Kenyans who wish to pursue masters in dermatology and emergency medicine can now do so after the two programmes were launched on Wednesday.
The programmes, masters of medicine in dermatology and emergency medicine will be offered at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology has been tasked to train the students.
The courses are the first in the region and aim at bridging existing gaps in emergency medical care and dermatology.
Health ministry data shows Kenya has only 34 dermatologists and three registered emergency physicians who have been trained outside, at the expense of the government.
Health PS Susan Mochache has acknowledged that lack of an EMC system contributes to increased morbidity and mortality, following medical emergencies such as building collapses, flooding, road traffic accidents, epidemics and terrorism.
“You only need to see how we deal with those buildings when they collapse and it is rare that I have seen medical personnel. You mostly see the builders themselves and security personnel trying to get people out of the rubble,” Mochache said.
KNH board chairman George Ooko said the facility has a total of six dermatologists trained abroad.
“The cost of such specialised training outside the country is very high. This limits the number of specialists we can train against the ever-growing need for specialised services,” Ooko said.
In the last two years, KNH has attended to over 7,000 patients with various skin conditions at the out-patient clinic. Out of these, 2,467 were children with total in-patient admissions for the period being 232.
“Twenty per cent of Kenyans have got skin ailments. A lot of people with skin issues around the face have a lot of image issues, young people and adults as well,” Ooko said.
The programmes will be offered on full-time basis and will cover four years of training under the department of anesthesiology and critical care.
In the first year, the students will be trained in basic science units covering anatomy and pathology, to make them understand the human body and disease process that will be applied in clinical practice.
Unlike other specialties, such doctors are responsible for the care of the patient before they arrive at the hospital.
For example, at an accident site, transportation of the patient in the ambulance to a healthcare facility and the initial care received at the accident and emergency department.
“There is no doubt the move will address the shortage of emergency physicians in Kenya, all of whom are trained abroad.
"Only a diploma course is being offered at Aga Khan University despite all hospitals having an accident and emergency department, currently run by medical or clinical officers,” JKUAT vice-chancellor Victoria Ngumi said.
The new programmes are expected to improve initial care received by the patient.
This will improve clinical outcomes by reducing disability, admission rate and length of stay at the hospital and thus cost of care and crowding in the facilities.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)