A “lyrical, inspirational” story of doctors who changed the health care of an African nation (Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation)Dr. Dilan Ellegala arrives in Tanzania, shocked to find the entire country has just three brain surgeons for its population of forty-two million. Haydom Lutheran Hospital lacks even the most basic surgical tools, not even a saw to open a patient’s skull. … open a patient’s skull. Here, people with head injuries or brain tumors heal on their own or die. When confronted with a villager suffering from a severe head trauma, Dilan buys a tree saw from a farmer, sterilizes it, and then uses it to save the man’s life.
Yet Dilan realizes that there are far too many neurosurgery patients for one person to save, and of course he will soon be leaving Tanzania. He needs to teach someone his skills. He identifies a potential student in Emmanuel Mayegga, a stubborn assistant medical officer who grew up in a mud hut. Though Mayegga has no medical degree, Dilan sees that Mayegga has the dexterity, intelligence, and determination to do brain surgery. Over six months, he teaches Mayegga how to remove tumors and treat hydrocephalus. And then, perhaps more important, Dilan teaches Mayegga how to pass on his newfound skills. Mayegga teaches a second Tanzanian, who teaches a third. It’s a case of teach-a-man-to-fish meets brain surgery.
As he guides these Tanzanians to do things they never thought possible, Dilan challenges the Western medical establishment to do more than send vacationing doctors on short-term medical missions. He discovers solutions that could transform health care for two billion people across the world.
A Surgeon in the Village is the incredible and riveting account of one man’s push to “train-forward”—to change our approach to aid and medical training before more lives are needlessly lost. His story is a testament to the transformational power of teaching and the ever-present potential for change. As many as seventeen million people die every year because of a shortage of surgeons, more than die from AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Dilan Ellegala and other visionaries are boldly proposing ways of saving lives.
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So many good people in this world, up lifting.
Sharing it with my Bookclub. An important step in healing the world.
I have travel to Tanzania and was interesting to read about the “truths” noted in book. Took me back to Africa in reading stories.
This man’s contribution to neurological medicine in Africa is unsurpassed. What a role model for all medical care.
After visiting Africa several times, I will pick up just about any narrative account of life or travel on the continent. But, this book added the extra punch of showing just what can happen when people are given dignity and self-assurance to be their best selves and when people work together for a common goal. It made me very hopeful.
Fascinating as true life often is when well written.
An inspiring, honest, and emotional memoir about three doctors working as neurosurgeons in Tanzania. Dr. Dilan Ellegalla felt the desire to go to Africa after completing his long residency and while there saw the incredible need for neurosurgeons. He used his skills and knowledge to teach one doctor, and that doctor trained another, and it continued as Ellegalla began a crusade of teaching and training doctors in neurosurgery.
I wanted to read this book the moment I heard about it. A book always means more when you can relate your own life to what the author writes about. I have a son in his second year of medical residency who is planning to go to Kenya next year as part of the hospital’s international program, and my family and I lived in West Africa for five years. While reading A Surgeon in the Village, I gained incredible insights into what it’s like to be a resident, as well as the difficulty in working in the medical field in Africa. Also interesting, was how the doctors and nurses in Tanzania viewed those foreign medical personnel (like my son) who came for a few weeks or months, and then left.
The author gave readers detailed technical information about the brain and surgical procedures throughout the book, but also details of the doctors’ lives, families, and home situations giving the book a touching and humanistic approach. A Surgeon in the Village was an amazing read. I am indebted to the author for sending me this well written book that I will surely pass on to my son and others. Thank you Tony Bartelme for making me a little smarter about the medical field within the U.S. and Tanzania.
Africa, medical, surgery, inspirational, contemporary, cultural-exploration
In the poorly populated areas of Africa there is much needed, but nothing is needed more badly than medical knowledge and skilled surgeons, well except for clean water and sanitary facilities. The author followed one particular neurosurgeon as he worked hard to change things and teach others even as he himself learned more. His story is amazing and inspiring and should serve to teach those who live near cities everywhere to be thankful,
If anyone needs another wake up call, try reading Nine Pints.
I originally won a copy in a LibraryThing Giveaway but only read it just now because it walked back home, seems that it wandered away and was read by several friends.