There is currently an escalating epidemic of trauma-related injuries due to road traffic accidents and armed conflicts. This
trauma occurs predominantly in rural areas where most of the population lives. Major ways to combat this epidemic include
prevention programs, improved healthcare facilities, and training of competent providers. Mozambique and Sri Lanka have many
common features including size, economic system, and healthcare structure but have significant differences in their medical
education systems. With six medical schools, Sri Lanka graduates 1000 new physicians per year while Mozambique graduates less
than 50 from their singular school. To supplement the low number of physicians, a training course for surgical technicians
has been implemented. Examination of district hospital staffing and the medical education in these two countries might provide
for improving trauma care competence in other developing countries. Musculoskeletal education is underrepresented in most
medical school curricula around the world. District hospitals in developing countries are commonly staffed by recently graduated
general medical officers, whose last formal education was in medical school. There is an opportunity to improve the quality
of trauma care at the district hospital level by addressing the musculoskeletal curriculum content in medical schools.
The author has received funding from a US/AID grant to Health Volunteers Overseas, Save the Children, The International Committee
of the Red Cross in Mozambique, and the Fulbright Commission.