Delegates at the Basic Ultrasound Training Workshop.Basic Ultrasound Training Workshop Facilitated by UKZN Technology a First in South Africa
UKZN provided the network connectivity to support a first in South Africa - a Basic Ultrasound Training Workshop.
The event was held under the auspices of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG) and in conjunction with the South African Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SASUOG).
Facilitated by Dr Logie Govender - an honorary lecturer at UKZN as well as the Head of Department: Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Hospital (LUWMH) - the workshop was a huge success!
Live streamed from the University of Cape Town, the event involved eight satellite centres on the African continent, including the LUWMH where there was about 30 delegates made up of medical specialists, medical officers and sonographers from the northern KwaZulu-Natal area.
ISUOG’s mission is to improve women’s health through the provision and broad dissemination of high quality education and scientific information in ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology to all health workers involved in the care of women, both pregnant and non-pregnant. This course provided an introduction to the basic principles of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Delegates attended highly informative lectures presented by national and international experts in the field of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology. Topics covered were the physical principles of ultrasound imaging including safety, knobology and the six-step approach to scanning. Gynaecology scanning included examining the cervix, uterus, ovaries and adnexa while obstetric scanning highlighted the correct techniques for assessment of the foetal biometry, measuring liquor volume and placental localisation. However, it was emphasised that ultrasound examination is an adjunct to clinical assessment and management.
All delegates were requested to complete a precourse test before the event and post course test at the end of the lectures. ISUOG’s intention is to gauge the learning experience of delegates attending these educational programmes. All delegates who attended this course have access to complimentary ISUOG core membership for a year. In addition to receiving a Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) accredited CPD Certificate of Attendance, delegates will be provided with a unique identifier link for online access to the Society’s official website and educational material, web lectures and webcasts from the ISUOG Congress, courses and other events.
Delegates will also have the benefit of reduced fees to ISUOG educational courses, the ISUOG Scientific Meeting and the World Congress for the duration of their membership.
Said Govender: ‘Responses from our delegates were very positive in terms of the knowledge gained. Many delegates indicated they want to attend more educational courses planned for the future. Live streaming and international events require a lot of behind the scenes preparation, including accurate timing. I want to acknowledge the UKZN team who assisted us, namely our Clinical Associate Dr Pia Smit and professional service’s staff Mr Sbonokuhle Cebekhule and Mr Patrick Hlombe, for the co-ordination and smooth running of this event.’
The Lower Umfolozi health district is the first area UKZN Medical students have been sent to for clinical training as part of the piloting and roll out of the College of Health Sciences and the Department of Health’s Decentralised Clinical Training Platform (DCTP).
One year into the programme, all fifth year Medical students as well as Optometry and Dental Therapy students have rotated through the LUWMH and the Ngwelezane Hospital. The DCTP roll-out makes provision for the increase of the MBChB first year intake from 250 to 550 and the doubling of the first year intake for all other Health Sciences Programmes offered at UKZN, through a phased in approach.