Tunisia, Japan launch African endoscopy training program

Tunisia is set to become a hub for gastrointestinal endoscopy training in Africa through a new program signed on June 9, 2026. The "Gastroenterological Endoscopy for Africa" initiative is a collaborative effort between Tunisia's Ministry of Health, the Mohamed Tahar Maâmouri University Hospital of Nabeul, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This program builds upon a significant donation of endoscopy equipment provided to 23 Tunisian hospitals in 2021, funded by the Japanese government. The core objective is to leverage Tunisia's established expertise in the field and disseminate it to healthcare professionals across Africa, thereby improving the quality of endoscopy services on the continent.

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This program is part of the triangular cooperation initiated by JICA for the benefit of African countries. A cooperation that aims to support efforts to strengthen health systems in Africa.

The agreement was formalized in the presence of key figures, including Pr. Walid Naija, Director General of Public Health, Mme Sina Haj Amor, Director General of Technical Cooperation, Dr. Lamine Hamzaoui, Head of the Gastroenterology Department at the Nabeul hospital, and Mme Mayumi Miyata, JICA's resident representative in Tunisia.

Scheduled to run from 2026 to 2028, the program includes three annual training sessions. The first session, slated for October 2026, will welcome participants from French-speaking African nations. Dr. Lamine Hamzaoui, recognized for his expertise, will lead the training with support from his specialized team at the Nabeul hospital. This initiative underscores Tunisia's growing role in African health cooperation, facilitated by JICA's triangular cooperation model.

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Tunisia plays a leading role, given its proven expertise in the medical field and also as a cooperation hub for Africa in health matters.