Kolabo 2019: Day Six Blog
The Calgary team visits the inpatient unit
Yesterday, the University of Calgary team was able to view the inpatient psychiatric unit in Mwanza, Tanzania. The unit is segregated by gender and has two high observation rooms. Patients here have a variety of mental and medical illnesses, including post-partum psychosis, HIV encephalopathy, and depression. There are over forty male patients and thirty female patients being served by two psychiatrists, Dr. Mwita and Dr. Hauli.
The doors to the inpatient psychiatry unit at Bugando Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Anxiety Disorders Small Group
The MD5 student leaders continued to persevere as group leaders on a topic that they rarely see admitted to psychiatry in Tanzania due to time and space constraints. Thus, many individuals with anxiety disorders may not be seeking or receiving treatment. The anxiety disorders discussed in this exercise included generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, amongst other diagnoses. Prof. Paschalis Rugarabamu, Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Allied Health Sciences (CUHAS), was able to witness some of the groups in action and the benefits of this engaging teaching method.
Prof. Paschalis Rugarabamu sitting in on a small group discussion on anxiety disorders led by MD5 student leaders.
Resident Teaching Opportunity
In this bidirectional partnership with CUHAS, resident physicians from the University of Calgary working on the Kolabo project have been able to enhance their knowledge as content experts and to learn the skills necessary to be effective teachers, both in a didactic lecture setting and as a small group facilitator over the course of this two week project. Any residents interested in applying for future projects should contact kolabocalgary@gmail.com for further information regarding information sessions and recruitment opportunities.
Dr. Jaylynn Arcand provides a didactic lecture to medical students on psychosis.