Training of Trainers on Medical Equipment Management: A Triangular Cooperation Program
Between Japan, Tunisia, and Francophone African Countries
From October 21 to November 11, 2025, 18 participants from 9 Francophone African countries took part in a training of trainers program on medical equipment management, organized by the Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis (ISTMT) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the City of Sciences in Tunis (CST).
This program is the third and final session of a triangular cooperation program between Japan, Tunisia, and African countries, aiming to promote triangular cooperation through the sharing of expertise. Launched in 2023, the program's primary objective is to train university instructors, engineers, and senior technicians who can transmit their skills in medical equipment maintenance and management to their respective countries.
"The results of this program are promising: evaluations have shown a remarkable progression of technical and pedagogical skills at the end of each session. Beyond the numbers, it is the spirit of cooperation, sharing, and African and triangular solidarity that has been strengthened," said Ms. Miyata Mayumi, Resident Representative of JICA in Tunisia, during the closing ceremony held on November 11, 2025, at the City of Sciences.
During the ceremony, the Japanese experience was presented by Dr. Tsuji and Dr. Nakamura from the Japanese Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, who gave two lectures on the system and role of biomedical engineers, as well as the medical equipment management system in Japan, which differs from that of African countries.
Over the three training sessions held from 2023 to 2025, more than 50 participants from 11 African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Madagascar, and Togo, took part in this program. They benefited from combined Tunisian and Japanese expertise in three strategic areas for the proper functioning of hospital infrastructure: medical imaging and radiotherapy, operating and recovery rooms, and medical analysis laboratories.
"The practical workshops and experience sharing allowed us to familiarize ourselves with cutting-edge technologies, opening up new perspectives for our professional and pedagogical practices. We commit to applying this knowledge and training others, upholding the standards of quality and maintenance of medical equipment in our respective countries," said one of the training participants.
Through this program, Tunisia, in partnership with JICA, confirms its role as a regional hub for training and expertise in biomedical engineering and actively contributes to the establishment of efficient and sustainable hospital maintenance systems in Africa.
