Eritrea: A New University Curriculum to Train Cardiology Professionals
In Eritrea, we have recently presented a new academic curriculum for cardiology nurses that we developed in collaboration with the University of Asmara, to offer an ad hoc training programme for future nurses and provide already qualified nurses the opportunity to acquire specialised skills.
This new curriculum is a concrete example of collaboration between EMERGENCY and African universities to promote the progress of medicine and clinical practices. In a country like Eritrea, where there is no intensive care for cardiology or cardiac surgery, the introduction of a curriculum like this will support the country’s future healthcare development.
"Proposing an academic pathway for such specialised health professionals may seem almost like a futuristic mission in Africa. But in a continent where cardiovascular diseases affects the young population at the rate of an epidemic, and where the lack of qualified professionals slows down prevention and treatment strategies, it is crucial to invest in education and training."
Luca Rolla, Director of EMERGENCY's Regional Programmes for Cardiac Surgery and Paediatric Surgery
This step also aims to curb the very high rates of ‘brain drain’ in many African countries, depleting their medical communities.
According to the World Health Organization, 55 countries have a density of health professionals lower than the global average (49 workers per 10,000 inhabitants) due to serious ‘brain drain’ in the health sector. More than 72% of these countries are location in Africa.
EMERGENCY in Eritrea
Since 2019, we have been supporting activities at the Cardiology Outpatient Clinic within the Orotta Hospital in Asmara, the country’s main public hospital.
As part of the Regional Programme for Cardiac Surgery, an EMERGENCY team periodically travels to Eritrea to conduct follow-up missions for Eritrean patients who have undergone free operations at EMERGENCY’s Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery Centre in Sudan. The aim is to monitor their health and to provide the free medications and care they need, such as anticoagulant therapy.
The cardiology screenings and follow-up missions in Eritrea began in 2009. Since then, we have performed 17 altogether, for a total of 1,768 cardiological consultations.
Training and University: An Important Connection
Training local professionals capable of independently managing the hospitals we build is a fundamental objective of all our projects. This approach also strengthens the resilience of local health systems, often weakened by wars or a lack of adequate resources.
The success of this empowerment process also depends on the involvement of the academic sphere. In our hospitals, we offer “fellowship” and “residency” paths: specialty courses and rotations for trainees, mutually arranged with and recognised by local Ministries of Health.
EMERGENCY’s project in Eritrea is supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
