Telemedicine in Douala, Cameroon

Course Director

Esther Cubo, MD, PhD
Hospital Universitario, Burgos, Spain
Tel: +34 947 256 533, Ext 35380
Email: ecubo@hubu.es; esthercubo@gmail.com

Caring for the Majority

Course Overview

Dr. Cubo of the MDS Telemedicine Task Force has developed this web-based telemedicine program to educate general practitioners, residents, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, and neurologists in Cameroon.  Using telemedicine, the program provides participants with access to education in the field of Movement Disorders, which is currently unavailable in their region. The program consists of 12 lectures throughout one year in two parallel tracks: one geared toward doctors and another specific to health professionals. 

During the lectures, participants gather at Hospital Laquintinie in Douala, Cameroon and are connected with experts in the field of movement disorders through live video, slides, chat and audio conferencing. Each participant is given the opportunity to receive MDS membership and its benefits, including access to the journals, education and certification in the use of MDS rating scales. The committee hopes that the program and course materials can eventually be made accessible to others in MDS, particularly in Africa. 

The 12 lecture topics included in the curriculum are:

• Etiology and pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease
• Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of Parkinson’s disease
• Differential diagnosis
• Assessment of Parkinson’s disease
• Rating scales for Parkinson’s disease
• Pharmacological treatment for Parkinson’s disease
• Non-pharmacological treatment for Parkinson’s disease
• Overview of management of early Parkinson’s disease
• Overview of management of advanced Parkinson’s disease
• Overview of management of non motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease in Africa
• Discussion of clinical cases and program overview
   

Course Faculty

The course will be taught by professors from Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Hospital (on October 12), Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Hospital Sant Pau, and Hospital Central de Asturias (all in Spain); Rush University Medical Center, Columbia University, Rochester University, (all in the United States); Parkinson Victoria Association and Health Sciences University, (both in Australia); North Tyneside General Hospital (in Great Britain); and Hospital Galway and Parkinson Galway Association (in Ireland).