Under Graduate Teaching
Post Graduate Teaching
Pediatric MD Students:
Training of Physicians in Cardiology:
Experience in Pediatric Cardiology
In Oct 1999 I joined the Department of Cardiac Sciences at King Abdul-Aziz Cardiac Center/ King Fahad National Guard Hospital as an assistant consultant. This is a tertiary care cardiac center with excellent facilities for echocardiography (trans-thoracic and trans-esophageal) as well as cardiac catheterization (both diagnostic & therapeutic) & cardiovascular surgery (adult & pediatric).
I completed a 3- year Fellowship Program and gained experience in the following:
*Clinical evaluation of neonates, infants and children with congenital and acquired cardiac disease.
*Interpretation of pediatric ECG and management of arrhythmias (including post- operative rhythm disturbances).
*Participation in cardiac surgical meetings that sets the treatment plans for children.
*Evaluation of patients in the cardiology outpatient clinics.
*Performing, interpretation and reporting trans-thoracic echocardiography.
*Performing, interpretation and reporting of trans-esophageal echocardiography.
*Diagnostic evaluation of pre and post operative patients including neonates, infants and children as well as adults with congenital heart disease.
*Interventional (therapeutic) cardiac catheterization including PDA catheter closure, balloon dilatation of pulmonary valve and balloon atrial septostomy, ASD device closure, aortic valve and arch dilatation and other interventions.
Critical management of medical and surgical cases including complex and neonatal surgery. A well-equipped 8-bed pediatric cardiac intensive care unit is receiving 6-8 surgical cases per week. Wide range of cardiac surgery for congenital and acquired heart disease like arterial switch, Norwood and Fontan operations and valve surgery allowed excellent exposure to pre &post-operative care.
In August 2001 I obtained the membership of the British Society of Echocardiography and in October 2002 I passed the accreditation examination of the society. In the same month I obtained the Fellowship certificate from King Abdul-Aziz Cardiac Centre.
Experience at Sudan Heart Center (SHC)
SHC is one of the 3 main referral centers for adults and children with heart disease in Sudan. It has facility for 40 beds, outpatient clinics, two operation rooms ICU and cath lab. There are 3 cardiac surgeons, one is congenital heart surgeon. Pediatric cardiology started in Sudan only in 2001 with part-time non-invasive cardiology. I joined SHC in 2004 as the head of Pediatric Cardiology and established the Pediatric Cardiology Department (recruited staff, established pre and post operative rounds and surgical meeting) and pediatric cardiac catheterization.
Cardiac Catheterization:
We perform around 200 cath per year which include 70% interventional cases in the last years.
Procedures:
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Meeting:
Established in collaboration with adult cardiologists at SHC. It is a bi-monthly meeting that discusses these patients and plans their management.
Organization of International Team Visits
I helped in organizing visits of regional and international teams working in the field of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery including:
These visits helped in training the local team (registrars, nurses in ICU and cath lab) and helped in establishing our pediatric ICU and cath lab.
The Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program
In 2012 we proposed a Fellowship program to the Sudan Medical Specialization Board. The program started by a 2 year system where pediatricians were trained in clinical and echo skills. In 2014 the program was extended to be 3 years. Six batches graduated from the program. I am chairing the committee responsible for training and evaluation of candidates.
Pediatric Cardiology Programs in other Hospitals
We managed to train 4 pediatric specialists in clinical cardiology and echocardiography in Jafaar Ibn Ouf Hospital (the main peridatric hospital in Khartoum) and established the Department of Cardiology which covers all consultations and clinics on daily bases. .
In 2008 we established another satellite clinic in Soba University Hospital. The clinic was planned to be a phase 1 of a project (Soba Heart Center) for the University of Khartoum.
In 2015 we supervised the establishement of another satellite clinic at Ibrahim Malik Hospital where we provide a weekly echo clinic. We also trained 2 Pediatric Specilaists to establish clinics in Port Sudan and Al Obeid towns.
The Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Control Program
-In 2010 we presented a research proposal to the WHO – EMRO aiming to study the epidemiology of RHD in Sudan and implement a primary control program and we submitted a proposal to our MOH
-In May 2012 we collaborated with the RHD Working Group of the World Heart Federation (WHF) and in the same year we submitted a comprehensive Program for Control of RHD to our MOH.
-The Protocols were written for the different sectors including primary and secondary care physicians, health assistants and school teachers, the protocols were approved by Ministry of Health (MOH) Cardiology Council in August 2012 and were supported by the Sudan Heart Society and Sudanese Association of Pediatricians.
– The MOH implemented the program through Non communicable Diseases Department.
– Strong advocacy through nongovernmental organizations enabled us to implement workshops for physicians and for teachers were conducted. Awareness campaigns were conducted through medical students and physicians.
-Echo screening projects coupled with training of health workers and public awareness were conducted in Khartoum, South Darfur, North Kordofan , White Nile and Gazira areas using charity donations and research grants.
– The program adopted a framework of “ SUR I CAAN” which stands for: Surveillance, Integration, Collaboration, Awareness, Advocacy and Training.
Kodofan RHD Control Center
Following a study for echocardiography screening in North Kordofan (western Sudan) villages which found an extremely high prevalence of RHD , a collaboration with the Ministry of Health , Sudan Heart Society and Sadaqat Charity Organization established the Kordofan RHD Center in May 2018 in Al Obeid City with a budget of 70 000 USD.
The center provides surveillance through echocardiography screening, training of health personnel and clinical services as well as promotional activities for rheumatic heart disease in Kordofan and nearby states.
World Health Organization (WHO) Consultations
I participated in the following WHO meetings:
1.World Health Assembly of WHO’s 68th meeting in May 2015 (Geneva),World Heart Federation side event: presented Sudan’s RHD Program, its achievements and challenges.
5.WHO EMRO meeting: Expert Network in RHD, Amman, Jordan Dec 2019
World Heart Federation (WHF) Meetings
