Two Burundian Nurses are Trained on the Diagnosis of Lymphatic Filariasis and Trachoma

June 2007

For historical reasons and as many other sub-Saharan African countries, Burundi suffers from a lack of skilled health staff. As a result, it rapidly became obvious to the national coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) control programme, Dr Onésime Ndayishimiye, that staff would have to be trained on different diagnosis techniques for the seven NTDs targeted by the programme if this one were to be successful. Moreover, reinforcing the health system by providing technical training opportunities figures high on the list of engagements taken by all the stakeholders involved in the Burundian NTD Control programme.

Consequently, in June 2007, two Burundian A1 nurses were selected to participate in a training workshop on the diagnosis of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and trachoma cases. With the collaboration of SCI, the two nurses were sent to Niger, another country where SCI works, to be trained by the local NTD team.

In total, the nurses spent 10 days in Niger, of which 7 were spent in the field, learning to detect cases of LF using Immuno-Chromatographic Test (ICT) cards and the “nocturnal thick blood smear” technique, as well as the diagnosis of trachoma cases using the simplified grading system developed by the World Health Organisation.

The nurses impressed their tutors by their enthusiasm, commitment and capabilities and returned home with a unique set of new skills in Burundi.