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CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 26, No 3, May/June 2015
AFRICA
147
Based on personal experience, Prof
Mpiko Ntsekhe from UCT Medical
School recommended engaging with
politicians in order to advocate for the
establishment of new cath labs. He cited
the opening of Namibia’s first cath lab
a few years ago as an example, where
politicians had been actively lobbied for
support, with both presidents Thabo
Mbeki and Sam Nujoma having attended
the opening ceremony.
Dr Bourlon drew on his experience in
Mauritania in order to identify what the
basic requirements were for setting up a
functional cath lab. These included having
enough space and sufficient ventilation,
adequate cooling for the equipment, no
toilets near the lab, and adequate after-
sales service. There was also consensus
among delegates about access to
echocardiograms being imperative.
Dr Bourlon recommended having
cardiothoracic
surgery
on
site,
but pointed out that many cath labs
operated in Europe without them, with
interventionists having accommodated
themselves to a higher-risk environment.
The 2016 AfricaPCR course will
expand on the 2015 edition and course
director Dr Farrel Hellig says, ‘It will
aim to be even more inclusive with
participation from as much of the African
continent as possible. Education and
resource development in the continent is
clearly needed and AfricaPCR serves as
a springboard.’
Delegates at AfricaPCR.
Dr Farrel Hellig (far left), Dr William Wijns (far right), Jean
Marco (end of table) with guests.
Radial access model.
Alecia van Wamelen, product manager, Terumo Corp.