Ten Global Surgical Care Statements for Children: examining our commitment to the future

Abstract

Background: The lack of access to essential surgery for many of our world's children is a global health crisis. A third of all deaths in the pediatric population are due to surgical conditions. In low- and middle-income countries, an average of nine in ten children lack access to basic surgical care.

Methods: This review examines ten commitment statements ratified by numerous global pediatric surgical organizations aimed at addressing existing gaps in global surgical care for children. They are substantiated by a review of literature and represent over-arching principles.

Results: They prompt the recognition of childhood surgical disease as a global health priority and advocate for availability to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Calls to action highlight the importance of capacity building in the areas of education, data gathering, workforce, research, and international collaborations.

Discussion: Eventually, there is the hope for widespread approval of the guiding principles they represent and that the statements themselves, as encapsulations of these beliefs, may act as a continued call for advocacy and action for the necessary work, resources, and funding to mitigate global pediatric surgical disparities.

Keywords: Access to care; Equity; Global; Global health; Health disparity; Pediatric; Surgery.