Transforming Veterinary Surgical Training in Uganda Using 3D Models & Synthetic Tissues
Overview
Makerere University—home to Uganda’s leading medical school and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CoVAB)—still uses live rabbits, goats, pigs, dogs, guinea pigs, and preserved animal organs to teach surgical and anatomical skills.
EWCO is launching a pioneering program to replace animal-based teaching with advanced 3D-printed organs, synthetic tissues, and realistic training simulators for both human medical students and veterinary students.
This initiative will make Uganda one of the first African countries to adopt a fully humane, modern, and evidence-based surgical training system aligned with global standards.
Why This Program Matters
Many students in human medicine and veterinary programs learn surgery through painful or terminal procedures performed on live animals. These methods raise ethical concerns, provide inconsistent learning outcomes, and often fail to simulate real human or veterinary clinical scenarios.
The problems we are addressing
- Animal suffering and avoidable mortality in training.
- Inaccurate models: a rabbit or goat does not mimic human anatomy.
- High operational costs (animals, anesthesia, drugs, disposal).
- Limited availability of preserved specimens.
- Psychological distress among students uncomfortable with terminal animal use.
- Outdated methods compared to global innovations in surgical simulation.
Our solution is simple and powerful
Replace the animals with:
- 3D-printed organs based on CT/MRI imaging
- Silicone models mimicking soft tissue, vessels, skin, bone, and ligaments
- Reusable training modules for suturing, knot-tying, laparoscopic drills, and orthopedic fixation
- Veterinary-specific models that replicate dogs, goats, cats, cattle, wildlife, and exotic species
This ensures more ethical, standardized, and high-quality surgical education for Uganda and the region.
Expanding the Impact to Veterinary Education
Veterinary students in Uganda commonly perform survival or terminal surgeries on goats, pigs, dogs, and rabbits because anatomical models are unavailable.
Our program changes that.
Veterinary Training Components
We will design and introduce:
1. Species-Specific Organ Models
Including dog, goat, cow, cat, and wildlife species:
- Canine abdominal cavity models
- Bovine reproductive tract models
- Goat orthopedic limb models
- Wildlife trauma training modules (e.g., impaction, foreign body removal)
These provide accurate size, texture, and resistance for realistic surgical practice.
2. Wildlife & Zoo Animal Simulation
Given Uganda’s strong wildlife and zoo management sector, this component is critical:
- Giraffe vein injection pads
- Elephant skin suturing blocks
- Antelope wound management simulators
- Avian air-sac surgery models
This will directly benefit wildlife veterinarians, sanctuary responders, and national park teams.
3. Veterinary Procedure Simulators
Reusable, durable simulators for:
- Spay/neuter (dog, cat)
- Cesarean section models (goat, cow)
- Orthopedic fracture fixation drills
- Endoscopic/laparoscopic modules
- Skin flap and wound reconstruction practice
- Emergency hemorrhage control training
These tools replicate the exact tactile feedback required for clinical mastery.
What the Program Does
A fully integrated, zero-animal training model:
1. 3D Printing & Anatomical Modeling
Human and veterinary organs are created using real CT/MRI data.
2. Realistic Soft-Tissue Casting
Silicone, polymers, gel foams, and synthetic vessels recreate true tissue behavior.
3. Competency-Based Training
In both schools:
- 50+ medical students
- 40–60 veterinary students
are trained in animal-free surgical simulation each year.
4. Capacity Building
Makerere University staff (COVAB and College of Health Sciences) trained to:
- Print and maintain models
- Develop new species-specific organs
- Replace invasive procedures with simulations
5. Evidence Collection & Academic Transition
We will scientifically compare outcomes between:
- Students trained on animal models
- Students trained on synthetic simulators
Evidence will drive permanent policy change.
Why This Is Transformative for Veterinary Training
Veterinary medicine requires multispecies training—far more diverse than human medicine. This program provides:
- Standardization across species
- Better student safety
- Elimination of ethical conflicts
- Reduced costs for consumables and animals
- Realistic anatomical accuracy that preserved carcasses cannot provide
It also empowers Uganda to lead in humane veterinary education across Africa.
Impact for Donors
Your support will contribute to:
Direct Outcomes
- Zero animal use in surgery training at Makerere University.
- A fully operational 3D-model surgical simulation lab.
- 15–20 reusable human and veterinary models.
- At least 100 students trained annually across both colleges.
- 3–5 universities adopting the model within East Africa.
Long-Term Outcomes
- Institutional policy banning animal-based surgical teaching.
- Improved surgical competency of new doctors and veterinarians.
- Strengthened wildlife and domestic animal welfare.
- A replicable blueprint for Africa-wide adoption.
Program Timeline
Months 1–3
Set up 3D printer, acquire resins/silicone, develop SOPs, train core staff.
Months 3–6
Design 15–20 organ and species models; begin pilot simulation labs.
Months 6–9
Train medical and veterinary students using zero-animal models.
Months 9–12
Analyze learning outcomes; publish data; introduce policy reforms.
Months 10–12
Regional sharing with Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Zambia.
Become a Partner in Africa’s First Animal-Free Surgical Training Revolution
EWCO invites donors, foundations, humane education advocates, and technology partners to support this continent-leading program.
Your funding accelerates:
- Humane biomedical education
- High-quality surgical training
- Veterinary excellence
- Wildlife welfare
- African innovation
Together, we can transform how future doctors and veterinarians learn—without harming a single animal.
Contact: info@ewco.org.ug