SurgiLift Africa

SheFights Cancer Foundation

SurgiLift Africa

Building scalable gynecologic oncology capacity in Africa through simulation, live surgery training, and cross-border mentorship

Mombasa, Kenya

KEN

Nonprofit

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Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate burden of gynecologic cancers. Among Kenya's 28 million women, there are 28,377 new cancer cases annually, resulting in 18,003 deaths (GLOBOCAN, 2022). Gynecological cancers account for over 25% of these deaths yet access to specialized surgical care remains critically limited. Most gynecologic oncology fellows in most of Africa graduate with minimal hands-on experience in radical surgeries—especially those essential for treating advanced cervical and ovarian cancers. This lack of surgical capacity contributes to preventable morbidity and mortality, deepening existing inequities in cancer outcomes. A key gap lies in training for upper abdominal procedures, which are often excluded from local curricula due to limited surgical oncology expertise, inadequate ICU infrastructure, and constrained access to blood products. Existing training models are fragmented, heavily reliant on short-term overseas missions that lack sustainability, continuity, and local ownership. However, with hospitals in the region increasingly being better equipped and staffed, now is a critical window to scale up locally-driven, high-impact surgical education. Our intervention addresses this need through immersive workshops led by international mentors, designed to empower local surgeons with the skills and confidence to perform complex, life-saving procedures.

We have developed a multi-tiered surgical capacity-building model based in Kenya, tailored for LMICs: • Cadaveric Surgical Dissection Workshops: Held in partnership with university hospitals, these provide immersive, hands-on training in pelvic and upper abdominal procedures, complemented by a live-streamed prosection course available to participants across Africa, featuring live Q&A sessions and recordings for future reference and continued learning. • Live Surgery Mentorship: Trainees scrub in alongside expert mentors during real cases, with additional access provided through AI-enabled virtual streaming platforms that tele-broadcast procedures for remote participants, reinforcing techniques in real time • Structured Curriculum: Lectures and simulations based on global best practices but adapted for low-resource settings. • Pan-African Participation: We recruit fellows from multiple African countries, building a regional network. We have already established a social media group populated by gynecologic oncologists from Africa • Local Ownership: Collaborations with county governments and national societies ensure integration into health systems. This model strengthens surgical skills, builds confidence, and increases local capacity to deliver life-saving cancer surgery.

Our primary beneficiaries are gynecologic oncology fellows and recent graduates from Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa. Through advanced, hands-on surgical training, we equip them with the skills and confidence necessary to perform complex procedures, improving their ability to deliver high-quality care. Indirectly, this benefits thousands of women across Africa, offering them access to competent surgical care and reducing preventable mortality. Key benefits include: • Hands-on, high-fidelity surgical training: Fellows engage in immersive workshops to refine their surgical skills in real-life scenarios. • Increased independence in performing radical surgeries: Fellows are empowered to perform advanced cancer surgeries without external specialists. • Access to mentorship and a Pan-African surgical community: Ongoing guidance from international mentors and a collaborative network. • For patients: Reduced delays, complications, and cancer mortality. By utilizing AI-enabled virtual streaming platforms, we enhance the reach of our program. Live-streamed prosection courses and interactive Q&A sessions break down geographical barriers, allowing participants across Africa to benefit from expert-led demonstrations. This initiative strengthens healthcare systems, promotes equitable care, and directly impacts cancer survival rates by empowering local surgeons with the necessary skills and support.