Strengthening Partnerships in Surgical and Maternal Health Research: A Notable Visit to the University of Rwanda
The University of Rwanda, through its Global Surgery Research Hub, recently hosted a high-profile delegation from the University of Edinburgh and Sibel Health. The visit, aimed at strengthening collaboration in surgical and maternal health research, particularly through the implementation of the LEAP SAVE (Surgery, Assess, Validate, and Expand) program as well as , the Intelligent Pregnancy Platform (I3P): implementation of a Digital Partograph.
The delegation was led by Professor Ewen Harrison, an esteemed professor of surgery and data science at the University of Edinburgh, alongside a team from Sibel Health led by its CEO, Co-Founder, and Board Member, Steve Xu. Their visit commenced with a comprehensive tour of the University of Rwanda's College of Medicine and Health Sciences, facilitated by Professor Faustin Ntireganya, the Director of the Global Surgery Research Hub Rwanda.
During the visit, the delegation had an opportunity to meet with the Global Surgery Research Hub staff and explore its facilities. They were formally welcomed by the Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Associate Professor Florent RUTAGARAMA. Professor Faustin provided an overview of the key achievements of the Global Surgery Research Hub. His presentation emphasized the Hub’s commitment to research, teaching, and community engagement, aligning with the University of Rwanda’s strategic goals. He also highlighted the Hub’s ambition to enhance surgical care in Rwanda and beyond through strengthened collaboration.
Figure 1: Professor Faustin presenting the Rwanda Hub achievement highlights.
Professor Ewen Harrison presented an update on the LEAP SAVE program, noting the progress of two key studies: CAMEL (Creating new models of laparoscopic surgery skills acquisition and assessment) and EMUS (Enhanced Monitoring Using Sensors after Surgery). Both studies, conducted under the Global Surgery Unit under the Global Surgery Health Technology Evaluation and Validation Consortium Projec, have shown significant potential in advancing laparoscopic skills acquisition and post-operative care. He underscored the pivotal role of Sibel Health in providing sensors and other technologies essential to the EMUS study, emphasizing how these innovations have streamlined research implementation. Moreover, he expressed enthusiasm for expanding this approach to maternal health.
Figure 2: Ewen Harrison, Professor of Surgery and Data Science, University of Edinburg presenting LEAP SAVE progress
An other highlight of the visit was the Sibel Health team’s demonstration of their latest maternal health monitoring products. With a focus on intrapartum maternal and fetal monitoring, the team introduced the Intelligent Pregnancy Platform (I3P), particularly the Digital Partograph initiative. This study seeks to assess the usability of the ANNE® Maternity platform and its associated devices among clinicians, nurses, healthcare workers, and pregnant patients. The overarching goal is to integrate a digital partograph aligned with the WHO Labour Care Guide to improve labor monitoring quality in hospitals already implementing the Labor Care Guide (LCG) and evaluate the feasibility of ANNE® Maternity's implementation.
Figure 3: Products demo by Prof. Steve Xu and Sibel Team
This session concluded with an engaging Q&A session, allowing key stakeholders to discuss study feasibility, participation and future collaboration.
Figure 4: Q&A session
The delegation then proceeded to visit the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), where they were warmly received by hospital leadership, lead by, the Head of Clinical Services Division Professor Martin NYUNDO. He commended the efforts of the Global Surgery Research Hub Rwanda and its international partners in conducting impactful research, assuring them of the hospital’s full support for ongoing and future endeavors. The visit ended on a high note with a social walk and dinner, fostering deeper professional and personal connections among the teams. This visit is a strong foundation for ongoing and future collaborations, reinforcing Rwanda’s position as a hub for pioneering surgical and maternal health research.
Figure 5: Facility tour: University Teaching of Kigali