GASTROENTEROLOGY FOUNDATION e.V.
Better medicine for the world's poorest.
3rd stop: St. Joseph ́s Hospital Peramiho
The highlight of the trip was the ceremonial inauguration of the new endoscopy department. It consists of 4 rooms and is integrated into a larger building, which also contains the new emergency department. Both facilities were inaugurated very solemnly, accompanied by dances, drum music, choir singing and lots of holy water and incense. I also gave lectures in Peramiho at the invitation of the acting chief physician, Dr. Adeodatus Haule, and took part in rounds together with Dr. Amani Kapinga. He had completed his two-year endoscopy training in "our" training centre in Muhimbili and had taken over the management of the new endoscopy department. He performed the first gastroscopies there together with me. One problem initially was the sedation of the patients for the endoscopic procedures – it was completely unknown and out of the horizon that the endoscopists handled diazepam and propofol themselves. So an anesthesiologist (an older, very nice colleague) was brought in. I was very pleased that after a short time he saw that it is actually no problem to leave the anesthesia/sedation to the endoscopists if they know the drugs and their dangers exactly. I sat down with the hospital board to explain what else was urgently needed – in addition to examination tables, suitable cabinets, etc., above all a semi-automatic endoscope washing machine in order to work at a sufficiently high level of hygiene right from the start.
In the front left of the picture you can see the newly built department
ceremonial inauguration
first endoscopy in the new department
Report on the working stay of Prof. Markus Menges in Tanzania October/November 2024
1st stop: Endoscopy Training Unit of the GF in Muhimbili (University Hospital Dar-es-Salaam).
In Dar-es-Salaam, I met with Dr. Pascal Zengo Kashinde, for whom we finance the specialist WB. He was of great help to me in the urban jungle of Dar. It was a little difficult to get to know in person the current head of the Training Unit, Dr. Eva Are, but we succeeded. She is fully involved in the normal university clinic operations – we met her during a visit to the hepatology ward. The training unit is going very well, which I was able to convince myself of – with a daily average of 30 (!) endoscopies of the upper and lower GI tract. Obviously, it is now also fully integrated into the gastroenterology-hepatological university clinic and the former frictions have apparently been overcome.
2nd stop: St. Benedict ́s Hospital Ndanda
The departure of Dr. Zengo understandably tore a hole in the endoscopy staff, which is "plugged" by three colleagues, one of whom is a beginner. The other two, Dr. Dayness Ludovick and Dr. Abdul Yasser, were usually able to cope with the routine examinations. It was agreed to send the endoscopy nurses (2 men, 1 woman as head) to a further training course at the Muhimbili Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam, which has since been done. In daily lectures, hands-on trainings in endoscopy and ultrasound and participation in the rounds, I was able to contribute a little to improving the endoscopic and clinical knowledge of my colleagues. Dr. Justin Sauter, who was sent by the EK Foundation to evaluate the project, was a great help in terms of the project report for the EKF Foundation. We met in Ndanda and sat together for many an hour in the evening to collect the numbers and data that would later be included in the project report.
The endoscopy team in Ndanda
daily lecture
endoscopy in Ndanda
Anthony Mmole und Fredrick Kisika, the endoscopy nurses in Ndanda
During a visit, Prof. Breidert was able to gain important impressions of the development of the endoscopic department.
The donated accessories arrived safely.
Prof. Matthias Breidert with one of the devices donated by GF and the team of the department
The equipment of the endoscopy department in Bishkek has received an important expansion.
With the help of a very generous offer from Olympus Switzerland, the Gastroenterology Foundation has purchased four demonstration endoscopes. Prof. Matthias Breidert personally picked them up from Olympus and brought them to Kyrgyzstan. They have already been put into operation there. ?
The team is very pleased to receive a delivery of endoscopy accessories, which we were able to deliver to Bishkek with the generous support of the company Endo-Flex.
The endoscopes are picked up from Olympus. Many thanks to the Olympus Team Switzerland!
Arrival of the endosopes at the department
Ready to use!
C Bow and examination table
Step by step, the fantastic team is approaching the day the X-ray machine can tsart its duty. Here you can see some impressions from Bishkek:
A construction crane had to be borrowed...
... the window on the 5th floor of the newly built hospital had to be broken out...
... to make room for the heavy equipment. Finally arrived!
Prof. Hans Allscher visited the training center in Rabat, Morocco, which was co-founded by the Gastroenterology Foundation.
?Prof. Naima Amrani has been leading it since then and is still very attached to our association.
The X-ray machine arrived safely in Bishkek shortly before New Year's Eve!
We are very happy about this. ?We are waiting for placement in the building and commissioning.
Finally, the very generous donation of endoscopy accessories from our company member MediGlobe has arrived safely at the ETC in Dhulikhel. A big thank you to everyone involved, especially the wonderful team at MediGlobe and our shipping company TTM.
We have received a very generous donation from the Olten Cantonal Hospital: an X-ray machine for our partners in Kyrgyzstan.
The Zaugg company has professionally packed device and accessories fpr shipping. Thank you very much!
The endoscopy department in Peramiho was completed at the end of September. We are very happy about this important milestone! The new department comprises 4 rooms. All rooms have been provided with a special coating from the outset to keep pests away and meet all hygienic requirements. Dr. Amani Kapinga, head of the new interdisciplinary endoscopy, can be seen in the picture. Only recently, he was able to complete his endoscopy training at the training center in Dar-es-Salaam, which was built and equipped by the Gastroenterology Foundation e.V.
Dr. med Martin Strauch
8.6.1940 – 29.8.2024
We mourn the loss of Dr. Martin Strauch.Martin Strauch was born in Berlin and grew up in Minden in North Rhine-Westphalia. After studying at the Universities of Freiburg, Cologne and Vienna from 1959 to 1964 and obtaining his doctorate in 1964 at the University of Düsseldorf, he initially worked as an assistant physician at the Langenau State Hospital and the Bergisch Glattbach Hospital, as well as a research assistant in the pathology department of the University of Freiburg. From 1968 to 1970 he worked as a research assistant at the University of Aachen, where he witnessed the establishment of the newly established Department of Gastroenterology and then moved to the German Clinic for Diagnostics (DKD) as a team member from 1970 to 1972. From here, he went to Munich as a gastroenterological senior physician to Prof. Ottenjahn at the Neuperlach Clinic. In 1974, he and his companion Dr. Manfred Henke ventured into the settlement. He was the first to set up a gastroenterological and endoscopic practice in southern Germany and, as a pioneer, moved from the protected environment of the gastroenterological clinic to the branch's outpatient medicine. He ran the practice with great success, acceptance, expertise and appreciation until 2002 and then worked at the MVZ Neubiberg until 2012.
In addition to his work as a pioneer in the field of gastroenterologists in private practice, he was involved in scientific medicine and was an active pioneer and co-creator both in studies and in training. In recognition of this work, he became the first gastroenterologist in private practice to become chairman of the Endoscopy Section of the German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases and was able to organize the DGVS Annual Congress in Munich in 1992 together with Prof. Paumgartner. In addition, he was a member of the board of the Professional Association of Gastroenterology in Germany from its foundation in 2002 to 2007, as well as a member of the DGVS Commission for Professional Issues from 2001 to 2012. For his active commitment and many years of voluntary work, he was finally appointed an honorary member of the Endoscopy Section of the German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases in 2000. Martin Strauch was a board member and treasurer of the Society for Gastroenterology in Bavaria e.V. for many years and was also made an honorary member of the society for his extraordinary commitment. As part of the improvement of endoscopic training, he was a founding member of the Working Group for Endoscopy Training Courses (Förderverein Gastroenterologie München e.V.) in 2002 and acted as 1st chairman.
In addition, Dr. Martin Strauch was a long-standing board member and very active participant in the Gastro League, and he was also actively involved in the further training activities of the Federation of German Internists (BDI). In addition to these considerable activities in the professional organizations, Martin Strauch was also active on a voluntary basis and founded the Gastroenterology Foundation e.V. together with Prof. Classen in 1996. Here, too, he was a board member and treasurer for over 20 years. The enumeration of his many offices alone shows the passion with which Dr. Martin Strauch was connected to gastroenterology. He always had his finger on the pulse, was present at scientific congresses and was valued as a discussant and speaker. He was perceived as extraordinarily approachable, so he liked to accompany many young colleagues, showed them a sincere interest and supported their endoscopic careers. Everyone appreciated his calm and modest demeanor, his extraordinary negotiating skills and his diplomatic skills. Everyone knew him and he knew and respected everyone. He was always collegial and friendly, but was also able to discuss and argue critically on the matter and was always ready to stand up for his point of view. He had a deeply lived sense of justice and a fine sense of humour. With Dr. Martin Strauch, gastroenterology in Germany loses an endoscopic veteran who contributed a lot to the development and training in our field. We will cherish his memory.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Allescher and Saskia Hannig
Gastroenterology Foundation e.V.
On 7.5.2024, the Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at the Bishkek University Hospital in Kirgistan was inaugurated in the presence of the German Ambassador (Ms. Guellil) and the Swiss Ambassador (Mr. Mueller). Numerous guests (approx. 150) from the KSMA and the Ministry of Health were present. Following the opening speeches by Rector Indira Kudaibergenova, Ambassador Ms. Guellil, Ambassador Andres Mueller (CH), and Prof. Matthias Breidert (for the GF), Matthias Breidert gave an opening lecture on the future and development of endoscopy at the KSMA. Afterwards, the department was walked with all guests. On May 8, 2024, live examinations took place on 6 patients, followed by a workshop with 16 gastroenterology-endoscopic doctors from all over the country.
In the afternoon, a hands-on workshop on pig stomachs took place (bleeding stops, polypectomy). The workshop was a complete success, intensive exchange was possible, most colleagues spoke good English or there was a parallel collegiate translation.
All delivered equipment (2 Olympus towers, Erbotom) could be installed. Another almost mint Erbotom was donated by Ernst Förster. However, this required extensive improvements by medical technician Julian Ruf. All plugs (previously Swiss electrical plugs) had to be converted to the plugs used in Kyrgyzstan (German system). In addition, cables had been crushed by the transport on site and had to be replaced. Matthias Breidert has donated two mobile monitor towers and a monitor for an Olympus tower. An air compressor (Russian design) for drying the devices could be found, as good as new, and was installed by JR.
All employees of the new Center for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy are highly motivated. There are enough employees, including in the care sector. The size of the rooms is suitable. Colleagues Bakyt I and II do a professional job and were always ready to talk and try to find solutions.
In the anniversary year 2024: 15 years (2009-2024) GFNG (Gastro-Foundation Nepal Group) at the 'ETC' Endoscopy Training Centre in Dhulikhel Hospital.
7th spring workshop at Dhos on 5-6 April 2024: Basic knowledge in ultrasound diagnostics and endoscopy.
The special commitment of the endoscopy team, their qualifications and loyalty to the Dhos, coupled with the continuous support from the GFNG, have resulted in the fantastic development of the ETC into the leading reference centre for endoscopy in Nepal. A total of around 500 doctors and nurses have been trained at 17 training courses to date - with the (voluntary) help of colleagues from Germany.
The 7th Spring Basic Course 2024 for US and Endo was again fully booked with 30 participants. Dr Dirk Hagena travelled from Germany to provide organisational and technical support on behalf of the GFNG.
The first day of the course focussed on imparting knowledge and initial experience in abdominal ultrasonography. Lectures provided basic technical knowledge and demonstrated the wide range of diagnostic possibilities in the field of abdominal organs. Between the lectures, the course participants, who had come from all over Nepal, had the opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge to patients in groups at several workstations under the guidance of tutors. This learning principle has become a tradition at the ETC in Dhos. The review of the learning success at the end of the long day was very satisfying for all participants.
The topic of the second day of the course was basic knowledge of endoscopy of the upper and lower digestive tract. Here, too, the course began with equipment knowledge and the extremely important hygiene and equipment care in endoscopy. This was followed by lectures on the indications for endoscopy and the various examination techniques, including sedation measures and the most common pathological findings in the stomach and intestines. The theory was followed by 'hands on'. For the majority of course participants, this was their first contact with an endoscope. It was therefore very helpful to gain initial experience on models with the help of the tutors, which was taken up with great enthusiasm by all participants. Live demonstrations of gastroscopies and colonoscopies by experienced examiners and a demonstration of the accessories and instruments commonly used in endoscopy for diagnostic/therapeutic sampling etc. by the ETC endoscopy nurses rounded off the varied event.
At the end, after the certificates of participation had been presented, the obligatory group photo was taken, showing happy faces throughout. Many thanks to Dr Gurung for his masterful workshop management, but also to all participants and the numerous speakers. Most of the radiologists took part in the ultrasound day; the second day belonged to the ETC gastroenterologists and former employees (Dr Bibek) as well as various guest speakers from cooperating clinics in Kathmandu.
We cordially invite you to the next ETC workshop in Dhos, the 11th HoWEU in November 2024.
Dirk Hagena
Two complete endoscopy towers and an Erbotom have arrived in Bishkek! We would like to thank Olympus and Erbe Switzerland for their great support.
Finally, the large order of important endoscopic accessories has arrived safely at the ETC! We would like to thank the MediGlobe team for their great patience during the ordering process. Furthermore, many thanks to the Namaste Stiftung for their very generous financial support.
For the conversion and redesign of the two ERCP rooms in the endoscopy department of the Dhulikhel Hospital (ETC) in Nepal, two X-ray protection walls worth 4000 euros each were needed. Protecting staff from radiation damage is very important, especially given the extremely high number of examinations carried out in this high-volume center.
Dr. Roland Ott had the opportunity to present the Nepal project and the planned purchase to a very interested audience at the Rotary Club Munich-Blutenburg on 26 October 2023 (https://muenchen-blutenburg.rotary.de)
Fortunately, the commission classified us as worthy of support and transferred 4000 euros to the Gastrofoundation account at the end of December.
The second protective wall was financed by the Namaste Foundation (https://www.namaste-stiftung.de).
We would like to thank the Rotary Club and the Namaste Foundation for their generous support. Here are a few more pictures of the ETC team when the new protective walls arrived.
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Finally, the three protection goggles have arrived at the ETC.? Here you can see Prof. Gurung wearing one of the special glasses.
Matthias Breidert carried out a final equipment check at Olympus Switzerland today. Thanks to the very generous donation from Olympus, three complete towers of endoscopes can be sent to Kyrgyzstan.
A big thank you to the team at Olympus Switzerland!
From left: Mr. Breidert, Mr. Adams, Mrs. Kägi-Fuhrimann and Mr. Sigrist from Olympus Switzerland
Our member Wolfgang Blank has been active in ultrasound training in Nepal together with his wife for many years.?Read the following article.
