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Staff from Dalal Jamm Hospital and Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc during the training program

The ISN Educational Ambassadors (EA) Program recently supported a training initiative at Dalal Jamm Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Led by ISN Educational Ambassador Eric Goffin from Cliniques Universitaires St. Luc in Belgium, the training aimed to strengthen the hospital’s peritoneal dialysis (PD) capabilities, preparing it to serve as a training center for sub-Saharan Africa.

The two health centers are part of an ISN Sister Renal Centers (SRC) partnership, with the training conducted as part of their collaboration strategy.

Training highlights

The week-long program covered comprehensive aspects of PD, including anatomy, infectious and non-infectious complications and local implementation strategies. The training was conducted in French and included sessions on the vital role of nursing care presented by an experienced nurse from Professor Goffin’s team. A range of professionals benefited, including nephrologists, trainees, and nurses, with attendance averaging 10-20 participants per session.

Nurse Luis Da Costa (far left) and Professor Goffin (2nd from right) with Professor Abdou Niang (far right) and another member of staff from Dalal Jamm Hospital

Achievements and impact

The training successfully met its objectives, with Professor Goffin noting the team’s improved confidence, impressive skills and dedication. He commented, “Trainees came from various French-speaking regions of Africa, and their involvement and motivation are promising signs for developing this technique in their home countries.”

Participants in the PD training program

Despite regional challenges, such as the high cost and limited availability of PD supplies and local administrative hurdles, the Dalal Jamm Hospital is now on track to establish a sustainable PD program. It aims to recruit 12 patients within the first year and train two nephrologists and two nurses to staff a dedicated PD unit. Plans also include advanced hands-on training in Brussels for one of the nurses and a nephrologist.

SRC liaison officer and head of the Nephrology Department at Dalal Jamm Hospital, Abdou Niang, praised the program, commenting that it ‘establishes a unique partnership between the ambassador and host team,’ fostering a productive environment for growth. Professor Goffin recommended the ISN EA Program to other institutions, describing it as “really interesting for both parties” and emphasizing its value in building local confidence and efficacy in kidney care.