As part of the ongoing training programmes for surgeons in Tanzania, supported by several European organisations, two surgeons from Bugando Medical Center, Mwanza, were awarded scholarships by the UK-based organisation Future Faces, led by Prof. Tony Markus, to attend the intensive VRiMS course (Virtual Reality in Medicine and Surgery), an initiative of Prof. Jag Dhanda (Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead & Brighton and Sussex Medical School).

VRiMS focuses on using high-quality Virtual and Extended Reality to train doctors and surgeons, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It enables immersive viewing of surgical procedures and already offers a large educational library across multiple surgical specialties, including Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Fidelis Mbunda and Dr. Vihar Kotecha attended the VRiMS programme in Guildford (September 8–12) to be trained in the use of Extended Reality for surgical training in resource-limited settings. They were joined by colleagues from Kenya and Uganda, participated in the VRiMS 19 hands-on cadaveric course, and even contributed to developing immersive content in Swahili.

They were also trained to use the complete VRiMS Total XR Solution (hardware + software), donated by Future Faces, which will soon enable immersive surgical training directly in Tanzania.

In the coming months, VRiMS will be implemented at Bugando Medical Center with the collaboration of the Fundación Española de Cooperación Sanitaria (FECS).