In 2023, the former School of Clinical Medicine formally partnered with the international outreach project known as the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO)- India hub, in order to strengthen its reach to healthcare professionals in peripheral hospital sites in KwaZulu-Natal. This collaborative global medical education model was launched in 2003 and currently has more than 90 hubs in Africa including the one established at UKZN which is focused on adult and paediatric nephrology outreach services.
Former Dean of Clinical Medicine, Professor Ncoza Dlova, introduced her health care specialists to the ECHO Outreach movement since it is based on a mentor-mentee model that uses technology to leverage scarce resources; share best practices to reduce disparities; applies case-based learning to master complexities and evaluates and monitors outcomes. Capacitating primary health care practitioners, strengthening outreach and creating self-sustaining health care services in rural communities are all part of the movement’s core mission.
ECHO Project Manager at UKZN, Dr Serela Ramklass said, ‘We are excited to partner with ECHO India in order to link Nephrologists with primary care clinicians in local communities where primary care clinicians receive mentoring and feedback from the specialists. Together, they manage patient cases so that patients get the care they need.’
