IHPA Members Conduct Adult Fundamental Critical Care Support Course in Tanzania and Kenya
In December 2023, a virtual ceremony marked the successful conclusion of the Adult Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) Course in Tanzania and Kenya, celebrating the achievements of 56 healthcare professionals from Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH-N), Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu in Kenya, and Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This endeavor was made possible through a generous grant from the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), USA, allowing free access to the course for all participants
Zeenat Sulaiman, the Regional CEO of Aga Khan Health Services, East Africa, lauded the collaborative efforts of the SCCM, Aga Khan Health Board USA and Ismaili Health Professionals Association USA Volunteers in delivering the Course. Faculty and staff at the hospitals expressed their commitment to incorporating FCCS courses as part of training to help provide evidence-based timely care to their critically ill patients.
A key highlight of the project was the faculty’s in-person visit to Nairobi, offering a unique opportunity to meet the personalities behind the faces and voices. It was exceptionally rewarding to discern the participants’ potential through teaching, peer interaction, and mutual learning experiences.
Following the completion of modules and online skill stations in July 2023 under the guidance of the US-based FCCS faculty, nine participants qualified to be FCCS instructors—the FIRST cohort in Kenya and Tanzania. Under faculty supervision they conducted in-person skill stations in Nairobi, demonstrating the practical impact of their training. Notably, one of these newly trained instructors contributed to an FCCS course at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in November 2023, highlighting the potential for ongoing cross-institutional collaboration.
Looking ahead, our team in the USA is committed to supporting the expansion of FCCS courses in East Africa. Our vision is to foster the development of self-sustaining FCCS courses and Critical Care Conferences, leveraging the skills, compassion, and motivation of healthcare professionals in the region to enhance critical care services.
Submitted by Dr Noormahal Kabani, MD, MPH
