Ultrasound course for Health Providers in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

First East African basic obstetrics ultrasound course for health providers took place in Kigali, Rwanda 13-16 Jan 2009

The course was co-organized by Professors Eric Jauniaux and Joseph Vyankandondera (MD, MSc,Gyn and Obs. Associate Professor/ National University Rwanda) and sponsored by Sonosite in collaboration with Thomas Burke from MGH Division of Global Health and Human Rights, Medical Aid Films and The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF). Sonosite provided us with 2 portable ultrasound machines that were donated that I officially presented to the maternity unit at King Faisal Hospital and to the Kigali Institute of Nursing at the end of the course for the training of obstetricians and midwives. Medical Aid Films sponsored the production of a DVD of the theroretical and practical course for the participants but also for charity web-site for future courses. The FMF sponsored 2 trainers (Drs Nerea Maiz & Nicola Persico) who presented excellent lectures and provide hands-on practical training. The course was extremely well received as it was the first of its kind in East Africa where there is a great need to improve the prenatal diagnosis of conditions such as multiple pregnancy, placenta praevia, molar pregnancies, malpresentation of the fetus and fetal growth restriction. All conditions which when not diagnosed before birth can be lethal for both mother and baby. The course can also be considered as very successful as it was attended by 35 obstetricians and midwives in a country that has about 15 practising obstetricians and 40 qualified midwives. We hope to be able to run this course in other neighboring countries and in particular in Uganda where the IfWH has been successfully involved in various research and clinical projects.

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