SECOND ASSIST

Second Assist is dedicated to improving surgical care in developing countries through supporting collaborative research, educational exchange, and program implementation... Second Assist's name is based on the surgical hierarchy in the operating room: the surgeon operates, the first assistant helps and operates, and the second assistant is there to provide whatever help possible when and where the surgeon and first assist need it most... According to estimates from the WHO, death and disability due to trauma in Cameroon is on par with that caused by malaria. Unfortunately, most of the data sources that the WHO relies on to make these estimates are of poor quality and are thought to grossly underestimate the problem. In order to best design programs and policy to prevent and treat diseases that are amenable to surgical intervention, the nature and extent of the problem needs to be better understood. We believe that this can only be done by partnering with local experts and assisting..