Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sudan ꟷ Advanced Course for Clinicians

The Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sudan course focuses on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) as well as other neglected health conditions relevant to the north-eastern African region. The course aims to provide state-of-the-art knowledge transfer and exchange as well as first-hand bedside experience in the management of these conditions.

Participants will obtain clinical knowledge on diagnostic and treatment aspects of NTDs as well as other neglected health conditions endemic to the north-eastern African region and learn how to appraise the local pattern of these neglected tropical diseases and health conditions in their environmental, epidemiological, and sociocultural context. Participants will benefit from bed-side teaching at various hospitals, clinics and health institutions in Khartoum as well as in the countryside. Through exchanges among the group and with locals, participants will learn about the daily obstacles and challenges faced by the medical colleagues in Sudan.

The course is organized by Swiss TPH and the Mycetoma Research Centre (MCR), an associated institute of the University of Khartoum. The course will be held at multiple clinical sites in and outside of Khartoum in close collaboration with the Institute of Endemic Diseases (IEND), an associated institute of the University of Khartoum, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (Khartoum), the Skin and Veneral Diseases Teaching Hospital (Khartoum), the Blue Nile Institute for Communicable Diseases (Wad Madani), an associated institute of the University of Gezira, and the El Hassan Centre for Tropical Medicine (Doka).
 

The course will be held in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and be primarily based at the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) located at Soba University Teaching Hospital in the South of Khartoum. The course participants will gain first-hand experience by joining clinical rounds at the MRC, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the Skin & Veneral Diseases Teaching Hospital and other institutions. To ensure maximum interactive teaching and training, all clinical activities will be conducted in small groups of no more than five participants. The clinical learning experience will be complemented by state-of-the-art lectures, covering clinical core topics and recent research advances.

In the second week of the course, the participants will go on a four day field trip to the countryside, visiting the Blue Nile Institute for Communicable Diseases and the Hospital in Wad Madani (200km from Khartoum), the Hospital at Al-Gadaref (350km from Khartoum) and the El Hassan Centre for Tropical Medicine in Doka (500km from Khartoum).

Each participant is asked to contribute 1 to 2 clinical case presentations of his/ her own working place to be presented and discussed during the course. An exam (multiple choice questions) will be given at the end of the course to assess the individual performance of the participants. The course is certified with 70 CME core credit points by the Swiss Society for Tropical and Travel Medicine.
 

This course is designed for physicians working or planning to work in the field of Tropical Medicine or Infectious Diseases and for those wishing to expand their clinical expertise in the spectrum of neglected tropical diseases endemic to the North East Africa region.
 

Candidates should apply via the online application form with the required documents. Course participants are expected to hold a medical degree plus either (a) a diploma in tropical medicine (DTM&H or equivalent), or (b) at least 1 year of cumulative work experience in a setting where patients with tropical diseases constitute the majority of the clinical workload, or (c) specialisation in infectious diseases or medical microbiology (exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis).

The course fee is 3,500 CHF. The fee must be paid 4 weeks before the start of the course. This sum includes the registration fee of 1,500 CHF, which is due at the moment of acceptance. If a participant does not attend the course, the registration fee cannot be reimbursed. If cancellation is less than 4 weeks before beginning of the course, an additional fee of 750 CHF will be charged.

The course fee includes accommodation and breakfast at the Guesthouse of the University of Khartoum (located in the city centre close to the Blue Nile) as well as transportation throughout the course and coffee/tea/water at the lectures. Lunch is also partly included in the course fee. Transfer from and to the airport will be provided. Not included in the course fee is daily dinner.

In case of an insufficient number of participants, the course can be cancelled up to 4 weeks prior to the course start. Swiss TPH is not responsible for any costs related to flight bookings, etc. Thus, a travel cancellation insurance is recommended.

Scholarships

Four scholarships are available for Sudanese physicians who are permanently practicing within the Sudanese healthcare system.
 

In case of an insufficient number of participants, the course can be cancelled up to 4 weeks prior to the course start. Swiss TPH is not responsible for any costs related to flight bookings, etc. Thus, a travel cancellation insurance is recommended.