Trip 1: 13-17 November 2016

ISUOG Outreach partners with the Sudanese Ministry of Health to launch Outreach in Sudan

Project Title: ISUOG Outreach training in ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology, Phase I - Part I

Location: El Obeid, Sudan

Dates: 13-17 November 2016

Project partners: Sudanese Ministry of Health (North Kordofan), University of Kordofan, and Salamat Doctors Charity

ISUOG Training team: 
Prof. Hisham Mirghani (UAE/Sudan) - team leader
Dr. Reem Abu-Rustum (Lebanon)
Dr. Angela Ranzini (USA)
Yasmin Casmod, (South Africa)
Gesu Antonio Baez (ISUOG's International Development Coordinator)

Project purpose: To provide ultrasound training to local OB/GYN practitioners in Sudan with the intention that these trainees eventually become local trainers.

Project deliverables:

Goal: By the end of Phase I, trainees will be competent in ultrasound scanning techniques and conduct quality scans in line with basic training outreach templates (SO2).

Output: Training dedicated trainees in basic ultrasound in OB/GYN scanning and hone in on their skills by evaluating their progress and provide mentoring between programs. 

Outcome: Trainees competent OB/GN ultrasound scanning will increase level of anomaly identification and aid in preventing preventable causes of maternal mortality locally.

Participants: 30 trainees from across North Kordofan State

Training location: International Planned Parenthood Federation Maternal Hospital

 

Training summary:

 The program consisted of hands on scanning taking place in the morning with lectures taking place in the afternoon. The event opened and concluded with talks and ceremonies given by the Minister of Health, the Dean of the University of Kordofan and the North Kordofan State Governor. The program was the first time that ISUOG Outreach standardised templates were used on the field.

Mindray partnered with ISUOG via the University of Kordofan and provided two machines on loan for the program in addition to sending their local engineer from Khartoum with the team. The two other machines used (Alpinion and Sonoscape) belong to the local centre and all machines used were similar to ones used by all trainees attending the program. Overall in total, more than 150 patients were scanned during the program.

The trainees were selected following a vigorous vetting process conducted by both the Ministry of Health and the University of Kordofan and had come from key areas within the state. Trainees were divided into four groups based on their years of experience in ultrasound scanning (10+ years, 9-6 years, 5-2 years, and 1 year and under) and assigned a trainer to serve as their group’s mentor following the program to continue to engage with image sharing and feedback.

Pre- and post-tests were held at the beginning and the end of the program. Initially, the average score in first trimester ultrasound was 46% was second/third trimester was 53%. At the end of the program, first trimester post-test scored an average of 60% while second/third trimester scored 67% - almost a 30% increase!

Certificates of achievement were awarded to each participant, distributed by Prof. Hisham Mirghani with closing remarks received by official dignitaries. ISUOG would like to thank its partners - Salamat Doctor's Charity, the Sudanese Ministry of Health in North Kordofan, the University of Kordofan and Planned Parenthood Sudan - for the impeccable work that was done in helping organise the program in addition to its full support of this endeavour. ISUOG would like to also express its gratitude to Mindray for its generous donation in loaning two ultrasound machines for this project and for allowing local engineer Ahmed Alyan to assist the team in understanding both the knobology and the machines. Above all, ISUOG would like to acknowledge Dr. Khidir Awadalla of the University of Kordofan, who's tireless effort in organizing and arranging the preparations for the project were vital in ensuring the project's success. Finally, ISUOG would like to thank its passionate and driven team for a successful Phase I Trip I of the Sudan project - Prof. Hisham Mirghani, Dr. Reem Abu-Rustum, Dr. Angela Ranzini, Miss Yasmin Casmod, H.E Dr. Abdullah Omer Faki and Dr. Sami Mahmoud . With so much success, it's without a doubt that the next trip will only add on the successes gained.