Ethiopia has carried out its first laparoscopic surgery to remove a pancreatic tumour, marking a major advance in surgical care. The procedure, performed at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Abeba with Indian surgeons from the Dawoodi Bohras Surgical Volunteer Group, was completed in three and a half hours with over ten medical professionals involved. The patient is recovering well. Unlike traditional open surgery, this minimally invasive method avoids opening the abdomen and offers safer, faster recovery. It replaces previous methods used to treat tumours in the pancreas, bile duct, and upper small intestine. The Indian team’s visit was part of a three-day outreach, during which they also donated 150,000 dollars worth of medicines and 100,000 dollars in medical equipment, helping reduce surgery backlogs. Health Minister Mekdes Daba praised the collaboration for improving local surgical skills and boosting the healthcare system. Pancreatic cancer remains a deadly disease in Ethiopia. WHO data from 2020 reported 488 deaths, while Globocan (2022–2024) noted 944 new cases and 842 deaths—noting a fatality rate where most diagnosed patients do not survive. The success of this operation could pave the way for more effective treatment and better outcomes in the future.
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