CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Endosc Int Open 2022; 10(11): E1434-E1441
DOI: 10.1055/a-1942-7359
Original article

Starting gastrointestinal endoscopy in a lower middle-income country in Africa: Training, creating an endoscopy facility and developing telemedicine

Sara T. Campos
1   Gastroenterology Department, Digestive Unit, Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
,
Lagchar Barreto
2   Endoscopy Digestive Unit, Dr. Ayres Menezes Hospital, Sao Tome and Principe
,
Vítor Fernandes
3   Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
,
Tânia Meira
3   Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
,
Francisco Portela
4   Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal
,
Cátia Carreira
3   Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
,
Ana Margarida Nunes
3   Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
,
Pascoal d’Apresentação
2   Endoscopy Digestive Unit, Dr. Ayres Menezes Hospital, Sao Tome and Principe
,
Laurinda Barreto
2   Endoscopy Digestive Unit, Dr. Ayres Menezes Hospital, Sao Tome and Principe
,
Wrciley Lima
2   Endoscopy Digestive Unit, Dr. Ayres Menezes Hospital, Sao Tome and Principe
,
Dʼjarda da Costa
2   Endoscopy Digestive Unit, Dr. Ayres Menezes Hospital, Sao Tome and Principe
,
Ahmed Zhaky
5   Instituto Marques de Valle Flôr, Portugal
,
Paulo Freitas
5   Instituto Marques de Valle Flôr, Portugal
› Institutsangaben

Abstract

Background and study aims The prevalence of digestive diseases seems to be high in African countries. Nonetheless, the human and material resources are scarce. The aim of the Portuguese volunteering project described in this report was to develop the specialty of digestive endoscopy in Sao Tome and Principe, a lower-middle-income country in Africa.

Methods Beginning by assessing the local needs and available resources and managing immediate issues related to this field, we aimed to provide the tools necessary to improve gastroenterological and endoscopic care in the country. The first step included training of the local teams, through the development and accomplishment of an adapted curriculum for a 3-year medical gastroenterological fellowship and a short-term nursing fellowship, both in Portugal, and the organization of regular gastroenterological and endoscopic theoretical and practical sessions in Sao Tome and Principe. Second, the endoscopy facilities of the unit were significantly optimized. Third, a web platform was designed to provide telemedicine incorporating real-time endoscopic imaging available remotely.

Results Through these sequential steps achieved in collaboration with Portuguese and local teams, this 5-year project provided the basis for gastroenterology care in this country.

Conclusions At the present time, Sao Tome and Principe has an autonomous, efficient and skilled team and unit to provide care for patients with gastrointestinal diseases who need endoscopic procedures.



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 29. April 2022

Angenommen nach Revision: 05. September 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
14. September 2022

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
15. November 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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