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Building Sustainable Neurosurgical Systems in Developing Countries (2024-2025)

This project team set out to strengthen neurosurgical systems in low- and middle-income countries by developing evidence-based, culturally appropriate interventions. Building on the work of previous teams, Duke students partnered with collaborators in Uganda and Nigeria to conduct systematic research framed within the World Health Organization’s health systems framework. 

Over the course of the year, the team formed two country-specific subteams. Team Uganda designed a cross-sectional study to assess the socioeconomic impact of neurosurgical care on patients and their households at the nation’s two public neurosurgical centers. Team Nigeria developed a retrospective mixed-method cohort study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing an electronic registry for pediatric traumatic brain injury patients with integrated mental health components. Both projects underwent proposal development, refinement of study tools and review by institutional review boards in Duke, Uganda and Nigeria.

Beginning in May 2025, Duke students traveled to Uganda and Nigeria to conduct data collection alongside international collaborators, with analysis and dissemination planned for later in the year. Despite challenges such as coordinating across time zones and navigating ethical review processes, the team strengthened collaboration, communication and adaptability. Their work not only provides actionable data for local health policy but also contributes to the broader Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology initiative to build sustainable neurosurgical capacity in low-resource settings.

Timing

Fall 2024 – Summer 2025

Team Outputs

Presentation to the Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology Division, December 2024

Building Sustainable Neurosurgical Systems in Developing Countries (Poster presentation at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 16, 2025)

See earlier related team, Building Sustainable Neurosurgical Systems in Developing Countries (2023-2024).

 

Image: University College Hospital Ibadan, by Hizick27 via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Team Leaders

  • Benjamin Mukumbya, School of Medicine: Neurosurgery
  • Alvan Ukachukwu, School of Medicine: Neurosurgery

Graduate Team Members

  • Allan Bakesiga, Global Health - MS
  • Afnan Siddig, Global Health - MS

Undergraduate Team Members

  • Umahi Agwu, Economics (AB)
  • Suraj Chatoth, Biology (BS); Global Health (AB2)
  • Diana Dayekh, Biomedical Engineering (BSE); Computer Science (BS2)
  • Nadine Fanous, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Diya Patel, Biology (BS)
  • Aditi Ramesh Iyer, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Angela Sapu, Program II (BS)

Community Team Members

  • Oluwakemi Badejo, University of Ibadan College of Medicine
  • Joel Kiryabwire, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala Uganda
  • David Kitya, Mbarara University of Science and Technology
  • Michael Muhumuza, Department of Neurosurgery, Mulago Hospital (Uganda)
  • Temitayo Shokunbi, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Community Organizations

  • Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH): Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Physiotherapy
  • Mulago National Referral Hospital
  • University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Team Contributors

  • Michael Haglund, School of Medicine: Neurosurgery

Themes