March 20, 2024
Successful PIDetect 2023 edition: Enhancing Diagnostic abilities in Moldova
IPOPI’s PIDetect programme helps address low diagnosis rate in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) by providing intensive training to selected doctors from LMIC to improve their skills in recognising and diagnosing PIDs. As part of the 2023 programme two Moldovan clinicians, Dr Cristina Tomacinschii and Dr Rodica Selevestru, were invited for tailored training provided by Prof Mihaela Bataneant and her team in the Romanian PID reference centre of Timisoara at Louis Turcana Children Hospital. Following this fruitful exchange a hybrid conference was organised by Prof Sciuca Svetlana on December 1-2 in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, to help spread awareness and knowledge on PID more widely throughout the country.
PID diagnostics and care in Moldova
Dr Selevestru and Dr Tomacinschii are affiliated to two different institutes in Chisinau which helped broaden the scope of the PIDetect programme. Both doctors agree that the lack in diagnostic facilities, combined with limited awareness of PID, strongly hampers proper detection and identification of PID and subsequent care. Specialised diagnostic examinations are often not available or, as is the case for genetic analyses, are to be financed by the patient or the patient’s family.
Training content and learning environment
Dr Cristina Tomacinschii – “This was the most useful training in my activity”.
During a two-week exchange the clinicians had the opportunity to observe and manage a variety of PID cases, many of which they had never encountered before. They also learned to interpret results from diagnostic techniques and investigations that are not yet regularly applied in Moldova. Both doctors agreed that the training provided was very helpful and that they will benefit from the acquired skills in Moldova. However, integration of the more specialised diagnostic examinations in their home institutions will depend on the availability of additional resources.
Spreading knowledge and awareness
A second objective of PIDetect is to help spread the newly acquired knowledge on PID diagnostics more widely throughout the target country. To this end Prof Sciuca Svetlana organised a hybrid conference titled “Inborn Errors of Immunity in the Republic of Moldova – Advances and Hope.” The conference was well attended and various topics were covered including PID classification, screening methods, diagnostic procedures and treatment approaches. The lectures were organised to address a wide range of medical professionals. The second day of the conference focused on the patient experience and stimulated enriching discussions between clinicians and PID patients.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Mihaela Bataneant and her team for welcoming Dr. Tomacinschii and Dr. Selevestru to her institute and providing them with such an educational training experience. We also thank our board member and IPOPI treasurer, Ms. Otilia Stanga, for her invaluable contribution to the organisation of this 2023 PIDetect edition.
