ICNA Educational Meeting Tanzania 2016

This project was organized by the Child Neurology Society (CNS) in collaboration with the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) - Muhimbili Hospital.

Dr. Edward Kija worked with the University and the Medical Center in the organization of this medical project. Dr. Edward Kija is the 2015 D’Souza awardee and the only Pediatric Neurologist in the country. The goal of the project was to provide support to Dr. Kija, improving the infrastructure of the EEG laboratory and providing training workshops (EEG interpretation, ketogenic diet). A Child Neurology Symposium was also organized.

General assessment of the local resources: General Pediatricians manage many of the neurological conditions, as there is only one Pediatric Neurologist. Dr. Edward Kija manages the complicated cases and interprets EEG findings for the referring Pediatricians

The project was divided in 3 parts:

Part #1. Child Neurology Sympossium. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Conferences were presented in the morning from 8:00 A.M to 12:30 P.M
Date of the event: September 19th -21st, 2016
Location: Muhimbili Hospital

Panel of speakers:

Dr. Angel Hernandez: Head of Pediatric Neurology Division and Director of Magnetoencephalography center at Cook Children’s Health Care System, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Jessica Holy. Nutrition department - Pediatric Neurology Department. Head of ketogenic diet program. Cook Children’s Health Care System, Fort Worth Texas, USA.

Dr. Jorge Vidaurre. Director, Pediatric Clinical Neurophysiology Program and EEG laboratory at Nationwide Children’s Hospital-The Ohio State University, USA. Chair of the International Committee, CNS.

Additional team member:
Rickey Arnold Ross Jr. Practice administrator and Manager of Neurodiagnostic Laboratory, REEGT, RGPST. Cook Children’s Health Care System, Fort Worth Texas, USA

Organizer committee:

Dr. Edward Kija (Pediatric Neurologist.Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
Dr. Jorge Vidaurre (Ohio, USA)

Total number of participants: 45

Audience: One Pediatric Neurologist (Dr. Edward Kija), Pediatricians, Pediatric residents and adult neurologists.

Resources used for promotion of the meeting: Local distribution of information about the conferences.

Main Topics covered:

Epilepsy and paroxysmal disorders, including:
Clinical cases with a practical approach to pediatric epilepsy
Video-cases of epileptic encephalopathies
Update on Status epilepticus.
Neonatal seizures.
New epilepsy classification and terminology.
Non epileptic paroxysmal events
Clinical vignettes for pediatricians

Neuroimaging.

Headaches.

Developmental disorders. ADHD

Practical course. Funduscopic examination

Ketogenic diet.

Topics were covered in a practical and interactive format with enough timing for questions

Part #2. EEG workshop and development of EEG laboratory.

Assessment of EEG laboratory before interventions: EEG room consisted of one EEG machine used in 2 small rooms. Laboratory staffed by 2 full times and one part time technician. Technicians were not properly trained in instrumentation settings and electrode placement. EEG recordings contaminated by abundant 60 Hz artifact.

The EEG workshop was divided in different sections:

A. Improvement of EEG laboratory environment and training of technicians.

This workshop was directed by Rickey Ross Jr. and consisted of:

• Assembly and installation of a second EEG machine (Grass Telefactor System) donated by Nationwide Children’s Hospital- OSU).
  • Ensure proper grounding of electrical systems for safety of patients and equipment.
  • Training technicians in proper recording settings.
  • Training local technicians in the proper placement of electrodes using 10-20 system
  • Teaching section for trouble shooting and correct measure of impedances
  • Talk about technical aspect of EEG recording.
  • Direct supervision of technicians during actual recordings performed in patients of different ages.