Clinical officers play a key role in the health services of many African countries. They can perform 60-80% of doctors’ tasks but are faster and less expensive to train.
In Southern Sudan, there are less than 100 doctors to serve a population of approximately 10 million. However, AMREF has trained 130 clinical officers, who currently account for for more than half the total number of clinical officers in the whole region.
AMREF opened Sudan’s Maridi National Health Training Institute at the height of the civil war in 1998; the first group of students graduated in 2001.
The three-year course in public health care, nursing care and surgical procedure covers anatomy, orthapedics, and pathology to pharmacology, psychology and psychiatry. It produces skilled and well-rounded medical professionals, able to diagnose and treat illness, perform surgery and educate communities.
As a result of the war, many of the students have been unable to complete secondary school. Consequently, the course now incorporates foundation courses in maths, English and biology.
Most of the students come from some of the remotest areas of Southern Sudan and are especially keen to put their new skills to use back in their communities.