As always, I love being back in my hometown. This time I was able to share everything spirometry related to the six-person, University of Munich (LMU) sponsored, Early Risk Assessment in TB contacts by new diagnostic tests (ERASE TB) project team in the peaceful tranquillity of the Biomedical Research Training Institute (BRTI) training centre in Harare.

Lindsay Zurba, the PATS Spirometry facilitator, recently gave an interview to the European Lung Foundation regarding the Health Lungs for Life event hosted in 2019 in Tanzania. An excerpt of the interview is below. 

The Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) held a one-day paediatric spirometry workshop at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch Cape Town on Saturday 7th March in the Paediatrics Department. 

As providence would have it, shortly after arrangements were made to conduct spirometry training for TB Sequel at MRC Gambia, a request for training from Dr Sunkaru Touray Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist New Mexico School of Medicine (USA) on behalf of Kanifing Central Hospital was received. 

In an effort to ensure excellence in spirometry and to maximize the amount and quality of the spirometry data in the TB Sequel study, The Klinikum der Universität München Division for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine created a unique opportunity for spirometry training, retraining and review at each of the four study sites being Johannesburg (South Africa), Mbeya (Tanzania), Maputo (Mozambique) and Banjul (The Gambia). 

The team at CISPOC (Centro de Investigação e Treino em Saúde da Polana Caniço) in Maputo are simply delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed spending the week with them in learning spirometry over 4 days. Having a variety of learners - some totally new to spirometry and some experienced in spirometry - was not difficult as such was the culture of this good-natured team that the experienced attendees were happy to assist the newbies in their learning. 

I love Mbeya! Every time I am blessed with the opportunity to travel, I learn something about myself as well as the place I am visiting. I have learnt that I love quiet small towns where people appear to live a paced and balanced existence. I am truly African with a white skin. How did I get so lucky?

The 2019 Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) Methods in Epidemiological Clinical Operational Research (MECOR) programme started off with a very happy and very interactive spirometry 1-day certificate of attendance workshop in Dar es Salaam on 9th June 2019.

It was fun to facilitate another Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) spirometry training course in my hometown on 23rd – 26th April 2019 and to welcoming ACACIA (Ac hieving Asthma Control in African Children) project PhD student, Victoria Oluwatoni Oyenuga, from the UK to Durban to spend the week with us.

Spirometry from strength to strength in Nairobi

Another successful 3 day Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) Spirometry Certificate of Competence Short Course done and dusted in lively Nairobi. Hosted by Dr Helen Meme and her cheerful team, 16 high level learners gathered at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to learn about spirometry.

Spirometry training – something completely new in Kumasi.

Can you imagine how exciting it is to find 18 people from one hospital in one city in one classroom who are brand new to spirometry. What an opportunity to improve respiratory health care in this community. The Pan African Thoracic society supported by IMPALA held their 10th spirometry training initiative in the charming city of Kumasi in Ghana from the 8th – 12th September 2018.

Spirometry is on the map at Kibongóto National TB Hospital!

We are proud to report that the first spirometry training in clinical practice in Tanzania has been successfully completed at Kibongóto Infectious Diseases Hospital (KIDH) in the lovely and peaceful area at the foot of the Kilimanjaro mountain. 

First French translated spirometry training

The Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) together with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine International Multidisciplinary Programme to Address Lung Health and TB in Africa (IMPALA) and Lung Health in Africa across the life course (LuLi) initiatives are making great progress in the development of their African specific spirometry training programme. 

A PATS Spirometry Training course was recently hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in partnership with the Ethiopian Thoracic Society (ETS). 

A PATS Spirometry Training course was recently hosted in Kampala, Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Thoracic Society (UTS).