Family doctors are critical to Zimbabwe’s health system but, until now, there has been no specific training programme for doctors who want to develop a career in family medicine. ZHTS is helping to change that.
In Zimbabwe most doctors work as generalists either in the public sector or private practice. Those working for government, municipalities and mission hospitals support nurses who provide primary health care while dealing with more complex cases themselves. Such doctors are frequently largely unsupported, but have to deal with a wide range of challenging medical and surgical problems. In a typical day these doctors may carry out ward rounds, see patients referred by nurses, and deal with common emergencies such as fractures, obstructed labour (when caesarian section is necessary) and teach nurses. In private practice generalists provide continuing primary care to a group of people, but may also care for in-patients and perform surgical procedures.
Despite the wide range of skills expected of generalists and their importance in Zimbabwe’s health system, until now there has been no specific training programme for doctors who want to develop a career in family medicine.
Since 2012, ZHTS has been supporting the College of Primary Care Physicians of Zimbabwe (CPCPZ).
ZHTS is delighted to announce that in January 2020, a M Med in Family Medicine programme has finally been launched at NUST (National University of Science and Technology) in Bulawayo. This is the first ever post graduate training for GPs in Bulawayo.
Local GP Muriel Fallala is leading it with support from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Currently there are 4 trainees. One is based at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo , one is working for the local prison service in Mutare. Another doctor is based at Plumtree District Hospital, and one previously was previously working at Ingustheni (the main psychiatric hospital in Zimbabwe) in Bulawayo.
Dt Fallala has asked ZHTS for help with training materials which include the Oxford Handbook of Paediatrics, Evidence Based Practice Workbook, Handbook of Women’s Health, The Good Research Study Guide, Communicable Disease Control Handbook and Family Oriented Primary Care.
ZHTS is seeking to raise funds (£1200) from local GPs in the UK.
If you wish to donate and support this training initiative, please go to the Virgin giving page for ZHTS and quote primary care training books under message box so we can identify this donation.
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/donation-web/charity?charityId=1001285&stop_mobi=yes
Thank you for your support