WGO Blantyre Training Center

Director: Professor Melita Gordon

Introduction:

The WGO is pleased to announce that the Blantyre Training Center was inaugurated as a WGO Training Center on 10 May 2016. The Blantyre Training Center is a collaboration between the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), the Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy (JAG), the local partners Malawi College of Medicine (CoM), the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, and the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The new WGO Blantyre Training Center builds on eight years of training and capacity building in endoscopy in Malawi and other areas of sub-Saharan Africa. With the support of its partners, the center will continue to increase the availability of endoscopy services to Malawian patients, and provide increased expertise in diagnosing and treating oesophageal cancer, peptic ulcer disease and upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. In addition, the Center will provide training opportunities for local endoscopists and nurses for provision of a high quality endoscopy service, ensuring life serving services are available to the Malawian population.

Main Objectives/Goals:

• To promote the highest standards in training in gastroenterology, hepatology, oncology, endoscopy and digestive surgery in Malawi and surrounding Central Africa regional centers.
• To train local endoscopists and nurses to provide a high quality endoscopy service.
• To partner in developing a curriculum for training, particularly among Malawi College of Medicine graduates, based on current science, ethical principles and relevance to local and regional health care needs.
• To expose trainees to the most current knowledge in gastroenterology.
• To foster interactions between international, local and regional experts in the field of gastroenterology.
• To promulgate best practice guidelines in the prevention, detection and management of digestive disorders.

Facilities:

Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) is located on the same site as the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MLW), which offers high quality teaching space. Additional teaching facilities are available at the College of Medicine campus – both institutions offer support to the Training Center. A well-equipped clinical investigation unit (CIU) within the hospital, well-resourced and air-conditioned, with separate areas for procedures, patient preparation and recovery, and equipment cleaning.

Areas of Training:

JAG-style endoscopy courses such as skills improvement, basic skills, upper GI endotherapy, nursing skills and Training the Trainers, for different cadres and individuals, according to local needs and priorities. The Training Center will develop and run educational programs in conjunction with WGO and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) facilitate the involvement of the WGO Member Society (BSG) at the Training Center.

Contact:

Center Director: Professor Melita Gordon

E-mail: magordon@liverpool.ac.uk
Phone: +265 1 876 444

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