Following the attainment of a notable qualification, Dr Kgomotso Moroka means to positively impact on the improvement of cardiovascular services in the Free State and Sub-Saharan Africa.
She graduated with a diploma of advanced studies in Cardiac Arrhythmia Management (DAS-CAM) and the completion of an electrophysiology fellowship in June.
Moroka’s achievement distinguishes her as the sole DAS-CAM graduate in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Free State region.
The two-year postgraduate programme that she followed to attain the qualification is offered by the Maastricht University in the Netherlands, in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
Electrophysiology, which studies the electrical influences and patterns of the heart, is vital for treating patients with abnormal heartbeats caused by irregularities in the heart’s electrical pathway, resulting in either an unusually slow or fast heartbeat.
Moroka, acting head of the department for Cardiology in the University of the Free State’s (UFS) faculty of Health Sciences, emphasised that there is a lack of electrophysiology services provided in both the public and private health sectors of the Free State.
She believes that this qualification will significantly contribute to local efforts to establish and develop a much-needed unique service.
“There is a measurable burden of heart failure and valvular heart disease,” Moroka pointed out.
“In addition, from the research that we aim to embark upon, we hope to clearly define the burden of rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, which are serious conditions.
“With the available skills and knowledge, we can begin to offer alternative adjunctive treatment that would have a significant positive effect on the morbidity and mortality of our patients.”
Moroka believes this qualification will enable her to expand clinical research pursuits on multiple fronts.
