An example of this is the Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research (MECOR) course run by the Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS), which is designed to provide training in research methods to respiratory clinicians, investigators and academics.

In 2011, the course was delivered in Kenya and was attended by 42 students from all over Africa. For the first time, bespoke spirometry training was delivered by Education for Health trainers, Chris Loverage and Lindsay van der Linden, and was successfully completed by a total of 24 respiratory professionals.

Six of these participants were awarded a spirometer (kindly donated by Education for Health via Vitalograph UK) to take home and use in their individual countries.

It is hoped that successful completion of the course will enable those respiratory professionals to return to their individual countries, to identify and treat people with asthma or COPD, and educate and inspire their colleagues. All those who took part in the spirometry training also signed a pledge to support World Spirometry Day to help raise awareness about lung health!

Monica Fletcher, Chief Executive of Education for Health and Chair of the European Lung Foundation, said:

“Many healthcare professionals in Africa do not have access to equipment which we take for granted. The PATS-MECOR program is an excellent example of how we can share our knowledge and resources with colleagues around the world. We received a very enthusiastic response during this course and, with the correct training and equipment, the course participants can now offer lung function tests to local citizens in their area - something they were not able to do before.”

View the PATS MECOR 2011 course photos

Learn more about PATS MECOR