The association Medical Education and Training for Africa e.V. and Orotta National Referral Hospital in Asmara, Eritrea, have joined forces in a project aimed at setting up a hospital unit for treating patients with respiratory, pulmonary and infectious diseases. The focus here is on providing training for medical staff and students.
Background:
There has been a significant increase in respiratory and pulmonary diseases amongst Eritreans in recent years. However, the country’s population of just under four million people does not have access to a specific medical unit for treating these conditions, which is why many of them are falling ill with treatable pulmonary or chronic respiratory diseases even at a young age. To combat this problem, a specialised treatment centre needs to be set up and specialist training for doctors needs to be provided.
Activities:
-\tProviding training and practical exercises in lung function
-\tProviding training and practical exercises in carrying out a bronchoscopy
-\tProviding training in chronic respiratory diseases
-\tProviding training in tuberculosis and pneumonia in relation to HIV
Impact:
The training can help to enhance the quality of screening and treatment for infectious lung diseases with a view to bringing down the high infection rates in Eritrea. By doing this, the project is playing a part in making structural changes and improving the Eritrean healthcare system.