West African College of Surgeons

The West African College of Surgeons is a professional organization that promotes education, training, examinations and research in surgery in Africa.[1] The college is the first organization to organize surgical subspecialty training in the region.[2] It awards diploma of fellowship in surgery and is one of out of two bodies that accredits institutions to train surgical residents in member countries.[2]

West African College of Surgeons
AbbreviationWACS
Formation1960 (1960)
TypeProfessional Association
HeadquartersLagos, Nigeria
Location
Official language
Websitewww.wacscoac.org

History

The Association of Surgeons of West Africa (ASWA) was established so that West African surgeons could discuss the unique challenges that they faced and foster cooperation among the region's first crop of foreign trained surgeons.[2] It started with 15 representatives across the field of general surgery, anaesthesia, otorhinolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology. The first council meeting took place at the University of Ibadan on 3 December 1960. The university hosted the college's first conference the next year.[3]

In 1969, ASWA established the West African College of Surgeons [2] with the objective of providing postgraduate surgical training opportunities. The College was to exist side-by-side with the Association of Surgeons of West Africa. By 1973, the Association of Surgeons of West Africa was dissolved and its funds and responsibilities were shifted to the West African College of Surgeons. In January 1975, the organization became a constituent college of the newly created West African Postgraduate Medical College (WAPMC).[3] The sister institution of the West African College of Surgeons is the West African College of Physicians.[4]

Member countries of WACS are not limited to the West African region, Angola, Cameroun and Congo who are considered to be outside the region have been affiliated with the organization.[2]

Examinations

The schedule towards the award of a fellowship in one the faculties usually took a period of 4–6 years depending on the availability of teachers and the choice of specialty. The program is split into Part I and Part II. The part I exam is conducted after two years of entry into the program and the completion of rotational training in most disciplines of surgery and in accredited institutions.[5] The second examination is conducted two years after the first exam when the candidate has chosen a specialty.[5]

Faculties

The college consists of seven faculties.[6] These include:

  • Anaesthesia
  • Dental Surgery
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Radiology
  • Surgery.
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References
  1. Omigbodun, A (July 1, 2012). "The Membership Certification of the West African College of Surgeons". Journal of the West African College of Surgeons. 2 (3): 83–87. PMC 4240233. PMID 25452996.
  2. Bode C O, Nwawolo C C, Giwa-Osagie O F. "Surgical education at the West African College of Surgeons. World J Surg 2008; 32(10): 2162-6.
  3. "College history". wacscoac.org/. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  4. "WACP | About Us". wac-physicians.org. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  5. Ajayi, Olajide Olaolu (February 1, 1999). "Surgery in Nigeria". Arch Surg. 134 (2): 206. doi:10.1001/archsurg.134.2.206. PMID 10025465. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  6. "faculties". wacscoac.org. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
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