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Solidarity: Fast-track cardiology training for 11 doctors from developing countries
By providing better training for health doctors from developing countries, the prevention, early diagnosis and support for sick people can be improved, based on sharing skills and sustainable development. This is the approach taken by the Corporate Humanitarian Sponsorship Department and its partner Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque in creating in 2006 grants for fast-track training in cardiology for doctors from disadvantaged countries, in addition to providing operations in France for poor children when they do not have access to such a facility in their own country. For the second year in a row, 11 pediatricians and cardiologists were welcomed at the Group head office for a month’s training. They come from Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Cap Verde, Madagascar, Haiti, Central African Republic, the Dominican Republic and Laos. The aim of this training course is above all to enable doctors to make better diagnoses, decide on the right indications, and then to monitor children and adolescents suffering from heart conditions. Either infectious or congenital in origin, these diseases attack 8 in every 1000 children, are extremely disabling and often fatal. From May 1st to 31 2007, these doctors received theoretical and practical training (studying patients’ cases and sessions of echographies thanks to the participation of children waiting for operations or how had just been operated), given by leading specialists in Paris hospitals such as Dr. Francine Leca or Dr. Jean Kachaner. At the end of the four weeks the doctors took an oral exam to evaluate their knowledge and performance during this course. At a ceremony held on June 1st, 9 of the 11 doctors were awarded a diploma, and the other two a training certificate. In two years, 22 doctors have already benefited from this fast-track training in cardiology. |