Over 100 surgeons graduated as colleagues of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) during the 20th anniversary ceremony on 4th December 2019 at Kampala Serena Hotel.
The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa is an independent body that fosters postgraduate education in surgery and provides surgical training throughout the region of East, Central and Southern Africa with the support from the government of Ireland
COSECSA was founded in December 1999; a non-profit making body that currently operates in 14 countries in the sub-Saharan African regions i.e. Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Sudan among others
Graduates from 21 African countries graduated in 9 surgical disciplines i.e. urology, paediatrics, neurology, cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, breast and endocrine surgery.
19 of the graduates were from Uganda of which 16 were men and the rest were women.
The ceremony was graced by the Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health of Uganda Dr.Diana Atwine and the minister of Health Dr Ruth Aceng. The President Yoweri K. Museveni was the guest of honour.
Dr Diana Atwine said that “the ministry is working on expanding health facilities and encouraged those who are passionate about medical courses to increasingly enroll for surgical courses as the theatres that are being constructed will need surgeons to operate in them and save more lives.
The Health Minister congratulated the newly inducted Fellows of COSECSA from Uganda and further appreciated the 3 women who successfully completed the program. She also expressed her gratitude towards the government of Ireland for the support rendered to this college and requested them to continue.