Beyond the Operating Theatre: Israeli Doctors Help Build Zambia's Surgical Future

Alain Kabinda

Lusaka-For many patients waiting for specialised surgery, access to expert medical care can mean the difference between hope and despair. This week, that hope arrived at Choma General Hospital in Southern Province, where a team of Israeli medical specialists is working alongside Zambian doctors to perform complex operations while transferring critical skills that could strengthen the country's healthcare system for years to come.

The five-member multidisciplinary team from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre arrived in Zambia to undertake a three-day surgical mission focused on delivering specialised care in paediatrics, general surgery, gynaecology and ophthalmology.

But beyond treating patients, the mission is centred on a broader goal—building Zambia's capacity to provide advanced surgical services through hands-on training and mentorship of local medical professionals.

The visiting specialists are working side by side with Zambian doctors in operating theatres, sharing modern surgical techniques and clinical expertise that health officials say will help improve specialised healthcare long after the mission ends.

The delegation also donated specialised medical equipment to Choma General Hospital, providing local surgeons with additional tools to perform more advanced procedures in the future.

Speaking about the initiative, Israel's Ambassador to Zambia, Ofra Farhi, described the mission as a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the two countries in the health sector.

"This is a huge operation," Ambassador Farhi said, adding that she hopes "Zambia could become a regional hub for heart surgeries for children."

Her remarks reflect a vision that extends beyond the current mission—one where Zambia develops the expertise and infrastructure needed to offer specialised paediatric cardiac care, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.

Healthcare experts increasingly recognise that visiting medical teams can have the greatest impact when they combine patient care with skills transfer.

For Zambia, where demand for specialised surgical services continues to outpace the availability of highly trained specialists, partnerships that strengthen local expertise are becoming increasingly important.

Rather than working in isolation, the Israeli doctors are mentoring Zambian clinicians through practical demonstrations, collaborative surgeries and professional exchanges designed to improve clinical outcomes and build confidence in handling complex cases.

Such collaborations are expected to enhance the country's ability to deliver specialised care independently while improving access for patients who might otherwise face long waiting periods or expensive referrals.

The latest mission also highlights the expanding health cooperation between Zambia and Israel.

In addition to surgical collaboration, Israeli-supported programmes are already contributing to healthcare initiatives in Zambia, including epilepsy research in Eastern Province aimed at improving understanding, diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

These partnerships demonstrate how international cooperation can support local health systems through research, innovation, technology transfer and professional development.

While the visiting specialists will spend only three days at Choma General Hospital, the knowledge they leave behind could have a far longer impact.

Every operation performed together, every technique demonstrated and every piece of donated equipment strengthens Zambia's capacity to provide specialised care closer to home.

For the patients receiving treatment this week, the mission offers immediate relief. For the doctors gaining new skills, it represents an opportunity to expand their expertise. And for Zambia's healthcare system, it marks another step toward delivering more advanced surgical services within its own borders.

As the operating theatres at Choma General Hospital continue to save lives over the coming days, the mission serves as a reminder that the most enduring medical interventions are not only those performed on patients, but also those that empower healthcare professionals to continue saving lives long into the future.