UHNM Consultant invited to help develop breast cancer services in Nigeria

A Consultant Radiographer from University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) has been invited to help improve breast cancer innovation in Nigeria. 

Ms Francine Mulenga travelled over 4,000 miles to Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital city, to present a series of lectures on the latest innovations in breast care and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). 

The lectures were part of the Breast Cancer Resource for Inter Specialty Training and Education Course (BRITE), facilitated by the Global Health Workforce Programme in partnership with the British Foundation for International Reconstructive Surgery and Training (BFIRST).

Ms Mulenga said: “My role was to talk about innovations in breast imaging using the latest examples at UHNM such as Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), Contrasting Enhanced Mammography (CEM), and Vacuum Assisted Core Biopsies (VACB). This involved participating in, and leading break out discussions and mock Breast MDTs.

“I was joined by other speakers from UK NHS Trusts including the Royal Marsden in London, Leicester, Nottingham and Cambridge,  Ethiopia, Canada, and Nigeria.

“This initiative provided a valuable opportunity to impart essential training on the latest innovations in Breast Imaging, and how they optimise diagnosis to a diverse group of healthcare professionals from various hospitals in Abuja and other cities including Breast radiologists, surgeons, nurses, pathologists and oncologists. 

“They were very engaged and had many questions. These participants have gone on to cascade that they learnt to other institutions in their region.

“The pressing need for an MDT approach in dealing with the increasing complexity of breast cancer cases and introduction of new innovations in breast cancer care was a central theme of the programme. Breast Cancer is a major global health challenge, and to improve outcomes and survival, early detection and diagnosis through breast imaging is critical.

“I wish to expresses my sincere gratitude to Mr Sankaran Narayanan, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at UHNM for introducing me to this initiative, the entire Breast team and management at UHNM for their support and the management of National Hospital Abuja for their warm hospitality.”

Ms Mulenga, who has worked at the Royal Stoke University Hospitals Breast Unit since 2017, added: “It was an exciting opportunity to be part of the initiative. Abuja was a lovely place, the people were warm and friendly, and the food was fantastic. I enjoyed meeting new people and sharing knowledge from our department.

“I can never thank those involved enough. It was a great learning process, the imperative to empower healthcare professionals in Nigeria with a view to improving patient outcomes, cannot be overstated. Capacity building ,fostering networks, and promoting collaboration are pivotal strategies in addressing cancer health disparities”.