Steth of Hope
• Nakuru, Kenya; Lusaka, Zambia •
• 2021 & 2023 •
• In Partnership with Glia •
The Issue
Some medical students in these regions cannot afford a stethoscope, yet, due to poor infrastructure for radiological investigative capacity in most health facilities, each doctor and trainee doctor requires a personal stethoscope in order to effectively practise medicine. The advance of medical technology, though welcome, has done little to weaken or override the place of the stethoscope in effective clinical practice.
“Between 40 and 50% of students cannot afford a stethoscope … these are vital to enable them to develop their clinical skills and grow as clinicians.”
The Project
We donated 200 stethoscopes to students at Egerton University, Kenya, and University of Zambia. Students towards the end of their degree and with financial challenges were prioritised. The stethoscopes are manufactured by Glia, who use open source 3D printing to create a product that has been independently verified to be as effective as the popular Littman stethoscope!
The Outcome
The stethoscopes were received by incredibly grateful students who are eager to put them to use to develop their clinical examination skills. In June 2023 we visited the students who were using these for their student-led mock practical exams!
“At first I was quite skeptical because they’re not like anything I’ve ever seen, but now I use the stethoscope regularly and they pick up all the clinical sounds I expect!”
Next Time…
We are running this project again in 2023! If you would like to support our project, please donate below.
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