Twenty-four young clinicians have enhanced their cardiac diagnostic skills through an intensive echocardiography training course jointly organized by the Ifakara Health Institute and its partners. The training focused on building competence in echocardiography, a key ultrasound technique used to assess the structure and function of the heart.

The training was held from March 23–27, 2026 at St. Francis Referral Hospital (SFRH) in Ifakara. The course is a joint effort between the Ifakara Health Institute, St. Francis Referral Hospital, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), the University Hospital Basel, and the Medical Council of Tanganyika.

Participants received hands-on training under the expert guidance of Prof. Dr. Beat Kaufmann, Head of Echocardiography, and PD Dr. Thilo Burkard, a cardiologist from the University Hospital Basel. They were supported by facilitators from the Ifakara Health Institute, including PD Dr. Martin Rohacek and Dr. Andrew Katende, alongside instructors Victor Myovela and Fanuel Faustine.

Building capacity for high-quality cardiac diagnostics

The course equipped participants with essential echocardiography competencies aligned with international standards, enabling them to improve the diagnosis and management of cardiac conditions in their clinical settings.

A growing programme for sustainable skills transfer

Since 2017, St. Francis Referral Hospital, in collaboration with local and international partners including the Ifakara Health Institute, has been offering structured ultrasound training across multiple specialties. To date, the programme has delivered 17 training courses, five of which have focused specifically on echocardiography.

This sixth echocardiography course represents another important milestone in strengthening cardiac diagnostic capacity among Tanzanian healthcare professionals. It continues to build a skilled workforce capable of delivering timely, accurate, and life-saving cardiac care across the country.