kumar Krishna , Kvasnovsky Charlotte , Lamahewage Ananda , Langer Monica , Lavy Christopher , Lawal Taiwo , Lazarus Colin , Leather Andrew , Lee Chelsea , Leodoro Basil , Linden Allison , Lofberg Katrine , Lord Jonathan , Loveland Jerome , Gaol Leecarlo Millano Lumban , Magdala Pavrette , Malemo Luc Kalisya , Malik Aeesha , Mathai John , Matias Marcia , Mbuwayesango Bothwell , McHoney Merrill , McLeod Liz , Minocha Ashish , Mock Charles , Mohamed Mubarak , Molina Ivan , Morar Ashika , Mukhtar Zahid , Mulenga Mulewa , Mullapudi Bhargava , Mulu Jack , Munkhjargal Byambajav , Muzira Arlene , Nabukenya Mary , Newton Mark , Ng Jessica , Nguyen Karissa , Ntawunga Laurence Isaaya , Nthumba Peter M. , Numanoglu Alp , Nwomeh Benedict , Ojomo Kristin , Osazuwa Maryrose , Abem Emmanuel Owusu , Peer Shazia , Penny Norgrove , Petroze Robin , Priya Vithya , Rai Ekta , Raji Lola , Ravindran Vinitha Paul , Reddy Desigen , Rice Henry , Ringo Yona , Robelie Amezene , Baratella Jose Roberto , Rothstein David , Sabatini Coleen , Saha Soumitra , Saluja Saurabh , Samad Lubna , Seyi‐Olajide Justina , Shehu Bello B. , Shrestha Ritesh , Sigalet David , Situma Martin , Smith Emily , Socci Adrienne , Spiegel David , Ssenyonga Peter , Stephenson Jacob , Stieber Erin , Stewart Richard , Shukla Vinayak , Sims Thomas , Tambo Faustin Felicien Mouafo , Tamburro Robert , Tara Mansi , Tariq Ahmad , Thomas Reju , Contreras Leopold Torres , Ttendo Stephen , Ure Benno , Vricella Luca , Vasquez Luis , Raju Vijayakumar , Villacis Jorge , Villanova Gustavo , deVries Catherine , Waheeb Amira , Waheeb Saber , Wandaogo Albert , Wesonga Anne , Williams Omolara , Willner Sigal , Win Nyo Nyo , Wissanji Hussein , Wondoh Paul Mwindekuma , Wood Garreth , Youngson George , Zabsonre Denléwendé Sylvain , Salazar Luis Enrique Zea , Zevee Adiyasuren , Zheleva Bistra , Lakhoo Kokila , Farmer Diana 
Published: January 2019

Background

Recommendations by the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery regarding surgical care in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) require development to address the needs of children. The Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery (GICS) was founded in 2016 to identify solutions to problems in children’s surgery by utilizing the expertise of practitioners from around the world. This report details this unique process and underlying principles.

Methods

Three global meetings convened providers of surgical services for children. Through working group meetings, participants reviewed the status of global children’s surgery to develop priorities and identify necessary resources for implementation. Working groups were formed under LMIC leadership to address specific priorities. By creating networking opportunities, GICS has promoted the development of LMIC‐LMIC and HIC‐LMIC partnerships.

Results

GICS members identified priorities for children’s surgical care within four pillars: infrastructure, service delivery, training and research. Guidelines for provision of care at every healthcare level based on these pillars were created. Seventeen subspecialty, LMIC chaired working groups developed the Optimal Resources for Children’s Surgery (OReCS) document. The guidelines are stratified by subspecialty and level of health care: primary health center, first‐, second‐ and third‐level hospitals, and the national children’s hospital. The OReCS document delineates the personnel, equipment, facilities, procedures, training, research and quality improvement components at all levels of care.

Conclusion

Worldwide collaboration with leadership by providers from LMICs holds the promise of improving children’s surgical care. GICS will continue to evolve in order to achieve the vision of safe, affordable, timely surgical care for all children.