Anesthesia & Critical Care Botswana Global Health Program

This elective rotation, typically lasting four weeks or longer, provides participants with hands-on experience in both the operating theatre and the ICU at various medical centers in Botswana.

Operating Theatre Experience

The experience includes teaching and practicing alongside local residents at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), the primary referral hospital in Gaborone, and Scottish Livingstone Hospital (SLH) in Molepolole. At PMH, cases span general, trauma, urological, ENT, neurological, OB/GYN and orthopedic surgeries. SLH handles pediatric eye operations, general surgeries and OB/GYN cases. Given resource constraints, such as limited laparoscopic facilities, the majority of surgeries are performed open with spinal anesthesia when possible. Additionally, there are ophthalmology and cardiac campaigns that occasionally rotate through SLH.

ICU Experience

• SLH: A closed six-bed unit with two isolation rooms, handling conditions like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, chronic lung disease, heart failure, brain injuries and diabetes.
• PMH: A semi-closed eight-bed unit, including pediatric care, with a mix of medical and post-operative cases, offering a more “surgical” experience.

Participants will engage with the ICU team to manage critically ill patients with limited resources, enhancing their clinical skills and teaching abilities.

• Understand the role of anesthesia, critical care and surgery in global public health
• Appreciate the burden of surgical disease in a middle-income country and the lack of essential infrastructure
• Refine clinical skills for anesthesia and critical care in resource-limited settings
• Provide compassionate, ethical and effective patient care
• Contribute to anesthesia care and knowledge through QI projects, mentored research, or expanding biomedical and clinical knowledge

Your time will primarily be spent at the University of Botswana and Princess Marina Hospital. Due to limited theatre space, the schedule will vary, and you will have the flexibility to choose cases based on interest. If there are no cases or theatres end early, you can join ICU rounds or assist with consults and teaching sessions. Fridays will feature didactic and hands-on learning with University of Botswana residents.

Participants are encouraged to engage in research and quality improvement projects. Before the rotation begins, you will discuss your research interests with Program Director Dr. Catronia Steward. Additionally, you will lead at least one educational session, focusing on topics decided with Dr. Steward. The format may include PowerPoint presentations, hands-on lessons or problem-based Q&A sessions.