Abstract
Introduction
- In many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) including Haiti, there are no trained pediatric endocrinologists in-country.
- Further, resources allocated for health are scarce and have to be utilized optimally.
- Local advocacy may positively impact health care by raising awareness of stake holders
Objectives
The objective of this travel was:
- To meet Prof. Abdullah,a Sudanese pediatric endocrinologist trained in the UK who has successfully built a national pediatric endocrinology network that now provides health care to over 4000 children, and his team, and learn from the Sudanese experience in order to apply them back in Haiti following my own fellowship at McGill:
- To exchange knowledge, experiences and clinical approaches prioritizing efficient use of resources
- To learn how to mobilize resources to build the first referral center for pediatric endocrinology,
- To learn how to incorporate academic clinical and research training in pediatric endocrinology into the pediatric resident curriculum in Haiti.
Activities during my stay in Sudan
- Presentation
- Clinical meetings
- Conversations and sharing of experiences with Pr Abdullah and Sudanese endocrinology residents
Conclusion
- If there is a vision, will and advocacy, there are many things we can achieve.
- Pediatric endocrinology is a field where everything is yet to be built in Haiti, sometimes it takes the vision of one person for things to start to move.
Impact on my future career plans
- I aim to build an academic program in Haiti – I have learned that this is the best way to build an efficient, sustainable, innovative and thriving clinical department.
