The eligibility requirements for the selected partner institution are:
- A neurosurgeon who is committed to the training and to treating Hydrocephalus in children
- High volume of infantile Hydrocephalus (minimum of 100 new cases annually)
- Adequate operating theatre, means of sterilization, and anesthesia
- Dedicated operating room time, space, and anesthesia support for neuroendoscopic treatment of Hydrocephalus (minimum of 4 hours/week)
- Teaching institutions preferred but not required
- A mechanism for funding the care of poor patients (e.g. government funding, cooperation NGO, ...)
- Administrative support by the iPATH institution for translation of training materials, local accommodation, selection of partners, and temporary licenses for the iPATH trainers
- Commitment to select and let train local Hydrocephalus/Spina Bifida nurse coordinator
- Sufficient competence in English staff involved (neurosurgeon plus staff involved in training)
The procedure for site selection and program implementation is:
- Identification of potential site via distance communication
- Site visit by experts to evaluate the institution and staff for appropriateness of implementing the program, and engage introductory contacts for parent support groups (1 week)
- Obtain funding for neuroendoscopy equipment package
- iPATH phase 1: fellowship training phase in International Training Centre Mbale (Uganda, 3 months)
- iPATH phase 2: home institution becomes I-PATH site
- Evaluation iPATH site after 1 year
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