The paper, titled ‘Neonatal Surgical Situation in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward,’ originated from Dr Imam’s course assignment during the Oxford Global Surgery Course held at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences from 18 to 22 September 2023.
Dr Imam, who currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College, sheds light on the pressing challenges facing neonatal surgical care in Bangladesh.
‘At our centre, we have encountered various challenges in addressing birth defects,’ said Dr Imam. ‘The outcome of neonatal surgery in Bangladesh, compared to other low- and middle-income countries, remains relatively poor. However, neonatal surgery is not receiving the necessary attention in the national health policy. Our healthcare system has minimal resources, and the challenges of neonatal surgery are multifactorial.’
The paper highlights critical issues in delivering neonatal surgical services in Bangladesh and outlines actionable solutions. These recommendations, Dr Imam emphasises, are not merely suggestions - they require coordinated efforts from both national stakeholders and the international community to be effectively implemented.
Miss Naomi Wright, Paediatric Surgery Registrar and member of the Oxford University Global Surgery Group, praised the work:
‘This paper encapsulates the situation in many LMICs. Dr Imam has meticulously highlighted the problems and potential solutions, making this paper extremely useful to many others around the world.’
Dr Imam’s contribution underscores the global relevance of neonatal surgery and the impact of collaborative academic efforts in shaping health policy and improving outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Download and read the article ‘Neonatal Surgical Situation in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward'.