Doctor Amanda Nang’andu a Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon has been named the first Zambian female plastic surgeon.
Nang’andu recently received a Masters in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Smile Train-COSECSA Fellowship program.
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She studied Medicine at the University of Zambia and specialized in plastic surgery at the University of Nairobi.
The 36-year-old mother of four also received a scholarship from the world’s largest cleft charity, Smile train which will allow her study in Kenya.
“The value of women in surgery to healthcare systems and communities at large cannot be understated. We are committed to offering a full scholarship to four female plastic surgeons every year over the next five years, and 10 surgeons in total,” said Smile Train Vice-President and Regional Director for Africa Dr Esther Njoroge-Muriithi.
The surgeon stated that the organization has set aside KSh 54.8 million that will help encourage more women into studying and joining the list of female surgeons.
She has chosen to dedicate her work to treating cleft lip and palate, a congenital disorder in which the patient experiences shortness of breath, food, communication and hearing difficulties.
“I was Introduced to clefts during undergraduate training and got involved in active cleft surgery during my specialist training. I was particularly touched by a young woman who was abandoned by her husband and family because she had a history of cleft lip, and later, birthed a child with a cleft,” she explained.
A study by Global Surgery Foundation estimated that 1.7 billion children lack access to safe surgical care.
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