Sao Tome and Principe to get first neurosurgeon in 3 years
Elyane Neto, 26, returns to Russia for advanced training in a specialty currently unavailable in the nation.
Sao Tome and Principe's health system will gain its first neurosurgery specialist within three years. Elyane Neto, a 26-year-old doctor trained in Russia, will depart on Thursday for Moscow to pursue this specialization. Neto completed seven years of general medicine training at Moscow University and recently volunteered for two months at the Ayres de Menezes Central Hospital.
Neto stated that neurosurgery is a specialty that the country lacks, noting that many patients do not receive adequate care. She cited an increase in young people with neurological issues like strokes and head trauma from motorcycle accidents as reasons for the demand. Neto comes from a family of medical professionals, including her father, brother, aunt, and sister-in-law.
During two weeks in October, Neto collaborated with a team of eight Russian specialists who provided support in various surgical fields at the Ayres de Menezes Central Hospital. This group operated on dozens of Sao Tomean patients, highlighting a gap in local specialized surgical capacity.
Why it mattersSao Tome and Principe's population will soon have access to specialized neurosurgery care, addressing a critical gap in neurological and trauma treatment.