Ultrasound Training Workshop in Mwanza, Tanzania February 8th-18th 2005SCI sponsored a training workshop in collaboration with the National Institute of Medical Research, Tanzania on the assessment of morbidity due to S. mansoni and S. haematobium as measured by the use of portable ultrasound. The workshop was coordinated by Dr Nicholas Lwambo and was held in Mwanza, Tanzania at the Nyakahoja Hostel from 8th to 18th February 2005. It was attended by radiographers from across Tanzania, including the islands of Zanzibar, and also three representatives from Zambia. Ultrasonography trainers with extensive field experience in schistosomiasis research included Mrs Hilda Kadzo from Kenya, Dr Adama Keita from Mali and Mr Simon Mpooya and Mrs Isabella Aitken from Uganda.
Topics covered included:
After a formal assessment of their new skills by the trainers, all participants received a certificate of completion. They will now be involved in the baseline data collection and subsequent monitoring activities for the national schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth control programmes in their respective geographical areas. |
Mwanza
was selected as the venue for the workshop because both intestinal and
urinary schistosomiasis infection is present. Therefore the participants
were able to gain experience in identifying and measuring morbidity for both
forms of disease. The training included a series of lectures and practicals,
before moving in to the field to gain first-hand experience in
identification of the range of disease pathology. The participants spent
three days on Ukerewe Island, where Schistosoma mansoni is highly
endemic, and assessed schistosomiasis pathology in school-children from
Hamuyebe Primary School and adults from the surrounding area. The team then
visited Bundilya Primary School, Magu district and Ng’ombe Primary School,
Misungwi District over the remaining days to observe pathology related to
S. haematobium infection.