A Neurosurgeon Changing Lives

Transforming lives under challenging circumstances was what Dr.Ellegala faced in Tanzania. A skilled neurosurgeon, trained in America. With a grueling schedule, he takes time out to teach and enable others to perform brain surgery.

With a population of around 40 million, Tanzania had 3 neurosurgeons, lacking equipment and trained medical staff has led to the reliance on outside assistance and dependency. Haydom Lutheran Hospital was set up by Lutheran Missionaries in the '50s. Visiting doctors are often only there on a short-term basis and can't fill the long-term demand and needs of locals.

Recognizing this need, he believed that a more lasting and effective solution would be to train the locals, so that they in turn, can train others. Taking under his wing a local medical officer he teaches him how to perform brain surgery. Daunting for the trainee but seen as a compelling opportunity for the trainer, to teach a more sustainable practice.

This book is about the personal journey of a neurosurgeon; his commitment to saving lives and his belief that teaching others can transform and enable them to take care of themselves.