Technician Training Begins

The Mercy Ships Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) programme has begun in Benin; overseen by Carlos Amaral, a Biomedical Instructor onboard the Africa Mercy.

Although Benin is one of the least developed nations in the world, several investments have been made in the area of health care development, there are only three qualified biomechanical engineers working in the entire country.

The main project goal of the BTT programme is to improve the availability and functionality of medical equipment in hospitals through the training of technicians – thereby increasing access to equipment and ultimately increasing the effectiveness of health care in Benin.

Developed by Amaral himself, the two-month course will offer theoretical and hands-on training to ten biomedical trainees, who will be assessed in the areas of practical skills and knowledge of biomedical operations and equipment such as x-rays, dialysis, defibrillators, incubators and ultrasound.

Four of the trainees are from the Ministry of Health, while the remaining six are from four main hospitals in the country.

Also included in the outline for the year is a concentrated one-week training programme for technicians, mainly from rural-based medical institutions who are limited by distance and cannot be away from their workspace for too long.

A one-day workshop will also be given to 20 university students to explain the principles of biomedical engineering and the opportunities for scholarships. The Africa Mercy’s onboard hospital will be used to demonstrate to the students various types of biomedical equipment, including repair and maintenance procedures.  

The two-month programme has begun productively. Twice a week, trainees attend classes taught by Amaral onboard the Africa Mercy, and on alternative days they visit one of the local hospitals in and around Cotonou for practical instruction.

“The advantage of on-ship training with a fully functional hospital downstairs means that examples of equipment are readily accessible. But it is also important that the practical training takes place in the local hospitals where the engineers work,” said Amaral.

“I think the training is very good,” one of the trainees from the Ministry of Health said. “Mr. Amaral teaches the methods and procedures to do our job better. He explains the operation of the equipment, and we need it to improve our work.”