Training in Ultrasound and Echocardiography

Training center for abdominal- and point of care ultrasound and echocardiography

Since 2016 we implemented a training program for sonography and echocardiography. Besides everyday bedside training in abdominal, and point-of-care ultrasound and echocardiography, regular courses in ultrasound and echocardiography are being held. Since 2018, nine courses in point-of-care emergency ultrasound and obstetrics ultrasound have been completed, in collaboration with the Klinik Hirslanden, Zürich, and Stiftung für medizinischen Wissenstransfer (SmW), Switzerland: Every course was attended by up to 26 participants from all over Tanzania; so far five sonographers passed the exams in both point-of-care (POCUS) emergency and obstetric sonography, eight in POCUS, and six in obstetric sonography, and are now certified by the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) after passing the exams according to Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin (SGUM) and EFSUMB-guideline requirements. Six participants already serve as instructors in ultrasound courses. In 2020, the first ultrasound course conducted by local instructors only was completed.

Two echocardiography courses have been done since 2020, in collaboration with the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Basel. One echocardiographer with skills according to latest international recommendations and guidelines, who performed more than 3,500 echos according these guidelines, and five more doctors currently being trained in echocardiography.

Next planned ultrasound courses in 2022 at the SFRH, Ifakara:

  • 21- 25 February 2022: 1st course in vascular ultrasound and vascular surgery, in collaboration with the Department of Angiology, University Hospital Basel, and Department of Vascular Surgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland
  • 20 - 23 June 2022. Refresher course in abdominal ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), in collaboration with PD Dr Jan Tuma, Uster, Switzerland.