The course was a result of cooperation between the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, (KCMC), Dr . Oneko, Dept. of Gyn/Obst. and the WFUMB Education Committee chaired by Dr. H.Lutz.

About 80 participants were registered. These were medical doctors, nurses, midwifes and others within medical care. Most participants came from Tanzania, but also participants from Kenya and Uganda were present.

The 5 days course consisted of didactic lectures and hands-on training in general medical ultrasound. The topics were numerous including examinations of the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, breast, small part scanning of musculo-sceletal structures as well as gynecological and obstetrical examinations. The participants were divided into two groups depending on their interest in gynecology/obstetrics or other specialty areas.

Lectures were given by the members of the “WFUMB African Cooperation Group on Education” Dr. H.Lutz (Germany), Dr. Elisabetta Buscarini (Italy), Dr. Hassen Gharbi (Tunisia), Dr. Søren Hancke (Denmark), and Dr. Kittipong Vairojanavong (Thailand).  Lectures were also given by Dr. Azza Hammou, Tunisia (supported by HG), Dr. Klaus Dirks, Germany (supported by HL), Dr. Diefenthal, Head of Radiol. Dpt., KCMC, Dr. Sizer, KCMC, Dr. Voltz and Dr. Fruhauf, Germany.

KCMC has two modern ultrasound machines, one for gynecological/obstetrical use and one for general abdominal imaging etc. An ultrasound machine (Acuson) was donated to the KCMC from Germany, and a portable ultrasound machine (B-K Medical) was brought from Denmark for hands-on training during the course. A total of four ultrasound  machines were used in the practical hand-on training procedures.

The great interest and enthusiasm of the participants and the Chairman of the KCMC impressed the WFUMB Teachers. This first WFUMB course on basic ultrasonography was very successful.

Encouraged by the successful course in Moshe, Tanzania the group was again engaged in Kampala, Uganda in the co-organizing of a course in connection with the MASU Congress 2003.

Again the teachers were impressed by the remarkable basic knowledge and the great interest of the students/participants coming from Uganda and the neighbouring countries.

The African Cooperation Group on Education would like to thank especially Dr. Kawooya and his co-workers from the Mulaga Hospital for their great engagement and hospitality during the course.

The group discussed a number of possible places for the next activities in Africa. It has been decided to organize the next Basic Course on Ultrasonography in Sierra Leone, November 2003. Possible other countries may be Nigeria or Sudan.

WFUMB would like to stress its interest for contacts with colleagues who are engaged in education in the African region, personally or via their institutions. Please contact the Secretary on the matter.

HL

On February 13-15th 2004, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a Course of the WFUMB African Project  was held, in collaboration with local radiologist Dr. Gordon Harris and three speakers  - H. Gharbi, H. Lutz, I. Bellagha. Sierra Leone is just recovering from a devastating war, and side effects of this war are still heavy, implying also many difficulties to travel inside the country. We are convinced that our efforts for a  country in such poor and lonely conditions,  also from the scientific point of view (250 physicians, 12 US equipments, for 5 million inhabitants in the whole country), are worth, and so was to teach the colleagues very motivated. In the three-days course 20 lessons and hands-on sessions were done, both lively participated by the attendants.

A further Course of WFUMB African Project will be held in Uganda and Kenya, in October. African project members (E. Buscarini H. Gharbi, H. Lutz) intend to prepare a course both in Kampala and in Nairobi (3-4 days each, in the same week); in that occasion it will be also officially launched the WFUMB Center of Excellence of  Kampala with an ultrasound workshop organised by the team of Mulago Hospital and Uganda Society of Ultrasound (UGASON) headed by doctor Michael Kawoya. Thereafter the Kenya course will further corroborate relationships within local teams.

EB