International Collaboration to Enhance Endoscopy Training in Rwanda
As Part of a Commitment to Advancing Gastrointestinal Services in Africa
The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) Training Center – Khartoum participated in organizing a major training initiative in gastrointestinal endoscopy, hosted by King Faisal Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, from August 26 to 28, 2025.
This program was the result of an effective partnership between the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), the Middle East and Africa Gastroenterology Association (AMAGE), and the WGO–Khartoum Training Center. The initiative aimed to build local capacity in advanced endoscopy and promote the localization of skills across the region.
The training brought together a distinguished group of international and regional experts from the United Kingdom, the United States, Egypt, South Africa, Jordan, and Sudan, alongside a strong team of Rwandan physicians. This created a rich exchange of global expertise and local knowledge.
The training program focused on four main areas:
Management of gastrointestinal bleeding
Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and polypectomy
Fundamentals of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Training of Trainers (TCT) course in colonoscopy
The activities included theoretical lectures, live case demonstrations, hands-on training using animal models, and practical workshops, enabling participants to acquire advanced practical skills.
The visit also highlighted the significant development of the endoscopy unit at King Faisal Hospital, which features modern procedure rooms equipped with advanced imaging technologies and on-site anesthesiology support, positioning it as an ideal regional hub for training and knowledge transfer.
The program coincided with the launch of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Program in Rwanda, further strengthening sustainable capacity building and ensuring the training of future generations of specialists.
The initiative concluded with tangible outcomes, including:
Training of 11 gastroenterology fellows and several internal medicine physicians in advanced endoscopy skills.
Qualification of 7 Rwandan consultants as trainers through the TCT program.
Strengthening institutional collaboration between BSG, AMAGE, WGO, and gastrointestinal institutions in Rwanda.
This partnership reaffirms that the advancement of endoscopy services is not limited to high-resource countries but can be successfully achieved through regional and international collaboration. The WGO–Khartoum Training Center remains committed to expanding these efforts across other African countries, supporting the localization of services and the development of medical capacity throughout the continent.
