The Zambia association of Paediatric Surgeons in conjunction with University Teaching Hospital, Muhimbili National Hospital and American College of Surgeons successfully held a 2-day workshop and stakeholders meeting on the management of gastroschisis from 26th to 27th June, 2026. The meeting brought together paediatric surgeons, neonatologists, paediatricians, nurses, and other key stakeholders from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital and Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania.
Together, we developed a standardized, evidence-based gastroschisis management protocol designed to improve the care of newborns with gastroschisis across Zambia.
A special thank you to Dr Mohammed Salim and Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania, for generously sharing their expertise and experience. Their success in improving gastroschisis outcomes has provided invaluable insights and reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary, protocol-driven care.
This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. The newly developed protocol will now be rolled out to referring centres across the country, promoting early recognition, standardized stabilization, timely referral, and coordinated multidisciplinary management. Our shared vision is simple: every baby born with gastroschisis, regardless of where they are born, should have the best possible chance of survival.
We are grateful to all the institutions and healthcare professionals who contributed to this initiative. Together, we are building stronger systems, improving collaboration, and transforming neonatal surgical care—one baby at a time.
