Surgical Education at the West African College of Surgeons

The West African College of Surgeons (WACS) was formed almost 50 years ago to foster friendship and greater interaction amongst the first crop of surgeons of West African origin freshly returning from overseas training. Under the College’s umbrella, seven different surgical Faculties—Anaesthesiology, Dental Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Radiology/Radiotherapy, and Surgery—have been nurtured into viable entities. The WACS is a leading institution for surgical training, accreditation, and collaboration with international bodies in the subregion. With more than 3000 Fellows, the WACS’ surgical training programs and diplomas have remained the standard format for a population of >140 million in the five Anglophone West African countries for decades. The College has assumed increasing roles in attracting donor agencies as well as West Africans in the Diaspora desirous of establishing training links with credible institutions in the subregion. This paper discusses the history of the WACS, its examination process and other functions, as well as its contributions toward and challenges in surgical manpower development in the West African subregion.