Volunteer with RAD-AID Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde is a volcanic archipelago of 500,000 people off Africa’s northwest coast. Access to health care is limited due to disparities in staffing, facilities, equipment, and medicine.
RAD-AID volunteers meet with hospital staff in Praia to complete the Readiness Assessment.
Accessibility to imaging varies per island within the country with the largest services performed in the Capital Praia on Santiago Island. It is at this location that more advanced imaging is available. Fogo, the island where the majority of the previous RAD-AID efforts have been concentrated, has access to ultrasound and radiography.
Radiology training occurs internationally, most commonly in Portugal. There are few Cabo Verdean national radiologists located in Praia. In other islands within the country, such as Fogo, a rotating international radiologist is present for a specified time period, typically two-year intervals.
RAD-AID Volunteer reviews radiographs with a local physician in Mosteiros.
RAD-AID teams are developing initiatives for breast imaging, informatics (PACS), ultrasound and radiography, with a new Portuguese translation of RAD-AID Radiology-Readiness assessment tool to more widely engage Cabo Verdean health institutions.
In 2023-24, RAD-AID teams conducted on-site assessments and teaching initiatives for breast imaging, informatics (PACS), ultrasound and radiography. In 2023, RAD-AID signed an agreement to collaborate with Cabo Verdean American Medical Society (CVAMS), and a 2024 MOU with Hospital Dr. Baptista de Sousa (HBS) in Mindelo, Sao Vicente. 2024 projects include radiologic technologist training programs to address urgent scarcity of personnel.
In April 2024, RAD-AID sent volunteers to Cabo Verde for the first time in over 5 years! The primary focus of this trip was ultrasound education and promotion of healthcare literacy across the archipelago.
Stay tuned for more updates on RAD-AID Cabo Verde and our collaboration with the Cabo Verdean American Medical Society!
