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Publications Archive

Publications authored by Urolink members

Urolink: 20 years on

In 2022, 20 years after the publication of a special Urolink supplement, the BJUI agreed to publish two editorials and 12 papers about Urolink's activity in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Twenty UK or US-based contributors, with 15 from LMICs in sSA, contributed to this series.

The initial phase covered defining the need for help and the provision of sustainable resources in an ethically appropriate way. Four articles covered how to teach virtually in the LMIC environment during the Covid pandemic, the use of simulation training, disseminatation of knowledge and the feasibility of teaching endoscopic surgery. The next four articles dealt with defined urological issues; urethral stricture disease, paediatric urology, stone disease and female urinary incontinence, all of which continue to be major issues in LMICs.

Finally, the series touched on differences in regulation between HICs and LMICs and emphasised the important role the Surgical Colleges have in helping with education and maintenance of standards of care. All of the articles in the virtual supplement are available using the link below:

BJUI Virtual Supplement

Other topics found in publications by Urolink members are listed below, categorised by subject heading. Each heading opens a listing page that contains clickable links to the source texts:

 

Publications by other authors

Books

Click the topic below to open a listing page with clickable links to books for further reading:

Papers

Click a topic below to view a list of articles on that subject. Topics are arranged in alphabetical order categorised by subject heading. Each heading opens a listing page that contains clickable links to the source texts:

 

Podcasts, Webinars, Meetings & Conferences

Podcasts

Click on the title to view a selected podcast, which links to the Buzzsprout site.

UROLINK AND ME. SETTING UP THE HIPZ CHARITY (April 2023)  Listen to Nick Campain interviewing Ru MacDonagh (Consultant Urologist in Taunton and a past Urolink chair) about how he became involved with Urolink, his first experiences of working in Africa, and how this developed into a career-long association with the continent. Ru explains how his association with Mohamed Jidawi in Zanzibar led to the setting up the Health Improvement Zanzibar (HIPZ) charity in 2006, and how this was the impetus to becoming a leader in Zanzibarian healthcare across many more specialties than just urology.

INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE EVANS (November 2022)
Listen to Jaimin Bhatt as he finds out a little more about what inspired Christine Evans (retired Consultant Urologist from Rhyl and a past Urolink chair), how she was pivotal in the setting up of COSECSA, and its examination structure, and how she has supported the work of Urolink around the globe. The irrepressible Christine, a multi-faceted 'first female' in so many spheres as she shares her amazing experiences of working in Africa and Iraq over more than two decades.

THE HISTORY OF UROLINK (March 2021)
Listen to a conversation between Steve Payne and Neville Harrison (retired consultant urologist from Brighton and Urolink's first chair) about his initial experiences working in Africa in the 1970s, his role in the development of an organisation that morphed into Urolink and his relationship with Lester Eschelman that initiated the development of the first durable link between BAUS and KCMC. This podcast is a fascinating insight into the evolution of Urolink from an embryonic concept to the organisation we know today.

FELLOWSHIP TRAINING IN THE UK - A MALAWIAN PRESPECTIVE (October 2020)
Listen to a conversation between Steve Payne and Charles Mabedi (Consultant Urologist in Lilongwe, Malawi) after he spent time training in the UK with Suzie Venn in Worthing. This podcast is a great opportunity to learn about the advantages and difficulties encountered by urologists coming from LMICs to the UK for further specialist surgical training.

BAUS PRESIDENT'S UROLINK PODCAST (August 2020)
Listen to Tim O'Brien (BAUS President 2020 - 22) talking to Suzie Venn, Nick Campain and Charles Mabedi about Urolink's activities in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Videos and Webinars

Urolink trainee webinars (since November 2020) can be accessed from the Webinar Archive tab on the Learning Resources page. Links to webinars hosted on other sites are the only ones displayed here.

Watch this fascinating lecture (June 2023) given by John Meara, Professor of Global Surgery, and Chief of Plastic Surgery from Harvard Medical School, in Boston, at the BAUS ASM in Birmingham. John was editor-in-chief of the Lancet Commission on global surgery which published its report Global Surgery 2030: evidence and solutions for achieving health, welfare, and economic development, in 2015. Professor Meara's lecture is inspirational, encouraging anyone who has an interest in global urology to see just what can be achieved by becoming involved with organisations like Urolink.

Watch a video (October 2022) made by Clinical Scientists Michael Jeffryes and Eskinder Soloman  from Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust where they describe a low cost urodynamic system that they have developed - at a cost of <$100! This excludes the necessary computer interface and the cost of shipping. There is  a component list in the video, on the equipment page in their Urodynamics Without Borders website as well as here for anyone enterprising enough to self-build a system. The software, and instructions on how to download it are available here. This is a really exciting project which will definitely be of benefit to centres partnering with Urolink. 

THET and HEE undertook a webinar series called "Going global (Sep & Oct 2021)". This series offered an unparalleled opportunity to learn from, and engage with, experienced colleagues in the field through a mixture of workshops, presentations and interactive sessions. The series was designed for NHS staff and final year medical and pharmacy students. From exploring the different opportunities available, to understanding how you can capture the learning you gain whilst volunteering overseas or virtually, the videos in the series are a fantastic place to find out more about getting involved in global health.

 

BAUS/Urolink Meetings

BAUS 2025

Content coming soon

Introduction: Danielle Whiting, Urolink Secretary elect and Consultant Urological Surgeon Frimley Park Hospital and Steve Payne, Urolink Secretary and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

Improving quality in sub-Saharan Africa; the COSECSA experience.
Dr Chales Mabedi, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi. Chief Examiner in Urology, COSECSA.

Benefits of working in low-resource environments in the middle of your career.
Mr. Will Finch, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

What I will remember about Africa
Mr. Steve Payne, Urolink Secretary and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

BAUS 2024

View the session contents

Introduction: Ms Suzie Venn - Consultant Urological Surgeon and Urolink Chair, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Opportunities for advancing surgical practice in the global south - the WISA experience*: Dr Mumba Chalwe Kaja - Consultant Urological Surgeon, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Zambia. President of Women in Surgery Africa (WISA). * This presentation is not included in the video linked to this session.

Meditech Urogynae Workshop in Malawi: Ala’a Sharaf - Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge UK (presented by Wilson To)

TUF fellowship experience at KCMC, Moshi, Tanzania: Wilson To – University College London, Hospital, London UK and Rory Ferguson – Royal Cornwall Hospitals, Truro UK.

BAUS 2023

View the session contents

Introduction: Mr Shekhar Biyani, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and Mr. Mike Ng, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

The landscape of prostate cancer diagnostics in Zambia. LA TP prostate biopsy in Africa - initial experience: Mr Nish Bedi, consultant urological surgeon, Frimley Healthcare NHS Trust UK.

Surgical skills acquisition in high and LMICs - is there any difference?: Ms Lesley Hunt, consultant colorectal surgeon, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield UK.

Surgeons are nothing without equipment - the essential need for engineering in global surgery: Prof Peter Culmer, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds UK.

BAUS 2022

View the session contents 

Introduction: Mr Nick Campain, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Ms Vanessa Savopoulos, Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

A memorial for Phil Thomas, a Urolink treasure: Suzie Venn

A World of Difference: Providing universal health coverage in rural Uganda in the face of Covid: Dr Ian Spillman, Medical Superintendent, Church of Uganda Kisiizi Hospital.

My Stay in Tanzania; What I learnt during my fellowship at KCMC: Mr Tilaneh Leyeh, Consultant General and Urological Surgeon, Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia. 

Donating equipment. How can MediGive and Urolink work together? Mr Graham Watson, Trustee, MediTech Trust and Urolink Executive member, Eastbourne District General Hospital.

BAUS 2021

View the session contents 

Introduction (starts at 2:28 into the video): Jaimin Bhatt, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow and Matt Trail, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy

Update from Our Sites – Zambia, Hawassa, KCMC Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda: Steve Payne, Manchester

Remote Mentoring: Graham Watson, Eastbourne District General Hospital

Bidirectional learning - a Zambia/U.K. collaboration: Nick Campain, Royal Free Hospital, London, Mike NG, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Nkomba Chamileke and Victor Mapulanga, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Plans for the Next Year: Jaimin Bhatt, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow

BAUS 2019

Introduction by Suzie Venn 

Session contents

Reflections
Ru MacDonagh, Taunton & Somerset Hospital

OOPE with Urolink
Dominic Teichmann, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Wales

BAUS 2018

View the session 

Introduction: Suzie Venn, St Richard’s Hospital & Mr Paul Anderson, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley

Urolink Update: Suzie Venn, St Richard’s Hospital & Mr Paul Anderson, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley

Urological Training in Africa: Charles Mabedi, Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi

Training LMIC Urologists in the UK: Abubacarr Jah, Sharab Medical Centre, Serrekunda, The Gambia

BAUS 2017

View the session contents 

Introduction: Suzie Venn, St Richard’s Hospital & Graham Watson, Eastbourne District Hospital

Endourology in the developing world: challenges & opportunities: Srinath Chandrasekera, University of Sri Jayawardanapura, Sri Lanka

TURP camps at Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda - better than the day job: Adam Jones, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading

BAUS 2016

View the session contents

Introduction: Phil Thomas, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

Lancet commission on global surgery: Philip Thomas, Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton

Observations from Urolink visit to Ethiopia: Zeeshan Aslam, Morriston Hospital Swansea

Thoughts on KCMC visit: Chris Parker, Yeovil District Hospital

MSE course - teaching the management of urological emergencies: Nick Campain, Torbay District Hospital

Urethroplasty workshop, Lusaka: Paul Anderson, Russells Hall Hospital Birmingham

 

Other Conferences

Below are conferences that Urolink members have taken part in, or have presented at. Links to content that you may find interesting are provided. Click on the link buttons to access these:

THET Annual Conference - October 2021

Mike Ng, from Exeter UK, and Nkombo Chamileke, from UTH Lusaka, presented their paper, "Bi-directional benefits associated with a urology-themed webinar programme during the Covid-19 pandemic: experiences from a UK-Zambia health partnership"  at the THET Annual Conference in October 2021.

Hear the paper here  (from 53.30 to 1.09.00)

During the breakout session "Solidarity during Covid-19" they describe their experience with virtual learning during the pandemic, and how a sustainable learning resource has been generated through the co-operation between the UK and Zambian urological trainees during 2020/21.

Global Surgical Frontiers Conference - April 2017

The theme for the 2017 conference was Surgery in Children and Young People.

All surgical specialties deal with children's surgical conditions, and most low and middle income countries (LMICs) have a demographic breakdown where nearly half of their population are under 16. 

The aim of the GSF Conference, held on 21 & 22 April 2017, was three fold:

  1. to inform about global needs in surgery;

  2. to provide information about how UK surgeons can be involved with surgical work, training and research in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs); and

  3. to allow networking for surgeons, trainees and medical students interested in global surgery.

Programme Day 1 Video Day 2 Video

 

COSECSA / RCSI Collaboration on the Management of Surgical Emergencies


The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) established a Collaboration Programme in 2007. This programme was finally implemented in 2008.

Further details

Its aim is to increase the provision of quality, essential surgical and emergency care in the COSECSA region, particularly at district level (i.e. the management of surgical emergencies, MSE).

The programme is supported by Irish Aid (the Government of Ireland's Development Agency) and RCSI which provides for staff and resources, including curricula, educational tools, skills training, examination, accreditation and quality assurance processes.

More about Irish Aid

RCSI/COSECSA on X (formerly Twitter)

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