International
The ABS/United Bulawayo Hospitals Breast Cancer Partnership Project is inviting applications from ABS members to support breast cancer care in Matabeleland South.
Would you like to host a Fellowship for a ‘Frontline’ Senior Nurse who’s looking for training in modern breast cancer management?
The Transforming Breast Cancer Care in Matabeleland South Province and Bulawayo Metropolitan Project combines focused education and training of key health professionals to facilitate earlier breast cancer detection and treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes in a region with the lowest breast cancer survival rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Following the launch of this successful project in 2023, an interesting opportunity has arisen for UK Breast Centres to host a second group of Nurse Fellows from Zimbabwe.
Selected Nurses will take up a funded Fellowship joining the Breast Centre team for a 6-week period as an observer between September and November 2025.
Fellows badly need first-hand experience in multidisciplinary breast cancer diagnosis and management with a focus on clinical breast examination and breast ultrasound.
On their return they will be supporting a team of colleagues setting up a new network of diagnostic breast services across Matabeleland South and Bulawayo.
To register your interest, or for further information please email Lucy Davies at lucydavies@absgbi.org.uk by Friday 9 May at the latest.
The British Foundation for International Reconstructive Surgery & Training (BFIRST) and their partner Professor Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, Department of Surgery ABU Zaria, Nigeria, have obtained a THET grant to enhance and develop the MDT in breast cancer services in Ghana and Nigeria. The ABS is supporting them in the delivery of this project.
The project aims to increase and improve the communication within the Breast MDT in Nigeria and Ghana. They are therefore looking for MDT core-members: breast care nurses, pathologists, oncologists, radiologists, breast surgeons and plastic surgeons to give 2-3 20 minute talks on relevant topics online/taped and in person.
They have two courses which include a three day course in person, which is a mixture of online and in person talks, and a two day Training the Trainers course: one week in Nigeria in the last week of June and the same the week after (first week of July) in Ghana and aim to have an online resource for the development of local MDTs, which they would also like help with very much.
They have the travel and accommodation costs covered (taking an economy flight). Further information is available here.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact Barbara Jemec on: jemec.barbara@gmail.com or barbara.jemec@uhn.ca
Tasmia Asif Cancer Hospital and Research Centre CIC is a not-for-profit community interest company established to improve cancer care in Bangladesh through the sharing of facilities, equipment, knowledge, training, and research. With cancer being a major public health burden in Bangladesh, TACHRC aims to bridge the gap between patients and the treatment they require.
TACHRC supports the building, development, and maintenance of the TACHRC hospital through fundraising efforts to equip and maintain the facility. Additionally, the CIC provides ABS-certified courses to local trainees and arranges for volunteers, such as breast surgeons, to assist Ms Tahmid in running clinics, providing care and education, and designing training programs for local healthcare professionals.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like to know more about TACHRIC, please visit their website
Or email: info@tasmiabreastcare.co.uk or telephone: 07960 715952
TACHRC is committed to expanding the scale of their work to provide sustainable clinical and academic services in Bangladesh.
Matabeleland South Province is one of the most deprived areas in Zimbabwe. A breast cancer patient's pathway is painfully slow, resulting in many being diagnosed at a late stage, when their cancer can no longer be cured.
The ABS is working with partners in health, education and government in Zimbabwe to improve breast cancer care in Matabeleland South. We aim to establish 2 rural clinics, in Gwanda and Beitbridge, with the ability to diagnose cancer. This involves equipping clinics and training staff in breast diagnosis, including the use of portable ultrasound devices where the image can be seen on a mobile phone or tablet.
The ABS is fundraising to support its Matabeleland South Project. The funds raised will, amongst other things, be put towards training of staff in Matabeleland South, equipping clinics to undertake breast diagnosis, providing a borehole at one of the clinics and providing patients with information about breast cancer.
The ABS has partnered with the United Bulawayo Hospitals to deliver a project funded by the Tropical Health and Education Trust to identify challenges in breast cancer investigations and diagnosis, and to develop a training course to build capacity in specialist care. Dick Rainsbury writes about this in the latest THET blog
ABS Overseas Courses in 2019
In 2019 the ABS ran its first overseas breast course in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A faculty of 8 ran a 3 day course at the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
To read a report of the Bulawayo course please click here
A second group of ABS members travelled to Nairobi and ran a 3 day course involving cadaveric dissection before participating in a 2 day symposium.
To read a report of the Nairobi course please click here
Future Faculty for ABS Courses
If you are interested in being involved in a future ABS overseas course please contact Lucy Davies at lucydavies@absgbi.org.uk for further information
In recent years the ABS has offered fellowships to healthcare professionals from overseas to come to the UK to attend the ABS Conference and also undertake an observership in a UK breast unit.
You can read reports by a number of recent fellows here:
The Royal College of Surgeons of England's International Surgical Training Programme (ISTP) enables a limited numer of overseas surgeons to undertake specialist clinical training in the UK NHS for a minimum of 12 months up to a maximum of 2 years. For more information about the scheme see the RCS website.
To read about Bahaty Riogi, a previous trainee's, experience of the ISTP please click here
A number of ABS members are undertaking teaching, training and other projects in low and middle income countries. You can read a number of reports about their experiences here:
Development of Breast Cancer Services in the West Bank of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt)
Read a report by Jane Macaskill (Breast Surgeon in Dundee) about her work with the charity, Medical Aid for Palestine, here
Setting up a triple assessment clinic in Malawi
Read a report by Briony Ackroyd-Parkin about developing a quality breast service in Malawi here
Breast Health Education in Nigeria
Read a report by Georgette Oni (Plastic Surgeon in Nottingham) about running a breast health awareness day and flap transfer and microsurgery course in Nigeria here
UK AIIMS Cadaveric Breast Reconstruction Course, India
Read a report by Sankaran Narayanan (Breast Surgeon in Stoke) about the 2019 course in New Delhi here
Denise Coates, who kindly fundraises for the ABS International Forum, has written a short memoire/ self help guide, “Breast Cancer Conquered Together”. The book is available from all good book stores and as an e-book. Part of the proceeds of the book will go to the ABS International Forum.
Badging of Overseas Courses by ABS
ABS wish to support members who would like to develop educational courses for the benefit of its members or international colleagues wanting to improve the management of breast disease in their community relevant to their local or national requirements.
Application Process
The following document explains the application process to obtain ABS approval.
Submit applications for badging to Margarita Bartholomew at mbartholomew@absgbi.org.uk or for further information call 020 7869 6853
Exclusions
Courses not approved by the process outlined above will not be advertised or promoted by ABS.
