The GE Foundation, in collaboration with the Developing World Healthcare
Technology Laboratory at Duke University and Engineering World Health,
is developing a new Biomedical Equipment Technician Training (BMET)
project in Nigeria to address a major need for locally qualified medical
technicians to repair and service biomedical equipment. The grant
program, defined through collaboration with the Federal Ministry of
Health (FMOH) in Nigeria, will be established at the Federal School of
Biomedical Engineering Technology at the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital (LUTH) and builds on the success of BMET programs already
implemented in Rwanda, Ghana, Cambodia and Honduras. The $1.5M grant
will be administered over a three-year period.
Between 50- 80% of medical equipment is out of service in low-income
countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Additionally, of hospitals surveyed, 85% in Africa, 77% in Latin America
and 60% in Asia report difficulty finding qualified medical technicians
to repair and service medical equipment. In Nigeria, 50% of hospital
equipment is out of service which puts added strain on local healthcare
delivery.
“The shortage of functional medical equipment is a barrier to the
efficient delivery of care in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said David M. Barash,
M.D., Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of the GE Foundation.
“This capacity-building program delivers a structured curriculum and
develops a pipeline of locally accredited technicians, in line with GE’s
overall commitment to drive knowledge transfer, capabilities building
and local job creation. We are pleased to collaborate with the Nigerian
Ministry of Health on this scalable program to help address the health
challenges in the region and deliver solutions that align with the needs
of the country.”
The goal of the three-year grant is to establish a BMET school in
Nigeria, while also working to create a Center of Excellence (COE) in
coordination with the Federal School of Biomedical Engineering
Technology and LUTH. The COE’s goal is to serve as a model for other
training programs in the region.
“Across the region, donated and purchased equipment sits idle due to the
lack of skilled engineers who can install, maintain or repair it,” said
Edward Hutton, Chief Operating Officer at Engineering World Health.
“Since we started this training program in 2009, the goal has always
been to build a local, sustainable, trained workforce of technicians
that can fill these critical gaps in care. We are proud to be continuing
our work in Nigeria and with our valued partners.”
The BMET training program is unique to each country served. It features
needs-based curricula tailored to each country in partnership with Duke
University’s Developing World Technology Lab, headed by Dr. Robert
Malkin. In Nigeria, training will be delivered through twelve 4-week
modules, delivered over three years in classroom, laboratory, field
practicum, and exam components. Students learn about healthcare
technology management, computer skills, principles of medical device
operation, and professional development. They are taught a broad base of
skills that apply to the maintenance and repair of numerous types of
biomedical equipment.
“Our research has shown that the impact of programs that provide the
appropriate levels of training and ongoing support can be tremendous,”
said Dr. Malkin. “The training we provide through this program ensures
that local institutions and providers own the process of training
technicians and, as a result, build their community’s confidence in the
local health system. In the end, this will help maximize the value of
donated equipment in the region and dramatically break down this barrier
to the delivery of care.”
The BMET Project first launched in 2009 in Rwanda with 38 technicians
graduating in 2012 and another 67 currently enrolled in the program.
Since then, projects were set up in Honduras (2010), Ghana (2012) and
Cambodia (2013) training nearly 200 technicians and establishing nearly
10 COEs.
Building competencies in healthcare is a central pillar of GE’s
localization strategy in Nigeria. Focusing on education, training and
development and through partnership with the FMOH, GE has trained 300
clinicians on Clinical Leadership, Technical Support and Life Support
and increased clinical capacity for healthcare workers.
About Engineering World Health
Engineering World Health (EWH) is a non-profit organization that
mobilizes the biomedical engineering community to improve the quality of
health care in hospitals that serve resource-poor communities. We
inspire, educate, and empower the biomedical engineering community to
improve health care delivery in the developing world. EWH is a dynamic
global organization serving engineering students, healthcare
professionals, communities around the world and, most importantly,
patients in need. EWH supports training programs in Asia, Africa and
Latin America that are building a workforce of in-country biomedical
engineering technicians and instructors. Working in partnership with
local hospitals, educational institutions and governments, EWH is
improving local capacity to run efficient hospitals up to international
standards now and in the future.
About Duke University Developing World Healthcare Technology
Laboratory
The Developing World Healthcare Technology Laboratory (DHT Lab) at Duke
University is dedicated to understanding, creating and disseminating
healthcare technology to the world's neediest. It develops new
technologies to address unmet needs, supports and assesses programs to
train hospital technicians in the developing world, conducts research
that informs practice and policy, and mentors the next generation of
innovators and designers.
About the GE Foundation
The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of GE, is committed to
building a world that works better. We empower people by helping them
build the skills they need to succeed in a global economy. We equip
communities with the technology and capacity to improve access to better
health and education. We elevate ideas that are tackling the world’s
toughest challenges to advance economic development and improve lives.
The GE Foundation is powered by the generosity and talent of our
employees, who have a strong commitment to their communities. We are at
work making the world work better. Follow the GE Foundation at www.gefoundation.com
and on Twitter at @GE_Foundation.
Copyright Business Wire 2014