More than 100 medical professionals are set to undergo specialized endoscopy training in an ambitious program designed to combat the rising gastrointestinal health challenges across Africa. This transformative initiative, a collaboration between the Roeya Training Center and the Mazira Foundation, aims to enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities, particularly in Central and West Africa.
The program will establish a dedicated endoscopy training school, equipping physicians and gastroenterologists with the essential skills to improve medical practice and address critical healthcare gaps.
Endoscopy is a vital diagnostic procedure that enables physicians to examine a patient’s digestive tract, detecting conditions like ulcers, tumors, gastrointestinal bleeding, and even early signs of cancer, especially in high-risk regions. Despite being developed over 50 years ago, endoscopy remains scarce in many parts of Western Kenya, where a shortage of specialists has hindered effective treatment.
During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Mazira Memorial Hospital in Vihiga, Dr. Faith Odwaro, founder of the Mazira Foundation, stressed the importance of bringing this training to local communities to improve accessibility, reduce treatment costs, and ultimately save lives.
“The need for specialized endoscopy training in our region is urgent. With more trained professionals, we can facilitate earlier diagnoses, reduce patient costs, and improve health outcomes,” Dr. Odwaro remarked.
The initiative, which will also be open to medical professionals from across Africa, plans to train 100 healthcare workers by March 2026, with the first phase set to launch in March 2025 at Mazira Memorial Hospital. This critical step will improve healthcare services, tackling the urgent need for better diagnostic tools and greater awareness of diet-related health risks.
