Title: An anaesthetic fellowship follow-up project: To promote delivery of sustainable anaesthesia through education (with a focus on obstetrics and regional anaesthesia), Tanzania
Funder: Royal College of Anaesthetists

Abstract: 1. Appropriateness and importance at local, national and international level: Quality education is one of the WHO’s sustainable development goals. It is key for the provision of safe and sustainable healthcare in LMIC’s such as Tanzania. Tanzania’s population, of almost 60 million, are largely cared for by anaesthetic nurses with as little as one years training. As a Lifebox fellow I have previously worked at KCMC (Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre) in Mosh, Tanzaniai. I helped promote safe maternal care through implementing the surgical safety checklist (SSC) and set up regional anaesthesia (RA) training. RA is underutilised in LMIC’s (low middle income countries) and is a safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to general anaesthesia. I plan to re-visit the hospital to further develop the RA service and to educate local healthcare workers in performing blocks safety using a designated block trolley. Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high both in Tanzania and globally. I hope to support midwives and nurses in the care of women and their babies with an educational focus on drug and equipment safety, and to promote use of the WHO checklist in obstetric theatres. I have completed a degree in global health and advanced modules in both obstetric and regional anaesthesia. As a consultant I intend to continue my interest in developing world medicine and hope to promote this passion amongst my junior colleagues. I plan to develop the relationship I have built with KCMC in order for my junior colleagues to potentially have the opportunity to complete a fellowship there in future. I feel challenging myself by working in a different environment will allow me to gain experience in key skills including problem solving, communication and people management for when I return with a long term plan to work within the NHS. I envisage my experience will also therefore be of organisational benefit. 2. Methods - Aims/objectives/dissemination: Over a 4 week period I shall attend a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania during weekdays from 7.30am – 4pm. I will facilitate and teach nurse anaesthetists during morning teaching sessions (7.30am-8am) and supervise them in theatre during the mornings. I will teach anaesthetic registrars 2-3 afternoons a week with a focus on regional blocks, safety and USS use (using RA-UK plan A blocks). I will attend maternity theatres the remaining afternoons to facilitate use of the obstetric WHO checklist. I will work with 2 other visiting consultant anaesthetists (one from UK, one from US) to help ensure I achieve my goals. 3. Timescale and justification of funding: I will use 4 weeks of unpaid leave and I believe this timescale will be satisfactory in order to complete my educational project. I feel this is an extremely worthwhile project to invest in. Having previously worked at KCMC hospital I have built a rapport with the local community and feel this will help to ensure the teaching and training I provide is sustainable and that I can ‘hit the ground running’ when I arrive.


Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE