Contributing to Anesthesia Training in Zambia

Dr. Amata illustrating a point to the students using a book.

Zambia has a population of about 18 million, and as of the last count, there are about 42 physician anesthetists and 176 non-physician anesthetists who are employed by the Ministry of Health. The number of practicing anesthetists in the country is far from adequate to serve the entire population. The areas in the most need are rural communities and peri-urban areas, so there is a huge demand for training more physician and non-physician anesthesia providers.

To address the low number of anesthesia practitioners in the country, among other interventions, in 2017 the government of the Republic of Zambia produced a “National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Strategic Plan (NSOASP) Year 2017-2021,” whose theme is, “achieving universal health coverage through safe, affordable, and timely surgery, obstetrics, and anesthesia.” One of the things stipulated in the national strategic plan is that the government of the Republic of Zambia seeks to increase the number of anesthesia providers in the country by carrying out physician anesthetist and non-physician anesthetist training.

The physician anesthetist training is taking place at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), and there are two programs running: a master of medical science in anesthesia and specialist training in anesthesia training for doctors. Side by side, there are other non-physician anesthesia programs taking place in different institutions for those who have previously had three years of training as a clinical officer. They go for a further two-year training in anesthesia, and thereafter they have a one-year internship after they graduate as anesthetists. The nurses have also been incorporated into the training program—nurses who have been serving as nurses and receive specialized training in anesthesia. After they graduate, they are posted in different parts of the country in need of anesthesia services.

Considering that there is a need for the students to be exposed to the various parts of anesthesia, and also in light of the fact that the Beit CURE Hospital is well stocked with modern anesthesia equipment, CURE Zambia has opened its doors for some students to come for practical training. “We give them an opportunity to see the equipment being used and learn how to use some of it, as well as see some of the procedures they have just heard about,” says Dr. Anthony Chisakula, CURE Zambia’s head of anesthesia. “We have an acute pain service, so they are learning the principles of acute pain management. We show them what to use, what medication we give, what dosages to give. That is the reason why we are offering these students from Chainama College of Health Sciences an opportunity to come for a ten weeks internship with us.”

There are many benefits the students receive while they are with us. They get to tap into the practical knowledge of our experienced anesthesia team who are willing to teach and demonstrate the various techniques of administering safe anesthesia they have acquired over many years of practice. The team consists of Dr. Anthony Chisakuta, consultant anesthesiologist and head of anesthesia; Dr. Andrew Amata, consultant anesthesiologist; Dr. Sindula Tshoma, medical officer (anesthesia); and Christerbel Lubasi, anesthetist.

The students also get an opportunity to be exposed to some specialist aspects of anesthesia. “Dr. Andrew Amata, who is a pain specialist and runs pain clinics, does epidurals, and a lot of them have never seen an epidural done before,” said Dr. Chisakuta. “They are getting a chance when they are here to witness an epidural been done, as they are also getting exposed to the equipment used to do an epidural.”

The benefits are echoed in the sentiments shared by some of the students who have just completed their internship. Mbewe Dalitso, Student Anesthetist, describes the experience as enlightening, especially on how to administer anesthesia to children. “My experience at CURE Zambia was super. It being a children’s hospital and having very experienced anesthesiologists who have worked for many years took away my fear of anesthetizing children,” said Mbewe. “Children are complex beings and need special equipment as well as skills when handling in the operating theatre.”

Given Kaseba, another student anesthetist, found more than education at Beit CURE. “The experience at CURE Zambia for the past eight weeks I have been attached has really changed my entire life, not only academically but also spiritually,” said Given. “CURE Zambia is an environment you will always want to be. It is calm; the staff are so welcoming. It is a different world altogether. Being in the OR every morning, working with the most experienced consultant anesthesiologist and handling the state-of-the-art equipment has made me improve on my skills … It is a place I would recommend my fellow students to be and have a feel of how it is to be part of such a wonderful team.”

The internship program is ongoing. We have arrangements with different institutions including the University of Zambia, through the University Teaching Hospital where students will be coming for practical training internship in anesthesia. It is wonderful to see the anesthetists trained in our hospital go out and serve the people of Zambia throughout the county. In this way CURE Zambia is contributing to the goal of achieving universal health coverage throughout the country of Zambia, and making safe surgery for Zambians everywhere a reality.

Read more about our commitment to essential surgery at cure.org/uhc