10 Questions with Prof. Yaw Asante Awuku, Ghana.
Qualifications: BSC, MBChB, MWACP, PGcert (Belgium), Gastroenterology (Clinical fellowship), FWACP (Int.Med), FGCP
Practice Details: Dept. of Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Where were you born?
Takoradi, Ghana
Where did you complete your training?
Undergraduate training at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana and gastroenterology training at Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa
You have a number of qualifications and could have chosen any field to specialise in, why gastroenterology?
There is an enormous gastrointestinal disease burden in Ghana and I wanted to contribute to this developing speciality in my home country.
Why did you choose to stay on the African continent to specialise?
Gastroenterology training was not available in Ghana at the time and I met colleagues who had trained in South Africa. I then happened to meet Prof Mike Kew at a conference in Ghana. I approached him about training opportunities in South Arica and he was very helpful in assisting me to get a training position at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Who would you consider your gastroenterology mentors?
Mentorship is difficult in Ghana and I rely on mentors from a distance. I consider Prof. Lewis Roberts, a Ghanaian practicing in the USA, a mentor and he assists with organising GI training in Ghana. Prof. Reid Ally from Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg and Dr. David Epstein from Vincent Pallotti Hospital, Cape Town are other mentors.
How many registered gastroenterologists are there in Ghana?
There are 15 gastroenterologists in Ghana serving a population of 28,8 million.
How many IBD patients do you have in your practice?
I have 12 ulcerative colitis patients in my practice and diagnosed 6 within my first year as a gastroenterologist. I suspect many IBD patients go undiagnosed in Ghana due to the lack of endoscopy equipment and the scarcity of gastroenterologists.
What is the most important mimic of IBD in Ghana?
Infectious diseases such as Shigellosis and Amoebiasis
What is the biggest challenge in IBD treatment in your Ghana?
The cost and availability of effective IBD medication.
What do you do for relaxation when not working?
I enjoy watching football and listening to music.
10 Questions with Dr Smita Devani, gastroenterologist from Nairobi, Kenya.
Practice Details: Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
Where were you born?
Nairobi, Kenya
Where did you complete your undergraduate training?
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Where did you complete your gastroenterology training?
Portsmouth, UK.
Who would you consider your gastroenterology mentor?
Prof Duncan Colin-Jones. I met Prof Colin-Jones while locuming in Portsmouth and wanted to train under him in gastroenterology. There were no posts available so I did 3 years of training without pay while locuming to sustain myself. Prof. Colin-Jones was a gentle soul and he had a great outlook on medicine and life in general.
What made you return to Kenya after specialising in gastroenterology?
I always wanted to come back to Kenya on completion of my training. The weather in Kenya is amazing and the gastrointestinal services were rudimentary then. It was also an opportunity to establish a GI centre here. I bought the scopes from UK as well as the accessories and started work here. Nobody was doing ERCPS in Kenya then and I had to educate doctors on need for ERCP. The Kenyan scene has changed tremendously since then and I am glad to have been the catalyst for this.
How many registered gastroenterologists are there in Kenya?
There are 15 gastroenterologists in Kenya, mostly in Nairobi, serving a population of almost 50 million.
How many IBD patients do you have in your practice?
About 40 to 50 but I do not keep count of actual numbers
What is the most important mimic of IBD in Kenya?
Infectious diseases especially intestinal tuberculosis
What is the biggest challenge in IBD treatment in your Kenya?
The cost of IBD drugs.
What do you do for relaxation when not working?
I enjoy swimming and gardening