Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Malawi (CURE Malawi) hosted the third BSCOS–COSECSA–POSNA Paediatric Orthopaedics Course in Blantyre, Malawi. Organised by the British Society for Children’s Orthopaedic Surgery (BSCOS), the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), and the Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), the course brought together orthopaedic surgeons and trainees from across East and Southern Africa for specialised paediatric orthopaedic training.
The course marked the third consecutive year that it has been hosted by a CURE hospital. The inaugural course was held at Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital in Zambia in 2024, followed by AIC-CURE Children’s Hospital in Kenya in 2025.
The course was designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of junior consultants and senior surgical trainees affiliated with COSECSA, following the identification of gaps in access to specialised paediatric orthopaedic training and teaching resources in sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 32 participants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi attended this year’s training.
Learning from Regional and International Specialists
Experienced paediatric orthopedic surgeons from Africa, North America, and Europe led the training through interactive lectures, small-group case discussions, practice vivas, and hands-on sessions. Participants completed sawbones practicals on the management of common paediatric orthopedic conditions, including supracondylar fractures, femur and forearm fractures, slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE), and proximal femoral osteotomies.
The first two days of the course were held at Protea Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre, where participants attended lectures, discussions, and practical sessions. On the final day, participants moved to CURE Malawi’s consultation rooms for clinical sessions.
The program also included delegate case presentations, discussions on providing orthopedic care in low- and middle-income countries, Ponseti practical sessions using clubfoot models, and clinical examination sessions with patients.
Among the faculty were CURE Malawi’s paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. CURE Malawi Medical Director Dr. Sam Maina presented on the surgical management of late-presenting clubfoot, while Dr. Michael Russell delivered a session on benign and malignant tumours.
Commenting on the faculty, CURE Malawi orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Lubega, a local organizer, said the course featured specialists with expertise in paediatric orthopedic conditions prevalent across the COSECSA region. He said, “We brought together specialists from different parts of the world with expertise in conditions commonly seen in the COSECSA region. The aim was to equip delegates with the knowledge and skills they can take back to their home countries to improve care for children.”
Building Skills to Improve Care for Children
For children living with treatable orthopaedic conditions, access to specialised care can make a lasting difference in their mobility, independence, and quality of life. By strengthening paediatric orthopaedic training, the course helps equip surgeons to provide safer and more effective care in their own hospitals and communities.
Dr. Glory Sefu, an orthopedic surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi, said the course strengthened her knowledge and skills in managing paediatric orthopedic conditions in low-resource settings. She said, “It was truly an enlightening and empowering workshop. It highlighted the important role that we, as orthopedic surgeons, have to play in changing the trajectory of children’s lives—sometimes through complex procedures and techniques, but more often through simple yet effective interventions.”
Hosting this year’s course gave CURE Malawi an opportunity to support the training of paediatric orthopaedic surgeons from across the region. The knowledge and skills gained during the course will help participants strengthen paediatric orthopaedic services in their respective countries.
To learn more about CURE Malawi’s work or support life-changing surgical care for children, visit: https://malawi.cure.org/services-overview/.
About BSCOS COSECSA POSNA Paediatric Orthopaedics Course
The care of Children and Young People (CYP) is a significant part of Orthopaedic practice in sub-Saharan Africa. Whilst there are some notable examples of excellent training, overall, Orthopedic Trainees’ access to high-quality teaching and training materials remains a significant challenge. In 2022, a group of interested parties met following the paediatric Orthopedic COSECSA Exam in Windhoek, Namibia, and agreed to design, fund, and run a new paediatric Orthopaedic Course specifically for Trainees & Fellows in the COSECSA Region.
