Why attend?

Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the main subtypes of oesophageal cancer, accounting for more than 85% of worldwide OC diagnoses and is the most common subtype in low-and middle-income countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa.

Developed under the Africa Connect Project: African Initiative Against Oesophageal Cancer (AFROC), this blended-learning course was designed to empower gastroenterologists and surgical endoscopists across Africa to improve the detection rate and treatment outcomes of OSCC. By doing so, it aims to contribute meaningfully to more equitable access to healthcare, as well as improved survival outcomes and quality of life for OSCC patients.

The course includes job shadowing and on-the-job training for a selected group of invited participants in leadership roles, alongside a webinar series open to a broader community of African endoscopists. Bringing together leading global experts in the field, this course offers a unique opportunity to access the latest evidence-based knowledge, share experiences, and discuss real-world challenges in OSCC care.

Applications for the webinar series open on 19 May 2025.

Aims and learning outcomes

This course aims to strengthen endoscopists’ clinical competencies and adherence to best practices in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment OSCC. By promoting evidence-based techniques and improving clinical decision-making, it seeks to enhance early detection and optimise therapeutic outcomes for OSCC patients.

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Analyse and discuss current data on the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of OSCC in Africa;
• Explain and apply current guidelines for endoscopic diagnosis and biopsy procedures for both superficial and advanced OSCC;
• Explain and apply current guidelines on indications, techniques and outcomes to achieve after endoscopic therapy;
• Discuss the role of endoscopy in providing nutritional support during palliative care for patients with advanced OSCC.

Note: This course does not certify participants to perform upper gastrointestinal endoscopies on patients or for real patient care. Such certification must be obtained from the competent authorities in each country.

Who we are

Scientific coordination

• Mário Dinis Ribeiro, IPO Porto, Portugal
• Amos Mwasamwaja, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania

Pedagogical Coordination

• Patrícia Alves, IPO Porto, Portugal

Trainers

Project managers

• Idah Kinya
• Anne Heerklotz

Curricular structure

This course adopted a b-learning methodology, including three main components:

• Webinar series:
  1. SCC: Epidemiology in Africa;
  2. Endoscopic diagnosis;
  3. Endoscopic resection techniques;
  4. Palliation: stents and PEGs.
• Job shadowing: Five endoscopists working in key African educational and clinical organizations will be visiting IPO Porto;
• On-the-job training: One expert from a key European clinical organization (IPO-Porto) will visit African organizations to train endoscopists on site.