Activities of the Global Health Working Group
Dr. Miressa from Harar in the west of Ethiopia spent 2 weeks in the gyneco-oncology department in Freiburg. He is part of the first generation of physicians to establish a center for women’s cancer in eastern Ethiopia. This initiative is part of the Else Kröner Center for Cancer Care in Ethiopia. Gynecologic cancer entities are among the most common in the country and require complex care structures. Dr. En-Nosse, Dr. Runge and Prof. Klar offer opportunities for exchange and workshops at Freiburg University Hospital. Colposcopy, oncological surgery and tumor board are core elements that can be adapted and brought to Harar. "I have learned a lot and take interesting ideas with me" reports Dr. Miressa. The cooperation took place within the framework of funding from the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation and the professional expertise in the AG FIDE (in the German Society of Gynecology).
As part of the ABC-DO project, Dr. Pablo Santos (pictured below right) traveled to Entebbe, Uganda in mid-November to share results from the project with collaborating partners from WHO and various African institutions. The corresponding scientific article (Marcus Bauer et al.) examines molecular aspects of breast cancer and was recently submitted for publication. The meeting was organized by IARC (https://www.iarc.who.int/).
Medical physicist Mr. Ashenafi and radiotherapy technician Mr. Mitiku have been working at Addis Ababa University Hospital for over 10 years. After many years with only one cobalt machine, there has been a modern linear accelerator there for some time. "We are pleased to be able to improve our knowledge on modern equipment as part of the Else Kröner Cancer Center in Halle at the University Hospital. Especially the organizational aspects, difficult radiation concepts and quality assurance were important topics for us." An exchange at eye level has been taking place with the radiotherapy center in Addis since 2010. Now a second group is coming to Halle for 2 weeks this year. Of course they also visited sights in Halle and Berlin and had many nice dinners together!
All other activities around the Else Kröner Cancer Center in Ethiopia can be found here.
The Global Health World Meets in Berlin. Sharing experiences on resilience and solidarity in the face of new challenges was the central theme of the joint conference of the Hospital Partnerships, GLOHRA and EKFS on October 14 and 15, 2022. Among the participating teams were partners from five continents. We represented the AG Global Health from Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg and various Ethiopian institutions with 18 participants.
In panel discussions and topic-related interactive seminars, we were able to share our impressions, experiences, but also challenges and questions with other teams. In particular, the multifaceted, interdisciplinary approach of the conference allowed us to hear different perspectives. At the Clinic Partnerships, whose focus is on German-international collaborations to implement and improve healthcare, we were represented the DINKNESH, HOPE and Gynaecologic Oncology projects. GLOHRA enables young scientists to conduct their own research projects and to be supported by versatile training and networking opportunities, such as a workshop on Systematic Reviews in Global Health organized in Halle in September.
Our team member Muluken Gizaw, PhD had the chance to speak about his experiences in global health research at Saturdays podium discussion: "Knowledge translation/exchange is the core function of the Global Health Working group at Martin Luther University. Most of the implementation research being conducted in Ethiopia by PhD and postdoctoral fellows encompasses community participation to ensure the uptake and translation of the research findings into actions".
Dr. Dawud Muhammed and Dr. Eyaya Misgan visited Freiburg im Breisgau directly after the FIDE meeting. There, the two gynecologists were able to spend a week at the University Hospital in the gyneco-oncology department. Especially the introduction to colposcopy was very successful.
Following the FIDE meeting in Halle, we were able to organize a joint Summer School with the Ethiopian guests again after two years.
After the long break and exclusively virtual discussions, the focus was on personal exchange and the planning and shaping of existing and future cooperation. After the work-intensive days in Halle, we traveled with our guests to the Allgäu for two days of retreat and surprised our visitors with an excursion to the summit of the Steineberg (1660m).
WOMEN'S HEALTH IN TIMES OF GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGES
16 - 18 September 2022 in Halle (Saale), Germany.
Under the motto: "GLOBAL WOMEN'S HEALTH IN TIMES OF GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGES", the 27th FIDE Meeting and 7th International PAGEL Summer School took place at the University Hospital Halle/Wittenberg from September 16 - 18, 2022. During the three-day international event, more than 100 globally interested physicians and health scientists exchanged ideas on topics related to women's health. The main focus was to point out the serious health consequences for women, which are aggravated by climate change and armed conflicts, among other things.
All information about the conference can be found here.
A report on the conference can be found here.
In July 22 we welcomed gynecologist Dr. Husnia Lobi from Addis Ababa to the University Hospital in Halle for a three-week internship. She was able to see the range of different clinical pictures and treatment options in the operating room, in the consultation hours and in the tumor conferences. She then returned to Addis Ababa with many ideas.
Ms. Abigiya Wondimagegnehu and Ms. Selamawit Hirpa (two colleagues from the Public Health team in Addis Ababa) were in Halle for an eight-week stay to work with the local team on publications and to plan new scientific collaborations. Ms. Abigiya is doing research on palliative care in rural Ethiopia. Ms. Selamawit studied tobacco and shisha consumption in schools.
For a total of three months, we were pleased to welcome our colleague Brhanu Teka from the laboratory team in Addis with us in Halle. During his stay he visited other cooperation partners in Göttingen and Berlin (Charité), analyzed laboratory data and worked on scientific publications.
In May 2022, after a two-year Covid-break, the African Cancer Registry Network met again in Moshi, Tanzania. About 80 scientists from 30 African countries met to exchange information about the scientific work of the individual cancer registries.
Four-week stay of breast surgeon Dr. Hiwot Amare and Dr. Girmaye Bogale from Addis Ababa at Halle University Hospital. Both have seen many breast surgeries including reconstructive surgery. Consultations, ultrasound and tumor boards were also on the varied program.
If you want to read more about Dr. Hiwot Amare, please click here.
Two-week stay of the Ethiopian oncologists Dr. Molalgn Woldemariyam and Dr. Yonas Dandena at the University Hospital Halle. The radio-technician and physicist were able to see modern procedures, organization and extensive patient care at the Clinic for Radiotherapy.
After many months of weekly virtual meetings and joint evaluation of pathological specimens, colleagues from the pathology department were able to visit. Dr. Tewodros and Dr. Amanuel visited the Global Health Team and the pathology department in Halle. Both have received special training in immunohistochemistry. This method will benefit patients with breast cancer as well as lymphoma patients.