Paramaribo Academic Hospital (AZP) has achieved a significant milestone in neurosurgical care through its seventh collaborative mission with Dutch medical specialists. From December 2nd, a joint team comprising neurosurgeons from Leiden, The Hague, and Suriname successfully performed fifteen complex brain and spinal procedures on patients with severe neurological conditions.
The surgical interventions included advanced spinal reconstructions and delicate brain operations, with four pediatric cases among those treated. Several patients presented with existing neurological deficits, while others received preventive care to avoid impending damage. The mission featured a multidisciplinary approach that integrated expertise from maxillofacial surgeons from AZP, The Hague, and Utrecht University Medical Center.
This ongoing partnership between Suriname’s neurosurgical program and the University Neurosurgical Center Holland has enabled increasingly sophisticated procedures to be performed locally. The collaboration has now progressed to training Surinamese medical professionals, with one candidate currently undergoing specialized training at the Dutch center.
The surgical team was led by Professor W. Peul, working alongside Surinamese neurosurgeons Dr. H. Kort and Dr. R. Tjong Tjin Joe. They received operational support from Dutch neurosurgeons Dr. R. Nandoe Tewarie and Dr. W. Moojen for the brain surgeries. Critical assistance was provided by various AZP departments including operating theater staff, intensive care units, neurocare teams, and temporary Dutch operating room assistants.
The Surinamese Ministry of Health provides structural support for this partnership, recognizing its vital role in developing local medical capabilities. The primary benefit remains that patients can now receive high-quality neurosurgical care within their own country, eliminating the need for expensive and logistically challenging medical referrals abroad.