A team of doctors operating on a patient at Kenyatta National Hospital theater.
The Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of Nairobi, in collaboration with Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), the Surgeons in Humanitarian Alliance for Reconstruction, Research and Education (SHARE) and the Kenya Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (KASPRAS), successfully concluded the SHARE Microsurgery Workshop held from 14th to 18th September, 2026.
The week-long training brought together plastic and reconstructive surgeons, residents and healthcare professionals for an intensive programme combining live microsurgical procedures, hands-on practical training, expert lectures and mentorship, aimed at strengthening Kenya’s capacity to deliver advanced reconstructive surgical care.
The workshop featured two days of live surgical demonstrations at KNH, where complex operations were transmitted in real time to trainees, allowing residents to observe every stage of intricate microsurgical techniques. The practical sessions were complemented by three days of academic lectures and case discussions hosted at the University of Nairobi Department of Surgery, creating a comprehensive learning experience that merged theory with clinical practice.
Leading the training were renowned international microsurgeons Dr. Bahar Bassiri Gharb, Dr. Vahe Fahradyan, and Dr. Andrea Arnaud Moreira from the United States, who worked alongside faculty members and consultants from the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital.
A major highlight of the workshop was the successful completion of two highly complex microsurgical operations.
The first was a Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction for a patient recovering from a mastectomy following breast cancer treatment. The second involved facial reconstruction for a survivor of an acid attack, restoring both function and appearance through advanced tissue transfer techniques.
These procedures, each lasting between seven and eight hours, required the harvesting of tissue and delicate reconnection of tiny blood vessels using microsurgical technology. Both patients are recovering well following surgery.
The procedures were conducted under the leadership of Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, Head of Specialized Surgery at KNH; Dr. Dorsi Jowi, Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; and Prof. Ferdinand Nangole, Programme Director and Thematic Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Nairobi and Consultant Plastic Surgeon at KNH.
The workshop culminated in a certificate award ceremony recognizing residents and participants who successfully completed the intensive training programme.
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