Some years prior to the annual meeting, Magnus Tisell, a neurosurgeon at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, had traveled to Malawi. This trip opened his eyes to the severe shortage of surgically trained medical professionals and the direct impact this had on mortality rates in the country. He observed similar conditions across many West African nations – a few surgeons serving populations of millions. 

More or less at the same time that Magnus started to form an idea to take action, neurosurgeons Mats Ryttlefors and David Revesz crossed paths with Dr Enoch Uche in Enugu, Nigeria and Dr Teddy Totimeh from Ghana. Together, they took the first steps that led to the establishment of the Swedish African Neurosurgery Collaboration (SANC). 

Mohamad Alieu Kargbo, Magnus Tisell, Enoch Uche, and Ulrika Sandvik.

Building Networks

SANC began with an exploratory phase when board members traveled to four hospitals in West Africa (Ghana/Nigeria) to build networks and assess potential partners. This pilot region provided the foundation for sustainable collaboration. An initial collaborative project was established with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) in Enugu, which had access to essential surgical resources, intensive care, and skilled local professionals. Political stability and logistical factors, such as an international airport, also made Enugu a suitable choice.

Over a period of two weeks, they worked closely with the local team, providing daily neurosurgical nursing lectures.

SANC’s first volunteer mission took place in March 2019, with two neurosurgeons and four nurses traveling to Enugu. Over a period of two weeks, they worked closely with the local team, providing daily neurosurgical nursing lectures. Approximately thirty nurses in the ward and intensive care unit completed a two-week training course.

Measurable, lasting impact

Since its inception, SANC has conducted over 120 surgical procedures in hospitals across Nigeria, Gambia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. More than 200 healthcare professionals have been trained and follow-up studies have shown a 43% increase in locally performed surgery. The initiative is committed to sustainable development and strengthening healthcare systems in the target regions and has been independently evaluated and praised for its lasting impact on neurosurgical care in West Africa.​

Our entire purpose is to collaborate for the long term and help build local expertise.

Magnus Tisell emphasizes the importance of this approach:​ “We’re not a hit-and-run SWAT team. Our entire purpose is to collaborate for the long term and help build local expertise. That’s why all surgery is performed by local medical staff, in close cooperation with the Swedish members of SANC,” he explains.​

SANC’s work is supported by various sponsors and partners, including the Swedish Neurosurgical Society, Sahlgrenska International Care and Uppsala University Hospital providing equipment. However, for the organization to be able to sustain and expand its work, it is dependent on finding partners who can support both materially and financially. 

Every single contribution goes directly to the mission, as the organization is entirely volunteer-driven.

​“We aim to create opportunities through which companies benefit from increased visibility in emerging markets and strategic positioning – while we continue to welcome philanthropic contributions from both corporations and the general public. Every single contribution goes directly to the mission, as the organization is entirely volunteer-driven,” explains Tisell.

He continues to explain how they already have proven that it is possible to create a win-win for companies willing to support, since this has been part of the approach from the very beginning. ​

“The goodwill that comes with contributing to such a high-impact initiative is of course beneficial for marketing purposes and to position yourself as an employer that cares about something greater in times of global turmoil,” he says.

To enable advanced surgical procedures on site, SANC has also facilitated the shipment of vital medical equipment and supplies – generously donated by different companies. Thanks to financial and material contributions from medtech partners, including Po Medica, B. Braun, and Medan, SANC has been able to carry out over 120 operations for patients who would not otherwise have received surgery. 

Raising awareness

To raise awareness of the impactful work of SANC and its immediate need to find partners, Magnus Tisell and his team have also been supported by us/Ventures Accelerated, a conglomerate of life science executives that normally work to accelerate business development and strategic positioning of life science companies. Our organization has now taken on a different type of commitment by supporting SANC. We have chosen to support this organization since it makes such a huge and measurable impact on the neurosurgery capabilities of entire nations, with relatively speaking small amounts of resources. Our contribution is mainly in-kind, raising awareness of the initiative and its need for continued funding. On top of that though, we are sponsoring a major fundraising gala on September 4 in Stockholm.

On top of that though, we are sponsoring a major fundraising gala on September 4 in Stockholm.

The gala, arranged as part of the non-profit concept Impact Accelerated, will be held at the former Bank palace of the Wallenberg family, now run by Spaces, and will gather key opinion leaders active at the intersection between finance and the life science industry. 

spotlight Ghana – Surgical Expertise and Knowledge Sharing

In November 2024, a team of specialized nurses, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists from various university hospitals in Sweden set off on a mission to Ghana. They were invited to the country by Dr. Totimeh, a neurosurgeon who had been familiar with SANC for several years. The team stayed at the Accra Medical Center, where they collaborated with local medical staff for two weeks. During this time, they performed surgery, including intracranial and spinal operations, on numerous adult patients. In addition to their work in the operating  room, the team conducted training sessions and education for local doctors and nurses, sharing valuable knowledge and skills. The experience was not only productive but also rewarding, as the team built relationships with their local counterparts and they continue to maintain contact.

About the author

Helena Strigård is the founder and Senior Advisor of Ventures Accelerated, who supports SANC in raising awareness. Photo: Kristian Pohl