Erasmus+ mobility: MTM student Viktoria Sturm attended an insightful traineeship in Addis Abeba

Viktoria Sturm, graduate of our MSc in Tropical Medicine (MTM), recently travelled to Ethiopia to participate in a traineeship. She accompanied colleagues from our Unit of Neglected Tropical Diseases to the All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Rehabilitation and Training (ALERT) Specialized Comprehensive Hospital in Addis Abeba for the study initiation visit of the OPTIMILEISH project. This project is coordinated in cooperation with our partner institution within the FA5 agreement, the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), also located in Addis Abeba, to optimise treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients.

The purpose of the traineeship was to observe and participate in the establishment of a clinical study and to gain an understanding of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This involved several meetings with the local study staff to build relationships, finalise study documents, and train participants on study procedures and safety protocols. Additionally, routine diagnostic procedures for suspected CL patients, such as skin slit smear microscopy, were observed in the microbiology laboratory of the ALERT hospital. Viktoria also had the opportunity to follow CL patients from diagnosis to treatment in the ward. This experience significantly enhanced her clinical knowledge and provided valuable insight into the on-site procedures for conducting a clinical study in a low-resource setting. This mobility experience also enabled Viktoria to learn about the Ethiopian healthcare system and its barriers.

After returning home, the student said: "It was an incredible experience. I learned a lot, met great people, and got a glimpse of the rich Ethiopian culture. I am already looking forward to returning to this country and its people!"