TRAINING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN LOW RESOURCED SETTINGS
Mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving component of critical care, yet access to specialized respiratory care training remains limited in many low-resource settings. In Ethiopia, respiratory therapy is still an emerging field, with only limited formal training opportunities concentrated in the capital. As a result, bedside nurses, alongside physicians, play a central role in the day-to-day management of mechanically ventilated patients. Studies from Ethiopia and other resource-limited settings have identified important gaps in mechanical ventilation knowledge, practical training, and access to continuing critical care education. Strengthening these skills is therefore essential to improving the care of critically ill patients.
GHEP developed its mechanical ventilation education initiative to help address this need through practical, longitudinal training. Beginning in 2023 with bedside nurses, the program has expanded to include nurses, physicians, pulmonary and critical care trainees, and respiratory care professionals. Training combines web-based learning, interactive case discussions, and in-person hands-on simulation, with emphasis on ventilator modes and settings, patient-ventilator interactions, troubleshooting, and bedside clinical decision-making. Beyond individual courses, GHEP promotes continued mentorship and skills development, with the goal of strengthening locally led mechanical ventilation education and creating a sustainable training model that can be adapted to other resource-limited settings.