BANJUL, THE GAMBIA, July 01, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Prosidio, a leader in advanced surgical visualization technology, proudly announces that its state-of-the-art endoscope was foundational to the first-ever endoscopic pituitary surgery successfully performed in The Gambia. This landmark procedure was a highlight of the recent Harvard-Banjul Mission Trip to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, a philanthropically funded initiative to dramatically advance neurosurgical care in a region with severely limited access.
"This was the first time in Gambian history an endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal procedure had been done, and it's already changing their practice."
– Maddie Ikeya, Marketing Team, Department of Neurosurgery, Mass General Brigham
The groundbreaking surgery was collaboratively led by Dr. Tim Smith, Director of Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Fellowship, Surgical Director of the Multidisciplinary Pituitary Center, and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School (MGB), alongside Dr. John Jabang, Director of Neurosurgery at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in The Gambia. Their expertise, combined with Prosidio's gifted endoscope system, marked a critical turning point in surgical capability for the nation.
"Prior to Prosidio's donation of this instrument, we had no access to an endoscope, and without it, key neurosurgical procedures simply weren't possible," explained Dr. John Jabang. "Now with the endoscope, many people will benefit. I know that without Prosidio giving us this instrument, I can't imagine when we would actually have it."
The mission, which brought together a comprehensive team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, surgical technologists, researchers, and educators, extended its impact far beyond the operating room.
"We did pituitary surgery microscopically last year here, but there's a lot of limitations in the visual corridor using a microscope in general, and specifically one that was essentially underpowered for what we needed in terms of illumination."
– Dr. Tim Smith, Director of Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Fellowship, Mass General Brigham
This forward-looking approach included vital meetings with the Ministry of Health, hospital leadership, and university faculty to explore sustainable investments, develop a national neurosurgery training program, and forge a clear roadmap for long-term progress. Dr. Smith further added in correspondence from the mission that, "What we are really trying to do is build an infrastructure and skill set so that when we leave here, they can continue on."
The transformative experience deeply resonated with Gambian neurosurgery resident Dr. Manneh, who affirmed, "I want to ensure that people here have access to the same standard of neurosurgical care that someone in the richest of countries can get." He expressed confidence that with continued partnership, the Gambian team will eventually perform these advanced procedures independently, "even when they [the Brigham team] aren't around."
The reciprocal benefit of this collaboration was also keenly felt by the visiting team. "This has been one of the best parts of my medical education," commented Dr. Saksham Gupta, a member of the MGB team. "You become a better clinician when you practice in an environment like this… and that makes you better for your patients everywhere."
"As an sinus and skull base surgeon myself, witnessing the direct, life-changing impact of our technology in The Gambia is profoundly rewarding," said Jonathan Simmonds, M.D., CEO of Prosidio, "This partnership with the Harvard-Banjul team, philanthropists, and the dedicated surgeons at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital exemplifies Prosidio's core mission: empowering medical professionals worldwide with innovative tools that push the boundaries of what's possible in patient care and ensure access to advanced healthcare, regardless of geography."
The successful execution of this procedure, alongside the strategic efforts to establish sustainable training and infrastructure, promises to lay a strong foundation for specialized neurosurgical care in The Gambia.
About Prosidio:
Prosidio is a privately held medical-device company headquartered in Port Chester, New York. We engineer ultra-compact 4K endoscopy and imaging systems that give surgeons the illumination, resolution, and ergonomics of top-tier hospital towers in a suitcase-sized footprint. By pairing optics designed in collaboration with ENT, neurosurgery, and skull-base specialists with a cost-controlled supply chain, Prosidio makes advanced surgical visualization practical for settings ranging from community hospitals to mission theatres in low-resource regions. Our mission is simple: put world-class sight in every surgeon's hands, everywhere.
About Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital:
Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital is The Gambia's 540-bed national referral and teaching hospital, located in Banjul and affiliated with the University of The Gambia. Founded in 1853 (formerly Royal Victoria Hospital), EFSTH serves as the country's apex centre for tertiary care, clinical training, and medical research, receiving referrals from every region of the nation
About Mass General Brigham / Harvard-Banjul Mission:
Mass General Brigham (MGB) is an integrated academic health-care system that includes Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School's Department of Neurosurgery. Through its Global Neurosurgery Initiatives and the Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, MGB partners with hospitals worldwide to expand access to life-saving neurosurgical care, provide on-site training, and advance policy and research. The Harvard-Banjul Mission, launched in 2024 and funded entirely through philanthropy, aims to establish a sustainable neurosurgical training centre at EFSTH by pairing recurring surgical camps with curriculum development and equipment donations.
---
Press release service and press release distribution provided by https://www.24-7pressrelease.com
