Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

The Situation

In the early days of the link, it was soon apparent that there was a great deficiency in practical skills training of the medical laboratory science students. The College of Health Sciences did not have teaching microscopes, laboratory reagents and other essential equipment. Moreover, teachers in the college lacked adequate teaching experience. Teaching was mostly theoretical with very little hands-on training in practical skills.

How do we help

Teaching Laboratory TechniciansWe provide teaching microscopes, laboratory reagents as well as laboratory manuals to help train the students. Laboratory scientists from Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny work with the college teachers to organise yearly practical skills training workshops for the final year laboratory science students. Since the start of this programme nearly 200 laboratory students have been trained in these workshops.

Lab Technician working with microscopeWe have also helped to organise a community-based programme for identifying Salmonella and H. Pylori. This is a part of practical training exercises jointly between the laboratory science and sanitarian students.

In 2005, we also arranged practical skills training for all the laboratory scientists working in the health centres and the hospitals in southern Ethiopia. We have also supported the establsihment of the Ethiopian Medical Laboratory Technicians Association.