Prof. Riccabona, head of pediatric urology team, said that this year’s surgery is a lot better than the previous seven and appreciated the collaboration of the Eritrean doctors and nurses.

The team which has two pediatricians, urologists, anesthetists and nurses come to Eritrea twice a year to operate 35-40 children per term. Children with congenital problems, narrow urinary tube and other urinary complications undergo the surgery. After conducting the surgery for a week for about forty children, the team successfully concluded its task on October 17.

Prof. Dr. Riccabona said that after screening around 100-220 patients, the surgeons select up to forty to be operated. For those having severe problems the team take one or two child per year to Germany for more advanced surgery.

For the past eight years surgeons in different fields came to Eritrea twice a year from many countries organized under the Hammerform organization. The Ministry of Health has been striving for the success of the surgeries by building centers like the Burn Center in Halibet inaugurated few months ago and training doctors.

Dr. Habteab Mehari, Director of Referral Hospitals, said that post graduate training is given to doctors to specialize on their respective fields. “We are hopeful that after a few years the surgeries will be conducted by Eritrean specialists.”