Page 29 - UNAM’s National Capstone Contributions

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School of Medicine

Anatomical unit introduces 3D printing

Attempts to strengthen the education of health 3D printing process is one that uses a continuous filament
professionals in Southern Africa has now bore fruit in made of a thermoplastic material.
Namibia, with the first 3D printed anatomical models
created at UNAM’s Hage Geingob Campus, in Windhoek. The ultimate aim of the School of Medicine is to close
This was made possible with the generous support of the gap in Human Resources for Health in Namibia. To
European Union Erasmus Plus project and funding from the date the School of Medicine has produced more than
DarisanaPlus grant. UNAM is part of a large partnership, 400 medical doctors. The Bachelor of Medicine and
which consists of Welwitchia Health Training Centre, WITS Bachelor of Surgery degree is a full-time programme,
University, Sefako Makgatho University, and the University aiming to produce health professionals whose
of Pretoria, along with European partners – University of knowledge, professional skills, and professional attitudes
Turku, Maastricht University, and University College Dublin and behaviour in medicine are in tune with the needs
The collaboration aims to use 3D printing technology to of society. Graduates from the School of Medicine can
support health education through printing of educational either enter the public or private health sectors, from
models and contributing to research projects.
resident medical officers to specialist physicians.
The current scarcity of human tissue for student dissection
and research, compounded by COVID–19 and the Most recent post-graduate programmes include an MMed
deficiencies within the Anatomical Donations and Post- in Anaesthesiology in collaboration with Cardiff University
Mortem Examinations Ordinance 12 of 1977, meant that and a soon to be launched Diploma in Family Medicine.
other resources for student learning had to be found. Research-based programmes include MSc and PhD
programmes in disciplines such as Anatomy, Biochemistry
During 2022, training of various technicians from Pathology Physiology and Medical Microbiology.
partnering institutions took place at the Hage Geingob
Campus with different models being successfully printed. All programmes are on offer at the Hage Geingob
The trainees were from Welwitschia Health Training campus, a state-of-the-art facility that boasts a COVID-19
Centre and UNAM, where technicians were trained to Diagnostic Laboratory, 3D-printing facilities, specialised
use a 3D printing technology known as fused deposition microscopes (fluorescence, confocal and surgical), and
modeling, more commonly known as FDM. This type of anatomy mortuary facilities.
For more information, please contact: Prof Judith Hall, Email: jhall@unam.na
( +264 61 206 5023, and for 3D Printing: Dr Adéle Du Plessis,
Email: duplessisa@unam.na@unam.na, ( +264 61 206 5074

3D Printing

UNAM Projects Addressing National Priority Areas