Education in vascular surgery-critical issues: a Southern African perspective.

Southern Africa is made up of some of the poorest countries in the world. In addition, the common perception that the population of Southern Africa has a low incidence of vascular disease has resulted in vascular surgical training being a low priority. The assumption that in the future vascular disease in Southern Africa will remain uncommon is being challenged, and strategies to address the resultant shortage of vascular surgeons, both in the medium and long term, are suggested.