COMMISSIONING OF MENTICE SIMULATOR

Today the 14 th February 2023, the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof George Osanjo,
commissioned IR Mentice Simulator machine donated by our partners RAD-AID International. The
equipment is probably the first in Africa and estimated at Ksh. 50 million.
The Mentice simulator is a skills lab for training of Interventional Radiology (IR) fellows. It can
simulate vascular work in any part of the body. This will offer a great opportunity for our fellows
improve their interventional radiology skills. It is also a great learning opportunity for our residents.
RAD-AID our international partner is helping in the training of Interventional Radiology and has worked
with us from the stage of IR curriculum development to the first admission of the first batch of IR
fellows in 2020. This is the first IR program in East and Central Africa with Dr Peter Chacha as the
training coordinator. Interventional Radiology involves use of minimally invasive procedures for patient
management including aneurysm coiling, arterial embolization, IVC filter placement, Uterine fibroid
embolization, endovascular treatment of stroke, chemoembolization for liver tumours, Biliary and
urinary tract drainage and stenting to name but a few. This leads to shorter recovery time and better
patient outcomes.
Due to constraints in infrastructure and space the program can currently only accommodate 2 fellows
per year, though we hope to increase the number with time. To date we have graduated two fellows ,
Dr Muruka and Dr Wangari, who are making a big impact in patient management in the country. There
are four (4) fellows currently in training from different counties in Kenya. There is growing interest with
applicants seen from across East Africa in the current academic year. We appreciate the great input of
the Program Manager RAD-AID Kenya, Prof Bob Dixon and the other Interventional radiologists Dr
Kesselman and Dr Stewart as well as Dr Mugambi and Dr Kibaya.
During the commissioning the Dean Prof George Osanjo, was accompanied by the associate Dean
Prof Fredrick Otieno, while the CEO of Kenyatta National Hospital Dr Evanson Kamuri was
represented by the Director Diagnostics Dr. Nyabanda and HOD KNH Radiology Dr Mamai. These
were hosted by the Chairman Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Medicine Dr Onyambu

Kenyatta National Hospital
P.O. Box 19676 – 00202
NAIROBI, KENYA

Telephone: 2724722 or 726300 Ext. 43223
Telegrams: “Medken” Nairobi
Telex: Varsity 22095
Email: dept-radiology@uonbi.ac.ke

________________________
DR. CALLEN K. ONYAMBU
Chairman,

Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Medicine.

University of Nairobi, Kenya.