The nation’s largest public hospital will benefit from the newest mammography technology as well as practical training to enhance breast cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and GE HealthCare recently announced a collaboration to provide mammography technology, training, and educational tools to radiologists at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), which is part of Muhimbili University of Health and Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania. The goal of this partnership is to improve access to breast cancer screenings and assist local clinicians in lowering the country’s cancer mortality rates. The largest city in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, lacked a functional mammography machine in its public hospital.
In order to improve radiology teaching and patient care in established radiology departments in low- and middle-income nations, RSNA created the Global Learning Center (GLC) program. Under the program, RSNA members collaborate with an institution for three years to create a personalized curriculum that includes lectures, conferences, online courses, in-person training, and other educational resources. RSNA has locations in South Africa, Tanzania, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Armenia since the program’s launch in 2020.
Umar Mahmood, MD, PhD, head of RSNA’s board of directors, stated in the news release announcing the collaboration, “RSNA’s [GLC] program was designed to expand radiology education across the world and foster international collaborations.” “We are able to collaborate with local stakeholders at [MNH] to build a breast imaging curriculum, give in-person hands-on training in mammography, and offer online courses, technical assistance, and virtual support thanks to our relationship with GE HealthCare. By providing MUHAS with this vital technology and training, we can both save lives and increase access to high-quality patient care throughout the region.”
The National Nuclear Security Administration of the US Department of Energy provides funding for MUHAS, which is a component of the GLC program.
The Pristina Mammography Suite, which consists of 2D and 3D digital breast tomosynthesis, contrast enhanced mammography (CEM), CEM biopsy capabilities, and a Seno Iris workstation, will be installed at MUHAS as part of the new partnership with GE HealthCare. Additionally, GE HealthCare will maintain the system without requiring any modifications from the institution.
A GE HealthCare-issued certification will be awarded to the approximately twenty nurses, radiologists, and technicians who work in the suite after they successfully complete live trainings covering system operation, image interpretation, patient care, video tutorials, case study learning, and physician engagement through a peer learning network.
In addition to offering practical instruction and tools, the partnership will endeavor to educate Tanzanians on the significance of screenings and early detection. Jan Makela, GE HealthCare’s president and CEO of imaging, stated, “GE HealthCare is committed to helping reduce disparities in care and improving access to medical imaging worldwide.” We stay true to our goal by continuously searching for cutting-edge imaging technologies. In order to fulfill our promise, we also collaborate with groups like RSNA to take advantage of our unique skills and involve the international community in assisting in the removal of care-related barriers. Tanzania has some of the highest rates of breast cancer death worldwide, thus our collaboration with RSNA will help MUHAS get much-needed mammography equipment. We think that this combination of technology, training, and educational resources has the potential to assist thousands of women throughout Tanzania as early detection can save lives.”