Our ongoing project in Africa has been a journey of incredible impact, collaboration, and learning. Thanks to the generous support of Pfizer, we’ve been able to take significant strides in expanding Continuing Professional Development (CPD) capacity across multiple countries. What started nearly six years ago with a regional CPD systems assessment has now blossomed into a multi-phase initiative that is empowering healthcare professionals across the continent.
A Collaborative Beginning
Rolling Out the CPD Course
The third stage of the project focused on implementing the course in Kenya, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, and Rwanda. It was during this phase that we saw the real impact of our work, witnessing first-hand how healthcare professionals embraced the opportunity to build their skills, enhance their careers, and ultimately improve patient care in their communities.
A Transformational Visit to Africa
AMEE CEO Anne Lloyd recently travelled to Africa alongside Lawrence Sherman (President, Meducate Global LLC), our partner in this initiative, to engage with those who have been part of this transformative programme.
Johannesburg: Gathering Feedback and Strengthening Communities
In Johannesburg, we met with the five country leads—Lintle (Mamphafi) Matete (Lesotho), Mmoloki Molwantwa (Botswana), Geldine Chironda (Malawi), Priscah Mosol (Kenya), and Claudine Muraraneza (Rwanda)—who provided invaluable insights into how the course has been received by their respective cohorts. Their feedback was instrumental in identifying ways to further contextualise the course to meet the unique needs of each country.
What stood out most was the confirmation that the programme has made a tangible difference. In an upcoming blog, we will be sharing testimonials from course participants, allowing you to hear first-hand how this initiative has shaped their professional journeys.
Eldoret: Expanding the Reach of CPD in Kenya
From Johannesburg, we travelled to Eldoret, Kenya, where we engaged with 30 professionals from multiple counties—some who had already completed the course and others eager to join the next cohort. This meeting reinforced the enthusiasm for capacity building and interprofessional education within the African healthcare sector.
During the session, I had the opportunity to share more about AMEE’s vision, guiding principles, and resources, while Lawrence facilitated a discussion on interprofessional education. Notably, many attendees came from nursing and medical administration backgrounds, highlighting the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of this initiative.
A truly heartwarming moment followed when we were presented with a Maasai fleece blanket, a Kenyan scarf, and beautifully beaded Kenyan jewellery—accompanied by a joyous display of singing and dancing! It was a powerful reminder of the deep connections formed through this project.
A Culinary and Academic Experience to Remember
Our trip concluded with a memorable meal at Sunjeel Palace, a restaurant that left both Lawrence and me convinced that African cuisine rivals anything we’ve tasted in the UK or US! We were honoured to be joined by esteemed academics, including Professor Robert Kuremu Tenge (Principal, College of Health Sciences), Professor Dinah Chelagat (Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery), and Dr. Priscah Mosol (Kenya Country Lead and Chair of the Department of Nursing Education, Leadership, Management, and Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Moi University).
The Future: Expansion and Impact
References
Sherman L, Leon-Borquez R, Lopez M, Chappell K. An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in Latin America: A Mixed Methods Assessment. J CME. 2024 Nov 25;13(1):2427765. doi: 10.1080/28338073.2024.2427765. PMID: 39600304; PMCID: PMC11590182.
Sherman L, Aboulsoud S, Leon-Borquez R, Ming K, Yang DD, Chappell K. An overview of global CME/CPD systems. Med Teach. 2024 Nov;46(11):1428-1440. doi: 10.1080/0142159X.2024.2373879. Epub 2024 Jul 16. PMID: 39012047.